No Poverty
Local Start-Up Financial Assistance
Empowering innovators to build and grow successful ventures
The University’s Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) helps people turn their ideas into successful businesses. We give you access to a supportive community, provide mentors, customers, and funding. Whether you're a student, researcher, or startup founder, our programs teach business skills, test ideas, and help you grow faster.
In 2025, the University of Newcastle provided direct financial assistance to the local community to support the start-up of financially and socially sustainable businesses. Through the I2N Cleantech Accelerator programme, which is open to anyone regardless of University affiliation the University provided $20,000 in seed funding to participating teams.
The University of Newcastle’s Circular Economy Grand Challenge provided further financial support for innovative ideas that reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and maximise resource efficiency by extending the life of products and materials. Delivered by I2N, the Challenge culminated in an awards ceremony in October where three teams were each awarded a $10,000 grant to bring their ideas to life.
The I2N Cleantech Accelerator is designed to build the capability and competitiveness of tech-enabled entrepreneurs within the Hunter region, regardless of their affiliation to the University of Newcastle. It supports ventures across the sectors of clean energy, clean water, recycling and waste, supply chain, the built environment, air quality, and transportation.
Sign up to hear about the next cohort Watch the information session
I2N's 2025 Accelerator program
Twelve standout teams from the Hunter and Central Coast made it to the final stage of I2N's Accelerator program, including several ventures led by University of Newcastle students and alumni.
The 2025 cohort is tackling mental health breakthroughs, menopause support, smarter job platforms for international students, next-gen loan tech, foolproof plant care and even dating apps that get people off their phones and into real life.
The founders represent some of the region’s most promising new businesses and share a passion for reshaping industries in Australia and beyond.
The journey began with 30 teams in a 10-week Pre-Accelerator program, before 20 founders advanced to the Bootcamp phase. Just 12 teams secured a place in the final Accelerator program, which covers three streams: Cleantech, Healthtech and All-Industries.
The 12 finalists unveiled their commercial-ready ventures to our ecosystem at the program's highly anticipated Demo Night on 29 October and secured $20,000 in upfront equity-free seed funding.
I2N Accelerator ventures take their pitch to Sydney investors
The 2026 Accelerator cohort brought down the house at the Investor Showcase in Sydney last week, ahead of Demo Night on Wednesday 7 October at the I2N Hub.
Read more
Women founders take centre stage at NSW Parliament House
More than 80 guests gathered at NSW Parliament House for the NSW Female Founders Showcase, celebrating women entrepreneurs from I2N programs including the NSW Female Leadership and Innovation Program.
Read more
Great ideas need great teams
Watch our recent panel and make sure to register for the Circular Economy Grand Challenge Team Formation, Thursday 17 September
Read more
"Waste is a design flaw"
Three Experts on what the circular economy actually asks of you.
Read more
$10,000 to build your idea
The Circular Economy Grand Challenge is open. Get a team together, propose a way to help suppliers, businesses or consumers cut waste, and you could win up to $10,000 to build and test it over six months.
Read more
From kitchen table to Woolworths shelves
From kitchen table to woolworths shelves
Read more
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.