NSW FLIP
It's time to back yourself.
Women across NSW are starting businesses, solving problems in their communities and leading change, often without ever calling themselves founders. FLIP is here to change that. It's a free statewide program built to give women the skills, confidence and network to take their ideas further, wherever you are in NSW and wherever you are in your journey.
Delivered in two phases, FLIP starts broad and goes deep. Our Founder Readiness phase is a seven-week program, helping you work out whether your idea is worth pursuing. From there, you're invited to apply for the FLIP Pre-Accelerator Intensive, a nine-week program that takes founders deeper, with the coaching and support to validate their ideas and find their impact faster.
Whether you're starting with a spark you can't shake or building something you've nurtured for years, FLIP meets you where you are, because talent is everywhere and opportunity should be too.
Apply here Register for the Information Session
Program overview
A two-phase journey across NSW
FLIP is designed for women at different stages of the founder journey. We start with a wide doorway and narrow into deep, hands-on support for those ready to commit.
Key dates
- Phase 1 EOI's close: Sunday 19 July 2026, 11:59pm
- Phase 1: Founder Readiness runs: Tuesday 4 August to Tuesday 15 September 2026
- Phase 2 applications open: Monday 3 August 2026
- Phase 2 applications close: Sunday 20 September 2026
- Phase 2: Pre-Accelerator Intensive runs: Thursday 8 October to Thursday 3 December 2026.
Phase 1: Founder Readiness
Over seven weeks, you'll move from "I have an idea" to "I know whether this idea is worth pursuing". Phase 1 is online-first and built to fit around work, study and family commitments.
What's included
- Idea Workshops: two interactive online workshops covering the foundations every founder needs: understanding what your customers are really trying to achieve, and testing whether your problem is real and worth solving.
- Group Coaching: three online small-group coaching sessions where you apply what you're learning to your own idea, get feedback from coaches with deep startup experience and learn from other women in the cohort.
- Women in Innovation Panel: a launch-week panel of women who've built businesses, led innovation inside large organisations or backed other women to do the same. Real talk, no polish.
- Speed Networking Event: an in-person event for Phase 1 participants, alumni, mentors and the I2N community. Meet the people who'll be part of your founder journey beyond the program.
- Learn your own way: self-paced modules, masterclasses and resources you can work through at your own pace. Access continues after Phase 1.
- A community of women in the same boat: phase 1 connects you to women across NSW who are at the same point in their journey. You'll leave with peers, not just classmates.
Phase 2: Pre-Accelerator Intensive
Nine weeks of immersive workshops and weekly pod coaching, finishing with the statewide Showcase.
What's included
- Immersive Workshops: full-day and half-day workshops across nine weeks, taking you from a validated problem to a confident, communicable pitch. Covers customer validation, business models, startup finance, leadership and storytelling.
- Weekly Pod Coaching: you'll join a small pod of founders with a dedicated coach, meeting every week to apply what you're learning, work through challenges and keep your momentum up.
- Leadership and Resilience: dedicated sessions on authentic leadership, communication, boundary setting and backing yourself through the wobbles. You'll grow as a founder, not just grow your idea.
- A community that lasts: you'll build alongside a cohort of women founders from across NSW, and join the FLIP alumni network that keeps supporting you long after the program ends.
You don't have to know now whether Phase 2 is right for you, Phase 1 is designed to help you work that out! But if you're already feeling ready, you're welcome to apply for Phase 2 directly.
What it costs
Free! FLIP is funded by the NSW Government Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program in partnership with the MacDougall Foundation.
NSW FLIP is delivered in partnership with University of New England and Charles Sturt University.
No university affiliation required - we welcome all eligible founders and problem solvers from NSW!
Frequently Asked Questions
FLIP is open to those who identify as women, aged 18 and over, who live in NSW.
Your idea should show some element of innovation and have the potential to grow beyond a sole operator.
Ideas can be at any stage, from a spark you can't stop thinking about through to early operation, but they just can't have already raised significant external investment, meaning more than AUD 500,000.
No. You don't need any affiliation with the University of Newcastle or our delivery partners, the University of New England and Charles Sturt University.
Phase 1: Founder Readiness is for you if you're early in your journey and want to start exploring your idea. Over seven weeks online, you'll build the foundational skills and confidence to take the first steps in testing whether your idea is worth pursuing.
Phase 2: Pre-Accelerator Intensive is for you if you're ready to go deeper. Over nine weeks it takes you from an early idea through serious validation to a proposition you can pitch with confidence, through immersive workshops and weekly pod coaching, finishing with the statewide Showcase.
We think most women, if not all, will get real value from Phase 1, so it's a great place to start. It isn't mandatory though, so if you've already done the groundwork you're welcome to apply for Phase 2 directly.
Phase 2 is an immersive nine-week experience with full-day and half-day workshops and weekly pod coaching in a small group with a dedicated coach.
Phase 2 participants also have access to:
- travel stipends to help with the cost of attending any in-person sessions
- coworking opportunities to give you space to build,
- the chance to be one of three top ventures awarded non-dilutive funding at the statewide Showcase
Phase 1 is light-touch and built to fit around work, study and family, with a couple of online workshops, three one-hour group coaching sessions and self-paced learning you can do in your own time.
Phase 2 is more intensive, with a mix of full-day and half-day workshops each week for 9 weeks, weekly pod coaching and your own project work.
Absolutely. Join our free online information session to hear how the program works and ask any questions before you apply.
Intellectual Property (IP)
The University of Newcastle makes no claim over the intellectual property (IP) generated by participants as part of FLIP (subject to the University’s IP Policy and Procedure) provided your use of the IP acknowledges that the IP was developed as part of FLIP (unless it is unreasonable to do so).
If a team member is an employee or student of the University of Newcastle, they agree and acknowledge that ownership of the IP will be in accordance with the University IP Policy and Procedure, as amended from time to time. IP Policy found here. IP Procedure found here.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.