Programs supporting Queensland-based female founders or leaders to elevate innovation-driven businesses, build valuable connections, and unlock growth opportunities through targeted business development and support initiatives.
On this page you will find
What is the Accelerating Female Founders Program?
The Accelerating Female Founders Program (AFFP) is a Queensland Government initiative delivered through Advance Queensland. It supports female founders and leaders of innovative businesses with targeted business development programs at different stages of the startup journey.
11 education and industry organisations have been appointed as providers, each offering tailored programs that span early-stage to growth and investment readiness phases.
Learn more about each program to understand which one best fits your current business needs.
Note: These are not cash grants. Rather, they provide access to subsidised business support programs delivered by expert organisations. Each program requires a do-it-yourself (DIY) application, and you must apply directly to the provider that best aligns with your business needs.
Early Stage Programs
Stack+ for Female Founders
A nine-month program to propel early-stage female STEM entrepreneurs through mentorship, learning and hands-on business building.
Who is Eligible
Females aged 18–25 with STEM ideas or prototypes.
Program Highlights
- Personalised goal setting with dedicated mentors
- Fortnightly virtual group sessions with guest speakers
- Monthly themed learning modules and practical challenges (“Stacks”)
- One-on-one peer accountability partnerships
- Access to support networks, industry experts, and additional resources
- Ecosystem tour and graduation event in Brisbane
Examples of Projects Supported
- Technology innovations
- Energy solutions and renewables
- Cybersecurity applications
- Mining and resource sector innovations
- Agriculture and AgTech
- Advanced manufacturing initiatives
- FoodTech developments
- Scientific research commercialisation
- Sustainability projects
- Disaster resilience tools or systems
- Any early-stage STEM-based idea or prototype with business and industry impact
Important Dates
Program applications have now closed.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
TekWomen Qld
An integrated program for female founders to build and grow agtech startups.
Who is Eligible
Emerging female agtech entrepreneurs and founders.
Program Highlights
- Idea incubation through bi-monthly sprints and hands-on workshops
- 15-month startup studio with coaching, growth sprints, bootcamps, events, and investor engagement
- 12-month Agri-rise program for young women (18–25) to build confidence, skills, and networks
- 8-week Agri-ELEVATE program for mid-to-late career women to design a new portfolio career in agrifood-tech
- Online community offering networking, events, and knowledge sharing
- Mentorship and industry exposure throughout all pathways
- Tailored business development and leadership skill-building opportunities
Examples of Projects Supported
- Startups developing agrifood-tech innovations
- New ideas or ventures in agriculture technology
- Career pivots into agrifood and sustainability sectors
- Business models focused on food production, supply chains, and agri-innovation
- Female-led initiatives aiming to solve agricultural and food system challenges
- Projects improving efficiency, sustainability, or technology use in agrifood industries
Important Dates
Expressions of interest are now open.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
Knoei Launchpad
A six month program to help progress startup ideas towards commercialisation through mentorship, training and networking including the opportunity to complete a Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business.
Who is Eligible
Females aged 18–25 in regional Queensland with a startup business or innovative idea they want to develop and launch.
Program Highlights
- Online accelerator program with weekly mentoring and fortnightly virtual workshops
- Expert coaching tailored to each participant’s business stage
- Practical business projects aligned with personal goals
- Industry connections and investor engagement
- Opportunity to complete a Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (6-month duration)
- Strategic planning, financial modelling, and risk analysis
- Building networks and social capital across regional Queensland
- Support in launching and scaling your startup, including pitch development and commercialisation roadmaps
Examples of Projects Supported
- Startups with STEM or innovation-focused ideas
- Business concepts at idea or prototype stage aiming for commercialisation
- Ventures aiming to solve industry challenges with creative, scalable solutions
- Early-stage innovations across sectors like technology, sustainability, education, digital services, regional development, and more
- Projects with potential for regional impact and long-term growth
- Female-led startups seeking to transition from idea to viable, market-ready businesses
Important Dates
Expressions of interest are now open.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
Accelerating NQ Female Founders Program
This program provides access to the Smart Business Accelerator, mentorship, networking and expert advice to develop, grow and scale businesses.
Who is Eligible
Female founders based in North Queensland and beyond.
