The NSW government’s $4 million diversity pre-accelerator program has added four new organisations to its roster, including ‘migraprenuer’ accelerator Catalysr and disability program Remarkable.
Also chosen were First Nations Economics, a charity that will support up to 60 Indigenous women with mentoring, business capability development, and networks, as well as Dean Foley’s Barayamal, which will deliver a pre-accelerator supporting up to 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander founders.
They join the University of Newcastle’s I2N and the University of NSW UNSW Founders as delivery partners, together tasked with offering support more than 200 women entrepreneurs.
Usman Iftikhar’s Catalysr, an annual accelerator supporting migrant and refugee entrepreneurs, will deliver support for up to 100 culturally and linguistically diverse participants through two program streams, including an eight-week ideation fellowship and a 12-week growth-focused accelerator.
“This initiative will help more people from our diverse communities turn their startup ideas into scalable businesses by providing the right knowledge, networks and support from day one of their journey,” Iftikhar said.
Pete Horsely’s disability tech accelerator Remarkable will support up to 20 NSW founders with disability via a12-week ‘Launcher’ pre-accelerator, to test, validate and refine their ideas.
“Disability always has been and always will be a massive driver of innovation. At Remarkable, we design with, not for, people with disability, because founders with disability are the experts in the problems they’re solving,” he said.
“Through this program, we can offer NSW founders with lived experience of disability free, accessible, practical support, so they can turn great ideas into sustainable ventures.”
Leanne Coventry, manager of community impact at First Nations Economics said many First Nations women to face barriers accessing business support, networks and opportunities.
“This program will provide culturally grounded support to strengthen confidence, capability, and connections, while creating clearer pathways into innovation and entrepreneurship,” she said.
The state government support for these programs runs across two years to the end of the 2027 financial year.
NSW innovation, science and technology minister Anoulack Chanthivong said: “This program is delivering on the NSW Innovation Blueprint by backing more people to participate in innovation and turning good ideas into real economic opportunities.”
