Startup Events in Melbourne

Important RSVP Instruction: Register at AICamp event website OR at LUMA is required for admission. Description: Welcome to the AI meetup in Melbourne, in collaboration with AI Innovation Centre. Join us for deep dive tech talks on AI, GenAI, LLMs and Agentic AI, hands-on experiences with code labs and workshops, and networking with speakers and fellow AI developers, builders, startup founders. Agenda: 5:30pm\~6:00pm: Checkin and networking 6:00pm\~7:30pm: Tech talks and Q&A 7:30pm: Open discussion & Mixer Tech Talk: Building a Self-Governing Finance Data Platform Speaker: Saurabh Kumar (Senior Manager, AI & Data, Accenture) Abstract: In regulated finance, the checks that catch drift depend on someone remembering to run them. Between reviews, data quality slips, access widens and credit spend climbs, all of it quietly. This session builds the governance into the platform instead: a finance analytics platform on Snowflake CoCo run by specialist AI agents that profile transaction data, review the dbt project, audit access and track credit spend, then route what they find to GitHub, Jira and Slack. Each piece is built on screen, with the real code, then the swarm runs live to show the tickets the agents file on their own. Topics/Speakers: If you have a keen interest in speaking to our community, we invite you to submit topics for consideration: Submit Topics Sponsors: We are actively seeking sponsors to support our community. Whether it is by offering venue spaces, providing food/drink, or cash sponsorship. Sponsors will not only speak at the meetups, receive prominent recognition, and but also exposure to our extensive membership base of 5,000+ AI developers in Melbourne and 500K+ worldwide.

AI is everywhere in the headlines. This session is about what's actually working on the ground in healthcare. MLAI kicks off a new series exploring what AI genuinely makes possible, one industry at a time. First up: healthcare. A panel of practitioners and technologists will unpack real deployments (clinical workflows, admin automation, patient-facing tools) and separate what's delivering value from what's still hype. Whether you work in healthcare, build for it, or just want to see AI applied outside the usual tech-demo context, this session is for you. Expect a moderated panel, live Q&A, and a chance to tell us what use case you'd want AI to solve in your world. Format: 90-minute panel discussion + Q&A + networking

Live half-day workshop for AU C-Suite leaders. Walk away knowing exactly how AI can solve your most expensive business problems.

AT CAPACITY! Use this link to pre-register for our next AI Engineer night in October: https://luma.com/event/manage/evt-DbGmdJ0lCBaZbQH AI Engineer Night Melbourne #1 is kicking off Road To AI Engineer Sydney with an evening of sharp talks, fresh ideas, and a good excuse to get out and mingle over food and drinks. We’re bringing together speakers from past and upcoming AI Engineer conferences for a night that digs into the real-world challenges shaping AI systems right now. Expect: Chris Lienert on taking chaos engineering from theory to practice to create self-healing code Zubin Pratap on Where Every AI Voice Agent Breaks (And Why) Nadia Makarevich with the provocation that Skills are wishful thinking Plus a few more speakers still to be announced Come ready for practical insights, honest war stories, and a relaxed night with a bite to eat and a drink or two. *By registering for this event, you agree to MLAI's and the venue's codes of conduct and this event's terms and conditions, and agree for your registration details to be shared with Web Directions for the purposes of event delivery and the AI Engineer Sydney campaign.

