Innova Search x DiUS: AI Investment to Commercial Outcomes

Come and join us for a night of startups, AI and infinite buzz! Come if you are: - Interested in AI - A founder of a startup - Working at a startup - A human - An AI masquerading as a human and wearing human skin Expect drinks, food and good times with Melbourne's startup ecosystem. VICTOR:AI is a pre-accelerator for early-stage startups ready to grow, supported by MLAI, Stone & Chalk, HEX and Innovation Victoria. Join the VICTOR:AI founders, Sherpas, and friends of the program for a buzzing Networking Night at Stone & Chalk. Share what you've been building, have great conversations, and meet a room full of people building the next wave of AI ventures in the Victoria startup ecosystem.

Innova Search, in partnership with DiUS, are hosting our first Women in Tech event in Melbourne, and we'd love you to join. The theme is AI Investment to Commercial Outcomes: how technology leaders are measuring commercial results and getting real return from AI investment. Our panel will talk about what's working and what isn't, and there's an hour afterwards to meet Melbourne's tech community over food and drinks. This is an invite-only evening for senior technology leaders. If you'd like a place, please message me directly: linkedin.com/in/mariehiggins-womenintechseniorleadersrecruiter Thursday 22 October, 5.30pm to 8.00pm DIUS, 3/31 Queen Street, Melbourne Agenda • 5.30pm: Arrive • 6.00pm to 7.00pm: Panel and Q&A • 7.00pm to 8.00pm: Networking, with food and drinks Part of the Innova Search Women in Tech community, which supports and connects women in technology and DiUS are kindly sponsoring the evening.

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

Topic: DIY Data Stack: Some Dos and a Lot of Do Nots Date: Friday 23rd October 2026 at 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Networking: 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm and 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm Presentation Time: 6:00 pm - 6.45 pm (includes welcome, presentation 30 mins & community marketplace) Location: Thoughtworks HQ Level 35/360 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 Ticket: Free of cost, however, registrations and RSVP are required! Sponsor: Thoughtworks Precis Building and self-hosting a data stack can seem like the perfect weekend project, until one weekend becomes many. In this candid, practical session, Ryan, a Data Strategist at Thoughtworks, shares the lessons learned from taking the DIY route: what worked, what broke and what he would do differently from the start. Whether you are experimenting on a shoestring budget, building your first platform or weighing self-hosting against managed services, you will leave with grounded guidance on where to invest effort, which pitfalls to avoid, and how to make sensible choices for your skills, needs and constraints. About The Speaker Ryan is a Data Strategist at Thoughtworks, focused on data strategy and AI platforms. Over an eighteen-year career, he's worked across software development, data science, and product management - spanning industries from retail to fintech to government. He co-organises the Data Engineering Melbourne meetup, previously taught Data Analytics bootcamp, spoken at PyCon Australia and gets woken by his cat about 1 hour before sunrise every day.

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