As part of its ongoing efforts to support a thriving startup ecosystem in Washington state and help next-generation companies expand from overseas to the United States, WTIA launched its first-ever Australian startup accelerator in late January. 

The accelerator, known as the Investment New South Wales USA Software-as-a-Service Going Global program, is a partnership between WTIA and Investment New South Wales. Its purpose is to help 14 software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies expand their operations beyond Australia to the U.S. market. The 8-week virtual accelerator program runs through March 2023 and will culminate in an in-person demo day with select companies.

Participating startups include:

• BindiMaps
• Canopus Networks Pty Ltd
• DoxAI Australia
• FarmLab
• HEO Robotics
• Humanable
• Instant Checkout Pty Ltd
• Loopit 
• OneBlink Pty Ltd
• Postharvest Learning Pty Ltd
• PrimeXConnect
• Veyor Digital
• Vloggi Pty Ltd
• Year13

The Australian accelerator program aligns with the WTIA mission to establish Washington state as a standout ecosystem for startups. Additionally, it helps support promising startups in New South Wales as they consider expanding to U.S. markets. Overseas founders often think of Silicon Valley or New York, for example, when considering where to set up shop in the U.S. The Australia Accelerator provides them an opportunity to tap into local resources, investors, and communities, which may entice them to choose Washington state as a desirable place to establish their U.S. operations. As a result, there may be an influx of talented founders into Washington, as well as an increase in potential job opportunities.

The virtual startup market accelerator will host workshops on sales, fundraising, and other stage-appropriate topics, each customized to the individual participating organizations. The program also provides mentorship and coaching designed to help with localization efforts and U.S. go-to-market strategies. Founders will receive introductions to local community leaders and investors as well as companies for market validation. All participants benefit from a complimentary WTIA membership, which includes access to benefits like AWS Credits, Carta Cap Table Management software, HubSpot marketing automation, Brex corporate credit cards, and more. 

For additional details about the Australia accelerator and other WTIA startup programs, contact Koki Sato.