Our next LTUX Melbourne meetup of the year is here! 🎉 Australia’s healthcare landscape is evolving fast, and while an ageing population and public health demands bring real challenges, they also open up incredible room for smarter, human-centred design. Tackling these big shifts takes a genuine team effort, pairing innovation in health tech and academic rigour with government policy to rethink how care gets delivered. Join us on Thursday, 17 September for an evening with women shaping the future of Australian healthcare design. Expect insightful lightning talks, an interactive Q&A and an opportunity to connect with others in Melbourne’s design community over some pizza. 🎤 Speakers ⚡️ Maryke Laubscher, Doctoral Researcher & Teaching Fellow at Monash University Design Health Collab Maryke is a design researcher, educator and doctoral candidate at Monash University’s Design Health Collab, whose practice sits at the intersection of design, healthcare and emerging technology. Her interdisciplinary research brings together design, clinical, and technical expertise, in partnership with industry and government, to support the development of emerging healthcare technologies, with a focus on medical imaging for deployable and resource-constrained environments. ⚡️ Jessica Rudolph, Design and Research Lead at Healthdirect Australia Jessica is a service design and experience leader with over a decade working across healthcare, government and complex service environments. As a Design Lead at Healthdirect Australia, she focuses on embedding consumer and clinical workforce voices into service design and improvement, working across digital, clinical and operational teams to create more accessible and connected healthcare experiences. ⚡️ Claire Hines, Honorary Clinician at Royal Melbourne Hospital and PhD Candidate in Digital Health at RMIT University Claire Hines is an Intensive Care Physiotherapist, Lecturer and PhD Candidate and inaugural Bupa Scholarship holder at RMIT Univer

Scaling, Unplugged - A Conversation with Dawid Naude Some of the best conversations you've had about building a company happened with a drink in your hand. So that's the format. Thirty founders who are already running something, a bar, and Dawid Naude in the middle of it, talking about how he took Pathfindr from nothing to a $15 million acquisition in two years, and what AI is actually doing inside companies that have teams and revenue. The room is founders with people on the payroll, or $1m plus raised. Every registration is reviewed. Dawid started Pathfindr in early 2024, teaching organisations how to actually use AI. Inside two years he had the Victorian Government and Honey Insurance as clients, an AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies listing in his founding year, and an offer from Affinda Group. He rolled 100% of his equity into the buyer, still runs Pathfindr, and is now Chief AI Officer across the group. He's also Saxton's preferred AI keynote speaker, which usually means a conference ticket and a room of four hundred. Here you can interrupt him. Half the night on the growth story. Half on AI. All of it with a drink and the person next to you. Key event details Date: Thursday 17th September Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm Location: Melbourne CBD, shared on approval Drinks and food provided Capped at 30 founders Who's in the room Founders with people on the payroll, or $1m plus raised. Thirty people means you get to ask the thing you actually came to ask, and everyone in the room has already been through the hard parts. We review every registration and hold the mix. Our guest Dawid Naude, Pathfindr. Founded Pathfindr in 2023 and sold it to Affinda Group in 2025 in a deal valued at $15 million, rolling all of his equity into the buyer rather than taking cash. Before that he led Accenture's AI Technology practice in Australia, and went through an acquisition from the inside at Cloud Sherpas. He now sits across hundreds of companies trying to work out what AI is worth to the

Josh Centner, Principal PM, Seek: will be taking us through this topic building on some discussions from ProductCamp. Our teams have the best AI tools but nothing changed Most organisations now have AI tooling across their product and engineering teams. Most of them are moving just a little faster then they were two years ago. The tools aren’t the problem. The operating model underneath them is. Build is no longer the bottleneck. The new constraint is coordination: how teams align on what to build, how functions like legal, security, and design stay genuinely involved without becoming the gate everything stalls behind, and how leaders shift from approving decisions to setting the conditions that let good decisions happen without them. This session draws on a live transformation across a large technology organisation, redesigning not just how teams build, but the entire system from idea to customer impact. We’ll cover the three things that actually have to change for AI tooling to translate into speed: – how work gets defined before it’s built – how specialist functions engage without creating queues – and how the PM role changes when coordination overhead drops and intent has to survive further and faster than ever before. This isn’t a talk about tools. It’s about what your organisation needs to look like for the tools to matter. Our fabulous sponsors: Netwealth Netwealth is one of Australia's leading wealth management platforms, providing technology and investment solutions for financial advisers and their clients. Since 1999, we’ve focused on innovation and challenging the status quo, building digital products that help Australians see wealth differently and achieve better financial outcomes. At the heart of Netwealth is a culture of curious, collaborative, courageous, optimistic, agile and genuine people who are passionate about solving meaningful problems and creating better experiences for customers. For more about careers at Netwealth.