Program Highlights
- 9-month accelerator program tailored to Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDEs)
- One-on-one mentoring and business advisory support
- Advisory board sessions for expert insights and guidance
- Design Thinking workshops to inspire innovative thinking
- Structured cohort experience with peer support and collaboration
- Hybrid delivery with in-person and online participation options
- Networking events and connection to industry leaders and investors
- Ongoing visibility and support after program completion
- Financial assistance available for travel to key Townsville events
- Dedicated support for regional, remote, and First Nations female founders
Examples of Projects Supported
- A retail startup using customer-focused technology to reinvent shopping
- A healthcare service applying AI or virtual care to enhance patient experience
- A tourism venture offering immersive, tech-enabled cultural experiences
- A creative arts business leveraging digital platforms to expand reach
- A food and beverage company using sustainable packaging and blockchain for supply chain transparency
- Enterprises in agriculture, tech, manufacturing, and design with innovation at their core
- Female-founded startups in North Queensland aiming to scale beyond the region
Important Dates
Expressions of interest are now open.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
StartUp Onramp Female Founders Program
This program connects early-stage female founders with experienced mentors, online learning and a pre-accelerator for business growth.
Who is Eligible
Female founders in the early stages of creating or growing an innovation-based business.
Program Highlights
- Free 1-on-1 mentoring sessions with experienced startup mentors (valued at $330)
- Free access to an online startup course covering essential founder skills (valued at $495)
- Free mentor-led online incubator program for launching and growing startups (valued at $2,000)
- Free webinars on introductory topics, delivered by founders and mentors
- Remote delivery via Zoom—accessible statewide including regional Queensland
- Connection to a community of like-minded female founders
- Guidance from experienced founders, investors, and mentors
Examples of Projects Supported
- Tech-enabled platforms or apps in early development
- Female-led startups aiming to launch and scale nationally or globally
- Businesses tackling social, environmental, or market-specific challenges with innovation
- Regional startups seeking structure, mentorship, and early validation
Important Dates
Program applications are now open.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
Anyone Can Build – Pre-Accelerator Program
A targeted early-stage startup program for female entrepreneurs.
Who is Eligible
Female identifying participants aged 18+ from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background, including rural women, young women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Program Highlights
- 13-week pre-accelerator program for Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour in Queensland
- Weekly expert-led online sessions, plus two in-person events
- 1:1 mentoring with dedicated startup mentors
- Workshops on key topics such as financial literacy, marketing, fundraising, and leadership
- Pitch readiness training with feedback from industry leaders
- Access to a safe, inclusive founder community
- Networking opportunities with mentors, industry experts, and peers
- Office hours and Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions with founders and investors
- Co-matched funding pool – raise up to $1,000 and receive matched funding to support your business
Examples of Projects Supported
- Tech-based startups building MVPs or digital solutions
- Early-stage businesses led by Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour
- Innovative products or services aiming to grow and scale
- Startups addressing systemic inequities or community challenges
- Businesses focused on cultural, social, or economic empowerment
Important Dates
Expressions of interest are now open.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
Later Stage Programs
Female Founder Scale-up Manufacturing Program
A program to accelerate innovation in advanced manufacturing through artificial intelligence and automation.
Who is Eligible
Female founders with a viable product or service that is ready for commercialisation.
Program Highlights
- $25,000 worth of technical expertise to help scale up a new product or service
- 9-month tailored support program delivered by ARM Hub engineering and technology experts
- Hands-on support with product design, prototyping, testing, and technical problem-solving
- Development of a proof-of-concept or proof-of-delivery ready for commercialisation
- Preparation for investment and market launch
- Access to advanced manufacturing capabilities, including robotics, automation, and AI
- Partially subsidised project delivery, with a capped participant contribution of up to $25,000
- Inclusive and supportive of diverse applicants, including young founders, First Nations founders, and regional business owners
- No program entry fee beyond project co-contribution
Examples of Projects Supported
- A robotics-enabled product moving from prototype to market-ready solution
- A health-tech device requiring AI integration and testing in a clinical setting
- A food processing innovation using automation to improve production efficiency
- A smart home or IoT product being scaled for commercial release
- An AI-powered manufacturing solution needing proof-of-concept validation
- Any product requiring manufacturing, especially involving Industry 4.0 technologies such as:
- Robotics
- Automation
- Artificial intelligence
- Mixed reality
- Advanced design or prototyping tools
Important Dates
Program applications have now closed.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
AMPLI-FI – Amplifying Indigenous Female Innovators
A program that provides practical and experiential executive-level training, mentoring to build skills and capacity and networks between other First Nations entrepreneurs.
Who is Eligible
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female entrepreneurs with an established business in any sector or industry.
