From PFC to a $179M Series C. Just Saying
Hey,
2022 cemented UNSW’s place as Australia’s top university for producing venture-backed founders (The Australian). Most notable among them? The co-founders of Harrison.ai, Australia’s biggest AI-first startup- who placed 2nd in the Peter Farrell Cup back in 2013.
Their PFC idea wasn’t the one that just raised a mammoth $179M Series C, but it was the start of their founder journey. It shows what’s possible when ambitious founders get early backing- and the tools to turn raw ideas into world-changing ventures.
🚨 PFC applications close Sunday at midnight. If you’re a UNSW student (undergrad, postgrad, or HDR) with big ideas sitting in your notes app, it’s time to do something about them.
🎉 Took part in PFC anytime in the last 25 years? We want to reconnect. Hit reply or complete this short form.
Here’s a glimpse at what’s happening across UNSW Founders right now:
🎙️ Live taping of In the Blink of AI with the Head of Notion ANZ & Asia (TODAY).
🤝 First Thursdays with Hayden Smith, Co-Founder of Pearler, on cracking fintech.
🛠️ Terrible Ideas Hackathon- Another 46 hours of proudly useless inventions (T2 Week 3).
💻 Digital Makers Series- teaching Western Sydney residents to build apps from scratch.
💼 And we’re hiring- two new roles to help us support even more founders.
Keep scrolling for these deets + plus, new portfolio wins and community news to warm the heart on these chilly days ❤️🔥.
Cheers,
Senior Manager (Ideas)
UNSW Founders
💥 Over 200 people came together to celebrate the women founders of New Wave Cohort 15 at our recent Showcase. After six intense weeks of customer interviews, prototyping and peer support, founders shared the bold ideas they’ve been bringing to life. The Showcase recognised not just prizes, but progress, persistence and community.
A huge thank you to our prize and scholarship partners: UNSW Engineering, UNSW Medicine & Health, UNSW Canberra Launch and Westpac for making this program possible.
🔗 See the highlights and award winners
🚨 Final Call: UNSW’s $100K Ideas Pitch Comp Closes Sunday
Got a startup idea? Don’t let it sit in your notes app. UNSW’s Peter Farrell Cup is turning 25- and this year, we’re giving away $100,000 in prizes and support to help students like you turn ideas into impact.
We’ve extended the deadline to Sunday 1 June at 11:59 PM, giving you one last weekend to apply.
✨ Why it’s worth it:
- Launch your startup idea
- Pitch to top investors and founders
- Access expert coaching and support
- Join a legacy 25 years in the making
👉 Eligibility: - The team lead must be a current UNSW student and one of the original idea creators. Teammates can come from anywhere.
📅 Don't miss out - get your app in today!
😵💫 Term 2’s most chaotic weekend is coming. Are you in?
From Friday 20 to Sunday 22 June (Week 3), the MCIC will host a 46-hour hackathon where you’ll build the worst idea you’ve ever had- from blinking cameras to vegemite fudge. No skills needed. No pressure. Just proudly terrible ideas and a whole lot of fun.
✨ Why it’s worth it:
Create chaos in the MCIC makerspace.
Free meals all weekend.
Awards for the worst ideas imaginable.
Come solo or bring a friend- collab encouraged, weirdness guaranteed.
🔗 Register now if you like making friends, building nonsense, and getting rewarded for it.
📅 TODAY, 29 May | 5.30 - 7.30pm | 📍MCIC, UNSW Kens
Get inside the future of productivity with the first ever live recording of In the Blink of AI. Host Georgie Healy will sit down with Andrew McCarthy, Head of Notion ANZ and Asia, for an unfiltered conversation on AI, cutting through tech bloat and what it really takes to launch one of the world’s biggest productivity platforms in Australia.
🍸 $10 ticket includes drinks, snacks and great company 🎯 Real stories from inside Notion’s global expansion ⚡ Where AI is taking work next
Register now, spots are limited!
📅 Every Wednesday | 4 June - 2 July | 5:00 - 7:00PM | 📍Liverpool City Library
Back by popular demand, this free, hands-on workshop series will teach you how to turn your ideas into digital products, fast. Whether you are a complete beginner or ready to sharpen your skills, this is your chance to build apps, websites and online stores from the ground up.
You can attend one session or come to all six.
What you will learn:
Rapid idea testing and visualisation
Design thinking and business planning
App prototyping in Figma
Website building in Framer
Online store setup with Shopify
Open to everyone aged 16 and up. No prior experience needed.
👉 Select your sessions and register today.
📅 Thurs, 5 June | 4:00 – 6:00PM | 📍MCIC, UNSW Kens
Join our monthly UNSW Founders meetup to connect with fellow innovators, mentors, and startup supporters - and hear from one of Australia’s most impactful fintech founders.
This month, we sit down with Hayden Smith, CTO and Co-Founder of Pearler, a long-term investing platform that’s helped over 118,000 Australians invest $2B+ with confidence and purpose.
💡 Learn how Pearler cracked a regulated market 🌱 Hear how they scaled a values-driven company 🙋♀️ Ask anything during the open Q&A 🍷 Stay for networking + drinks
🆓 Free to attend - but spots fill fast.
