Building a startup is full of momentum moments. The first customer. The first pivot. The first big win. But momentum isn’t built alone. It’s created through the conversations, connections and support that help founders move forward with confidence.

Over the coming months, 9 startups’ founders will work alongside experienced mentors, industry experts and a community of ambitious entrepreneurs, gaining practical insights, testing ideas and building the momentum needed to take their ventures to the next stage.

From health and education to construction, travel and AI-powered technology, this cohort reflects the diversity and ambition of Queensland’s startup ecosystem, with founders solving real-world problems across a range of industries.

Every founder starts somewhere, but lasting progress comes from having the right people around you.

StartClub_BNE exists to help founders build that momentum through practical learning, expert guidance and a supportive community that understands the realities of building a startup. Throughout the program, this cohort will refine their ideas, challenge assumptions, grow their networks and take meaningful steps towards building scalable businesses.

We’re excited to welcome Cohort 6 to the StartClub_BNE community and can’t wait to see where their momentum takes them.

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Image: Courtney Clemence Founder & CEO and Ash Hoey Co-Founder & CTO of Gloss Guide

In just 12 months, StartClub_BNE – the flagship Pre-accelerator Program delivered at The Precinct – has become a cornerstone of early-stage startup support in Queensland. 

Backed by the Queensland Government, StartClub was built to support idea-stage founders as they validate their business models, test product-market fit, and build confidence as future startup leaders. 

Since launching in 2024, the program has supported more than 30 early-stage startups, with many now scaling and securing external funding, grants, and placements in highly-competitive accelerators.

Among the standout success stories is StartClub alumni Gloss Guide, led by Courtney Clemence (Founder & CEO) and Ash Hoey (Co-Founder & CTO) who have been recently accepted into Startmate and Tech Ready Women Academy.

Courtney draws on her firsthand experience in the beauty industry, having worked as both a lash technician and fashion manager, to connect with and grow a thriving community of over 1,200 beauty professionals. Her deep industry insight, paired with Ash’s track record as a seasoned tech founder with an ASX-listed exit, makes for a powerful founding duo. 

With complementary strengths in community building and technical execution, they’re on a mission to reshape the beauty services space through a scalable digital platform built for impact.

Other standout alumni include:

• Voulla Fronis (Cohort 1), accepted into the UQ Ventures Momentum program
• Andrej Maletic (Cohort 1), awarded an Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas grant and now part of the Ignite+ program
• Jesse Costelloe (Cohort 2), selected for the UQ Ventures iLab
• Inventico (Cohort 1),  selected for the current UQ Ventures iLab

A key ingredient in StartClub’s success is its exceptional network of mentors, which includes some of Brisbane’s most successful founders, experienced business leaders, and dedicated ecosystem supporters. Their ongoing support has been critical in helping participants sharpen their ideas, validate with customers, and gain the confidence to pitch for growth. This spirit of collaboration is a longstanding hallmark of Brisbane’s innovation community, and one that StartClub continues to foster.

Program Manager Holly Hudson has seen firsthand how quickly founders can go from idea to investment-ready when given the right guidance, connections and community.

“The results speak for themselves. With over 100 applications in just the first year, StartClub is clearly meeting a growing demand for hands-on, early-stage startup support,”

“Many of our participants come to us with no prior startup experience, and within a few short months, they’re launching a product, validating in market, pitching to investors and getting accepted into follow-on accelerator programs. It’s a real privilege to be part of their journey.”

StartClub Brisbane will continue to back founders who are brave enough to start, build, and test new ideas, and The Precinct remains committed to delivering high-impact programs that catalyse Queensland’s innovation economy.

Applications for Cohort 4 are now open. If you’re an early-stage founder that wants to find peers on a similar journey, learn from the best in Brisbane, and validate your startup idea to test in market, apply now.

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The Precinct is welcoming the third cohort of StartClub_BNE, a Brisbane based program designed to propel Queensland’s most promising early-stage startups. Backed by the Queensland Government, this initiative is shaping the next wave of entrepreneurs in industries spanning, fintech, cybersecurity, space and defense, and eCommerce.

Since its inception in March 2024, StartClub_BNE has delivered two successful cohorts, supporting 20 startups and 29 co-founders across 15 industries. The program has already clocked 96 hours of expert mentoring and attracted 190 attendees to its high-energy pitch nights. With five alumni founders advancing to local and interstate accelerator programs, the program proves to be a stepping stone in the startup ecosystem.

Gemma Colbran, Co-Founder of Groundzero and a StartClub alum, reflects on her journey:

“Doesn’t matter what stage you’re at, the program has something for everyone. The environment is super supportive and collaborative. You’ll make skills you need and friends to support you.”