Two talks on the night. Speaker Spots are still open - Please register your interest at rustmelbourne.com/speak Sponsored by Superteam Australia Superteam Australia backs builders in the Solana ecosystem. It connects Australian developers, founders and operators to grants, bounties, hackathons and a global network of Superteams. If you're building in Rust, you're already halfway to building on Solana. Come say hi. Venue: Stone & Chalk Hosted at Stone & Chalk Melbourne Startup Hub, 121 King St. Stone & Chalk is Australia's leading innovation community, home to hundreds of startups and scaleups across fintech and emerging tech. Thanks to the Stone & Chalk team for having us. Catering and drinks provided. Doors open 5.30pm

Join us after hours at Passages Coffee for a laid-back creative meetup with FMTY. It’s a chance to catch up, share what you’re working on, swap ideas, and enjoy a relaxed evening in a space that serving great caffeinated drinks and perfectly suited to spontaneous conversation.

🍻 The Entrepreneur Club – Last Friday of the Month Drinks Not your average knock-off drinks. Join us for a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, builders, creatives, and self-starters who believe business is more than just work, it’s a personal growth journey. Whether you're scaling something or just starting out, this is a space to meet others who think like you do. 💬 What to Expect ✅ Real convos with people building something ✅ A place to bounce ideas, swap challenges, and share wins ✅ Opportunities to give value and get it in return ✅ Chill vibes, no pitches, just smart people in good company You don’t need a title or a polished pitch, just curiosity and the willingness to connect. 🗓 Format 6:30pm – Arrive, grab a drink, join a convo 8:30pm – We wrap, or roll on elsewhere 📍 The Oxford Scholar We take over a corner of the bar (Back Bar or Atrium), look for the crew with ideas in one hand and a drink in the other. 🎯 This is for you if You want more entrepreneurial people in your life You’re building something, or want to be You care about growth, not just small talk Bring a question. Bring a challenge. Bring your curiosity. Last Friday of every month. Let’s make it count.

You have watched enough webinars. What you have not done is talk to the people building in this city. No stage, no slides, no panel. A short opening, structured introductions so nobody is stranded, and then the evening is yours. Founders at every stage, local investors with no obligation to pitch or be pitched, and operators who can actually help with something. Register now. Please buy your own food and drinks. Bring what you are working on and what you are stuck on. ❯ Guest Speakers include: Alex Sy (Managing Director, ATLAS Business Consulting and Mentoring Services) Sameer Babbar (Director, SVB Group) ❯ What You'll Learn: Hear directly from Melbourne's builders: who's building what and how Which local investors are active and what they are looking at What the operators in the room can help with Where the local ecosystem is strong and where it is thin How to keep the conversations going after the night ends. ❯ Who Should Attend: Founders at any stage building in or near Melbourne; Professionals considering starting something who want to meet people who did; Local investors and operators looking for early deal flow and talent; Anyone who prefers a conversation to a webinar. . ❯❯ This is an in-person event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/405076/meetup to secure your spot and receive further details.

Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to design and run workshops that actually move teams forward. Going beyond the standard retro and sticky notes, & drawing on real examples from hundreds of workshops plus grounded in coaching and facilitation practice, we'll cover everything from setting the right goals, to a practical toolkit to design your next workshop with intent, to tips for the messy real-world stuff like handling conflict, getting people to engage, and keeping energy up when things go sideways. You'll leave with practical techniques you can use straight away, tools to help teams go from discussion to real decisions, and more confidence being the person running the room. Our speaker Aseel Hamarneh is a Product lead with over 15 years’ experience in tech, working multiple organisations and countries. Over that time, she has seen a consistent pattern: teams collaborate constantly and run regular workshops and retros, yet often leave potential on the table because facilitation is treated as a format rather than a leadership skill. She has designed and led organisation-wide workshops, large-scale training programs, and numerous strategy and ideation sessions. Her focus is not on running meetings, but on using facilitation to drive alignment, generate stronger ideas, and support meaningful decisions during change and complexity. Drawing on formal facilitation training and executive coaching accreditation, Aseel approaches facilitation as a capability that shapes how teams think and collaborate. Across diverse organisational contexts, she has seen the same principle hold: strong facilitation unlocks the full potential of collective thinking. Our hosts: NV AI Learning Centre Directions Natural Velocity Head Office is located on Level One, 9 Star Cres Docklands (inside The District Docklands) next to Melbourne College of Hair and Beauty. By tram: We're at the last stop on tram routes 70 & 86 (free tram zone). Exit the FRONT of the tram, cr