🎟️ Register now to secure your place!
📅 Wed, 11 June | 5:30 - 7:00 PM |📍MCIC, UNSW Kens
If you’ve ever tried to pitch a story to a journalist, you’ll know it’s harder than it looks.
What makes an idea worth writing about? How do you get your email opened and not ignored? We’re bringing in Seamus Byrne, award-winning tech journalist and regular ABC commentator, to break it down.
He’ll share:
✅ How to get journalists interested
✅ What to include in your emails
✅ Examples of ideas that cut through
This is for anyone with a story to tell, especially if you're building something new and want people to know about it. 🎟️ Free to attend. Spots are limited.
📅 Thurs, 12 June | 10:30AM – 3:00PM |📍The William Inglis Hotel, Warwick Farm
Calling all medtech innovators! Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring how to design medical devices that are both manufacturable and compliant - from the very first sketch.
💡 Part 1: Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Learn from experts at ResMed, Skiant Holdings, and Genesys how to build devices that scale efficiently and affordably.
✅ Part 2: Compliance in Design Explore regulatory pathways, quality systems, and usability with medtech veterans from ResMed, Sento Solutions, and Skiant Holdings.
👩🔬 Perfect for early-stage founders, designers, and engineers bringing new health tech to life 🥗 Includes networking and catered lunch
🎟️ Free to attend - register for one or both sessions!
Brought to you by UNSW & Liverpool Innovation Precinct.
📅 Thu 12 June | 5:30 – 8:00PM |📍MCIC, UNSW
Join authors of Riding the Unicorn, Wenee and Thomas Derricott-Yap, for a no-fluff guide to building your own startup from a technical background. They’ll break down why most startups fail, how to spot blind spots early, and what it really takes to scale your ideas.
✨ What’s in store:
From algorithm to IPO: a startup roadmap for tech talent.
Founder mistakes to avoid (especially if you’re technical).
AI trends & regulation updates from the DSAi team.
Plus, Meet investors, founders & future collaborators.
🦄 No unicorns were harmed in the making of this event- just startup myths.
📅 Thu, 26 Jun | 2:00 – 4:00PM |📍MCIC, UNSW Kens
Celebrate the incredible progress of UNSW’s second cohort of ECA Startup Fellows as they transform deep research into real world ventures. Over the past three months, these early career academics have worked with UNSW Founders to explore the commercial potential of their research across health, sustainability, resilience and more.
Join us for an afternoon of lightning talks, poster displays, and networking with the growing community of academic entrepreneurs at UNSW.
👉 Free to attend. Light refreshments provided.
Maker Night is your weekly chance to get hands-on, build cool stuff, and meet fellow creators. Whether you’re prototyping hardware, tinkering with tech, or just curious, come hang out, use the tools, and bring your ideas to life. No experience needed, just show up and make something.
New here? See directions 👉 VISIT US
⚡️Coach & Connect
Available for FREE to all UNSW staff, students and alumni with a bright idea for a new startup, or an already established business.
From developing an idea, building a business model, raising capital to merely exploring entrepreneurship, we’re here to help! LEARN MORE 👀
💪 Whether it's learning to code, building a prototype, designing a new product or merely learning a new creative skill, our team at the Makerspace & MCIC have something for you. We are always pulling together exciting workshops & short courses to help you learn and grow.
Explore the latest workshops now! 🗺️
📚 GENE1500 (6 UoC | Undergraduate) Explore the foundations of entrepreneurship through hands-on learning. Validate a problem, recruit a team, prototype solutions, and pitch your startup. Develop real-world skills in business model design, experimentation, and customer feedback while earning course credit.
📚 ZZBU6103 (6 UoC | Postgraduate) Dive into entrepreneurship and innovation by identifying real-world problems and designing solutions for market needs. Learn to apply Customer Discovery, Business Model Canvas, and persuasive storytelling to bring your ideas to life.
🔗 Learn More & Enrol to Earn credits while building the future! 🚀
Big Bang Beauty Tech: L’Oréal Wants You
For the first time, L’Oréal’s Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program is open to ANZ startups. Selected ventures will pitch in Singapore, access global mentors, and run a commercial pilot with L’Oréal across the SAPMENA region. Tracks include Consumer Experience, Tech for Good, and more. 📅 Applications close 30 May 2025.
Cartier Women’s Initiative: Grants for Women Impact Entrepreneurs
A global program supporting women-led startups driving social or environmental impact. Winners receive funding, international exposure, and lifelong access to a 500+ strong alumni community. Open to founders in 9 global regions, including Oceania. 💸 Up to US$100,000 in grant funding
🌍 Global mentorship + media visibility
🤝 Long-term community support 📅 Applications close 15 August 2025
Build High-Impact Mobile Health Apps – With Stanford
Join Stanford & UNSW experts to learn how to build high-quality mobile health apps using the Spezi ecosystem- used for heart failure, menopause, Parkinson’s & more.
🗓️ Wed 18 June | 🕚 11 - 12PM AEST | 💻 Online | 🔗 Register here