Over the next 10 weeks, these ambitious founders will engage in expert-led workshops, 1:1 mentoring, and hands-on sessions designed to help them validate their ideas, find product-market fit, and launch their ventures. Participants also gain exclusive access to workspace at The Precinct’s Landing Pad, fostering collaboration in a dynamic entrepreneurial hub.

Introducing the third StartClub_BNE cohort:

• Robyn Read, founder of LOOPI: Intuitive task management app that helps busy family CEOs organise daily life and find balance.
• Tania Nicolson, founder of My Freight Base: Tech-driven learning platform that helps e-commerce startups and SMBs master freight and logistics to cut costs and scale efficiently.
• Clinton Stewart & Courtney Stewart, founders of BiteWise: BiteWise is an AI-powered app that helps families plan, shop, and cook nutritious meals while cutting waste and costs.
• Matthew Kairl, Xavier Lyons and Douglas Atherton co-founders of Angela Safety: App that helps women stay safe in nightlife by discreetly alerting venue staff in distress situations.
• Dennis Liu founder of Secblok: A cybersecurity platform connecting newly certified professionals with small businesses, offering affordable security services while giving talent real-world experience.
• Mohamed Ismail & Himanshu Arora co-founders of Copay-Smart Ownership: AI-powered SaaS platform transforming how businesses sell and manage co-owned assets resulting in an expanded market and revenue streams.
• Adam Schofield founder of Homecrowd: A social platform that connects sports fans to the game and their friends for a distraction-free live viewing experience.

See the Future in Action – Pitch Night 3.0

Mark your calendars! On 29th May , the StartClub_BNE founders will take the stage at Pitch Night 3.0 to showcase their hard work and groundbreaking ideas. Secure your tickets now to witness innovation in the making.

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Want In?

If this sounds like a program you’d love to be a part of, you can apply for Cohort #4 now! 

Keen to check out more startup programs and initiatives for emerging founders? Visit our website here to see other upcoming opportunities for startup support and stay in the loop by signing up to our Newsletter  

After the inaugural StartClub_BNE Program launched earlier this year with resounding success, the second cohort of trailblazers hit the ground running during the first week of the Program last Wednesday at The Precinct.

The second cohort features 10 startups from various industries across Queensland, including software and data, ed-tech, sports-tech, and entertainment, with entrepreneurs ranging in age by 30 years from the youngest to the oldest.

For the next 10 weeks, these founders engage with various presentations, interactive workshops and 1:1 mentoring sessions with industry experts to learn fundamental startup frameworks and gain actionable feedback to help them navigate the early-stage founder journey. The ultimate goal of the Program is to find product-market fit, validate their ideas and launch their ventures in market. 

The cohort will also gain access to free workspace in the Landing Pad at The Precinct for the duration of the Program. This program is proudly supported by the Queensland Government.

Check out the cohort below: 

• Gemma Colbran from GroundzerØ: fostering the next generation of creative superstars by connecting them to Community, Job opportunities & streamlining workflows within a universal creative eco-system
• Corina Hough & Sarah Hill from Anyplans: an activity-led social and dating app that leverages AI to enhance safety and facilitate meaningful, real-world connections.
• Bemnet Tedla from Uniceum: an emerging digital platform aiming to build the world’s largest global campus exclusively for peer-to-peer networking and growth
• Lynn Becket from TeleMARS: a SaaS product that enables the implementation of business-led data analytics solutions with minimal risk and cost 
• Courtney Bebriss and Ash Hoey from Gloss Guide: Explore a sleek beauty directory that amplifies sole traders’ visibility and effortlessly connects them with clients
• Ryan Ellis from Compare The Best Software: An AI-driven software comparison tool to help SMEs find the perfect SaaS solutions based on their needs.
• Jesse Costelloe from Pulse: a person-centered care operating system that leverages data, AI, and thoughtful design to directly enhance each individuals care outcomes. 
• Sean O’Connor & Dan Mcdonald from Minimum Movements: providing data lead organisational strategies to improve employee’s health, well-being and productivity.
• Andrew Beitz from Extremifi: a platform that enables seamless coordination, engagement, and shared experiences to fostering stronger bonds within the world of sports.
• Martin Said from Plik: a platform for delivering binge-worthy language 

Tickets are now available to join the StartClub_BNE Pitch Night 2.0 on the 13th November. Join us for this massive night of celebration and witness 10 weeks of hard work culminate into their startup pitch! 

If this sounds like a program you’d love to be a part of, you can pop your expression of interest down here to be notified once our 2025 Program dates and applications are live.

Keen to check out more startup programs and initiatives for emerging founders? Visit our website here to see other upcoming opportunities for startup support and stay in the loop by signing up to our Newsletter