Startmate backs 17 startups in Winter cohort
Synopsis
Startmate has backed 17 startups in its Winter cohort, supporting founders building across AI, climate, and SaaS with capital, mentorship, and investor connections.
Australia and New Zealand-based startup accelerator Startmate has chosen 17 startups for its Winter 2026 program after receiving a record 1000 applications that went through a multi-stage selection process.
The chosen companies represent 36 founders and have kicked off a 12-week acceleration with founders receiving mentorship, product development guidance, and access to investors.
The cohort includes companies from sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), enterprise software, construction approvals, private credit, body corporate management, and reusable rockets.
The program is run by chief executive officer Phoebe Pincus and founder head Emma Grife.
Record Application Round Reflects Competitive Selection
The latest batch had the most applicants to date, with their applications reviewed over three weeks and according to the accelerator, each application received multiple reviews leading to over 5000 individual reviews before the number of finalists was reduced to about 60 before the final 17 selected were announced.
The program started with an in-person founder retreat known as 'Camp Startmate' near the Victoria and New South Wales border and the selected participants then moved on to the main accelerator.
For the next 12 weeks, the founders will be matched with entrepreneurs, operators and investors before pitching to potential investors on the final day of the program.
Since its founding in 2015, Startmate has invested over A$60 million into more than 350 startups and the organisation reports that its portfolio is valued at over A$4.5 billion, with over 3000 founders, operators, and investors partaking in its founder, fellow, and accelerator programs.
AI and Enterprise Software Continue to Lead Startup Activity
The make up of the Winter 2026 cohort also points to investor interest in enterprise software and AI alongside financial services, property management, and construction sectors.
According to a Venture Funding Report from Crunchbase,global venture capital funding hit $91 billion in Q2 2026 with the bulk coming from companies applying AI, and with outside of AI investments remaining selective.
Accelerator programs such as Startmate enable startups to validate their product, refine their model and network with investors.
The Australian startup scene continues to show a good flow of venture-backed startups with global ambition while New Zealand's entrepreneurial pipeline has improved since the existence of accelerator and university backed research. Startmate is the biggest network of funds based across both countries providing them with early investment opportunities and mentoring.
Source: Startup Daily
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