Program Highlights
- 12-month culturally grounded business accelerator for Indigenous female founders
- Executive-level training and mentorship focused on business scaling
- Practical and experiential learning tailored to real-world challenges
- Support for navigating growth, including market demands, regulations, and operations
- Connections to a strong peer network of other First Nations women entrepreneurs
- Guidance from industry leaders and experts throughout the journey
- Culturally safe and community-focused program design
- Backed by Advance Queensland and Bond University
Examples of Projects Supported
- Indigenous-owned businesses preparing for expansion or new market entry
- Enterprises focused on cultural tourism, arts, or community services
- Product-based businesses scaling through manufacturing or distribution
- Service-oriented ventures building out teams, systems, or partnerships
- Innovation-driven Indigenous businesses seeking to grow social and economic impact
- Startups addressing community challenges with scalable, sustainable business models
Important Dates
Expressions of interest have now closed.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
Get set for Impact!
This program is designed for female founders looking to secure investment by quantifying their businesses’ social and environmental impact with real-world data.
Who is Eligible
Female founders of purpose-driven enterprises looking to secure investment.
Program Highlights
- 6+ week hybrid program with weekly sessions (Tuesdays, 12–2 PM AEST)
- Custom branded impact dashboard to showcase social and environmental outcomes
- Tailored 1:1 training from instructors and impact investors
- Tools and templates to capture, measure, and report your business impact
- Theory of Change mapping and data strategy development
- Capstone showcase event with Queensland’s top impact investors and ecosystem peers
- Small cohort experience (max 6 per group) for personalised support
- Highly subsidised fee ($499, valued at over $20,000), with 50% discount for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants
- Regional intensive option available for founders outside Brisbane
Examples of Projects Supported
- Businesses addressing social inequality, environmental sustainability, or community wellbeing
- Startups developing impact-focused services or technologies
- Enterprises ready to attract impact investment by clearly demonstrating measurable results
- Female-founded ventures seeking to scale with a strong social mission
Important Dates
Expressions of interest are now open.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
Elevating Female Founders
This program is designed to build thriving tech businesses that address global challenges through eight months of targeted support and resources.
Who is Eligible
Queensland female founders aged 18+ who are leading innovative emerging technology businesses and have an MVP or product in market.
Program Highlights
- 8-month virtual accelerator for tech startups and scale-ups
- Structured support for the first 4 months, followed by lighter touch support through the remaining 4 months
- Fee-free participation, supported by Advance Queensland
- Tailored workshops and 1:1 mentoring with a dedicated Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) or Mentor-in-Residence (MIR)
- Access to River City Labs’ Digital Membership for 12 months
- Perks valued up to $200K, including:
- Discounts on tech tools, CRMs, hosting services
- Free access to chartered accountant advisory services
- Access to a talent pool of interns and tech professionals
- Invitations to networking events and learning sessions
- Opportunity to pitch for growth, team building, capital raising, and go-to-market strategies
- Access to mentor database and business networks
- Final in-person showcase in Brisbane (August 2025)
- 20 female-led tech companies selected per intake
Examples of Projects Supported
- Tech startups with a product already in market, needing help with scaling
- High-growth ventures disrupting existing markets with innovative technology
- Startups seeking investment, talent, or partnerships to fuel growth
- Software platforms, apps, or SaaS businesses ready to expand user base
- Tech-enabled solutions in health, fintech, edtech, AI, IoT, or sustainability
- Companies from Cohort 1 working on product refinement, team development, and market expansion
Important Dates
Expressions of interest will reopen in October 2025.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
TRW Investment Ready Program
This program empowers females to elevate their innovative businesses through capital-raising skills, mentorship and investor connections.
Who is Eligible
Queensland female founders with innovation driven enterprises looking to access capital.
Program Highlights
- 5-month structured accelerator for female founders preparing to raise capital
- Practical training to build a pitch deck, data room, and investment strategy
- Weekly online modules, group mentoring, and individual advisory sessions
- Warm introductions to investors and tailored prospecting plans
- Hybrid orientation event to kick off the program
- Due diligence support to navigate the funding process
- Peer community of like-minded female founders at similar stages
- National and Queensland-specific cohorts
- Opportunity to secure $50K investment (via Scalare Partners in the national cohort)
- Backed by Advance Queensland and Westpac
Examples of Projects Supported
- Scalable tech solutions solving real-world customer problems
- Early-stage startups with first users or paying customers
- Businesses ready to formalise their structure and begin capital raising
- Founders across diverse industries, including:
- HealthTech
- FinTech
- EdTech
- SaaS platforms
- Consumer products with strong growth potential
- Female-led businesses needing funding to scale nationally or globally
Important Dates
Program applications have now closed.
How to Apply
Check the provider’s website for more information.
Accelerating Female Founders Program resources
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