Health & Well-Being Pitch Night – October 27th, 2026 Apply Here for Health & Well Being Pitch Night The Startup Network is hosting its signature Pitch Night competition this time focusing on health and well being startups. Health & Well Being Pitch Night at The Commons QV – October 27th, 2026 (Tuesday) Dive into the world of innovation focused on health and well-being at our 2026 Health & Well-Being Pitch Night . This event highlights founders creating transformative solutions to improve lives, promote wellness, and revolutionize health and well-being industries. Why Join Us? This evening is dedicated to showcasing startups tackling challenges in health, fitness, mental well-being, and beyond. Whether you're passionate about advancing wellness, investing in impactful solutions, or supporting startups in this critical space, this event is for you. What to Expect on the Night: The Health & Well-Being Pitch Night is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the intersection of innovation and well-being. Guests will: Network with an ever-growing community of investors, founders, service providers, and startup operators. Support four incredible early-stage founders as they pitch their transformative health and wellness solutions. Vote for their favourite pitch of the night. Reserve Your Seat Today! Don’t miss out on this evening filled with networking, innovation, and celebration. Register now to be part of The Startup Network's Health & Well-Being Startups Pitch Night and connect with the changemakers shaping a brighter future! TSN members enjoy complimentary access to our Pitch Nights! Not a member yet? Join today and unlock numerous benefits designed to support your entrepreneurial journey. -------------------------------------------------------- 🧾 Refund & Credit Policy – The Startup Network We’re a not-for-profit committed to building a stronger, more connected startup community. We strive to make our events accessible, enjoyable, and financially sustaina

Are you feeling stressed about having to deal with multiple different personalities, especially those perceived to be difficult people? Do certain personalities make you anxious and you find it challenging to deal with them? Are you experiencing conflict within your environment and you just don’t know how to manage it? Process Communication Model (PCM) is the right tool to help you manoeuvre through all this. Learn invaluable skills to communicate, motivate and build stronger connections with the people around us. Importantly, learn these skills while gaining Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, as PCM is accredited by various medical colleges including RACS, ANZCA and RANZCOG. PCM is an award-winning evidence based communication model, developed in the US following decades of research. Traditionally used by NASA for astronaut selection, politicians during campaigns, and many organisations around the world that aspire to build effective high-performing teams. PCM teaches you the skills to understand the mindset, behaviour, motivation and distress patterns of yourself and others. It is also proven to improve interaction between people, and will help you be a better leader. After the seminar, you will have the skills to: Observe and decode behaviour of self and others Be a dynamic leader by communicating effectively Predict and identify the onset of disruptive behaviour Motivate oneself and others Respond quickly to diffuse potential conflict situations Identify distress signals in self and others, and to properly manage this distress

Save the date for an evening of health related talks at the Royal Melbourne Hospital with Antony Ugoni and Phil Brierley https://www.linkedin.com/in/anton

Save the date for an evening of health related talks at the Royal Melbourne Hospital with Antony Ugoni and Phil Brierley https://www.linkedin.com/in/anton

Get ready to learn about how to behave respectfully and inclusively at our Code of Conduct Training event - it's gonna be awesome!

2027 SoRes Melbourne – International Conference on Interdisciplinary Research in Social Sciences, 24-25 March

TECHSPO Melbourne Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS) - August 4 - 5, 2027 - Melbourne, Australia