LaunchPad Stream One: Startmate

For founders with established startup ideas ready to accelerate.

In your application, you may nominate your preferred stream; however, program organisers will ultimately place you in the stream that best aligns with your startup’s stage and needs.

This approach ensures you receive the most tailored and effective support - whether that’s rapid acceleration or structured idea development.

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Structure

8 weeks - Startmate curriculum
4 weeks - La Trobe University curriculum

If you have a technology‑led startup concept with clear direction and are ready to rapidly validate and scale, the Startmate Stream delivers intensive, fast‑paced content to propel your venture forward. You’ll complete Startmate’s proven curriculum before rejoining the full LaunchPad cohort for company formation and investor pitch development.

Ideal for: Founders who have identified a problem, solution, and target market, and who have demonstrated early financial traction and are prepared for accelerated growth.

Session content and timing

Kick Off and Bootcamp (hybrid):
Meet the LaunchPad cohort, align on goals, and establish your startup foundation.

Week 1 (online)

Building your founding hypothesis
How to start a startup
Startup Playbook
Validation Toolbox: Practical tips and tools to fast–track validation processes
Identifying your customers: Deep–dive into personas
Bootstrapped to 100M+

Week 2 (online)

Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Using Lovable to build your MVP
Getting your first 10 customers
Startup ideas: How to come up with them and what makes some great

Week 3 (online)

Growth hacking
Nailing your pitch
No fluff GTM playbook for early-stage founders

Week 4 (online)

Ask an Angel Investor anything
What investors look for
Zero to $4M in 24 months

Week 5 (online)

Beyond the deck: Storytelling strategies for Winning Pitches
State of startup funding and how to get investments
How to use notion agents to automate busy work

Week 6 (online)

Pitch Deck Teardown

Week 7 (online)

Accelerator application hacks
Stripe: Winning pricing strategies for growth

Week 8 (online)

Pitching 101 Masterclass (hybrid)
Virtual wrap-up celebration with squad leaders
Startmate Pitch Night! Pitching event (in-person). Only 23 spots available!

Contact and support

For general program enquiries and application support
Nadia Foti
LaunchPad Program and Community Coordinator
n.foti@latrobe.edu.au

Waitlist for 2027
Interested in LaunchPad but the upcoming intake doesn’t suit your timing? Join the waitlist to be notified about future cohorts.
Join the waitlist.

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