LaunchVic

24/03/2026

How do you help travellers discover what a destination has to offer without jumping between dozens of websites?

Jaye Leighton, founder of The Past Connection, is tackling exactly that as a winner of the CivVic Labs Experience Victoria Challenge.

The Past Connection is a digital platform bringing together Victoria’s past-focused tourism experiences in one place, making it easier for visitors to explore what’s on offer.

Through the CivVic Labs program, founders like Jaye are putting their ideas to the test with support from mentors, industry leaders and government.

Stay up to date with programs, grants and founder opportunities:
launchvic.org/subscribe

02/03/2026

Twelve months ago, Factor House was transitioning from a bootstrapped startup to a VC-backed company, and quickly realised they didn’t yet have all the skills required to grow their team in a meaningful, sustainable way.

They joined LaunchVic’s Basecamp to strengthen not just how they hired, but how they onboarded and optimised their team with the goal of building a genuinely high-performing culture.

What Basecamp provided was structure: a clear approach to hiring, onboarding and optimising for growth.

If you’re planning to significantly grow your team over the next six to 12 months — or you’re transitioning from early stage to growth stage — watch the video below for more from Co-Founder & COO Kylie Troy-West.

27/02/2026

Victorian startups are teaming up with local tourism operators to reimagine how visitors experience our state through the CivVic Labs Experience Victoria Challenge.
Meet DiveScout — the app helping divers discover the best nearby dive sites based on live weather conditions. 🌊
Founder Dr Lourdes Zamanillo has mapped more than 600 dive sites across Victoria, integrating real-time weather data so you can see where it’s best and safest to dive at any given moment.
Smarter adventures. Safer dives. A better way to explore Victoria.

26/02/2026

Celebrating International Women’s Day with The Alice Anderson Fund. 🚀

23/02/2026

Have you ever come across a ‘culture crusher’ at work? Or worse, hired one?

They’re the people who bring sustained negativity into the workplace, and once they’re in, the damage is hard to undo.

In this video, hiring expert Lorena Healey unpacks the three dead give aways of a culture crusher in a job interview, and why founders need to be crystal clear on who they say yes and no to.

19/02/2026

BOLD Episode 2 is live.

Hiring and Scaling: Building the Right Team at Every Stage.

Madeleine Grummet, Michael Delaney, Sarah Sherriff, Pavi Iyer, and Anthony Meek on building teams that scale.

Link in bio.

18/02/2026

The biggest mistake founders make hiring their first team? Moving too fast.

The pressure to “just get someone in” is real, especially when you’re stretched thin and growth is on the line. But early hiring decisions shape your culture, burn rate and trajectory more than almost anything else.

So, before you post that job ad, get clear on:

1️⃣ Your value proposition to potential employees

2️⃣ The skills you actually need

3️⃣ What you can pay

4️⃣ What you won’t compromise on

Hear more from recruitment expert Lorena Healey sharing practical advice for founders building their first teams.

16/02/2026

Making your first hires this year? Before you post the job ad, take a moment to listen to these tips from recruitment expert Lorena Healey.
Hear from mentors like Lorena in Basecamp 2026, our hiring education program for busy founders. Head to our website for more information.

12/02/2026

Congratulations to all the teams pitching at the CivVic Labs Showcase tonight! The latest CivVic Labs Challenge asks founders to reimagine Victorian events and tourism experiences with the latest tech. Hear more about the program from our CEO Dr Kate Cornick, and keep your eyes peeled for the winner announcement dropping soon. ☀️

11/02/2026

This week LaunchVic brought together 70+ founders and 16 leading VCs for a speed dating session with a difference...

Our second Founder Funder Connect event kicked off with a deep dive into the realities of raising capital in 2026, from structuring your round and refining your data room, to navigating investor conversations, co-founder equity and more.

Founders then split into small-group sessions with investors based on sector and cheque size, and some great follow up conversations are already in the works.

The day was packed with practical insights and genuine connections and we extend our thanks to all the founders and investors who made it a great afternoon.

09/02/2026

As an early-stage founder, making the wrong hire can set you back six to twelve months.

That’s why we built Basecamp, LaunchVic’s program to help founders make their first hires with more confidence and clarity.

Basecamp gives you the tools and resources to understand when to hire, who to hire, where to find that talent, and how to manage and retain them once they’re on board.

Over two months, you’ll learn from mentors, experts and coaches who have built and scaled teams in startups and scaleups in Australia and around the world.

If you’re raising capital, feeling pressure to grow, or unsure how to build the right team for your next milestone, this is a practical place to start.

To learn more about Basecamp, check out our website. Link in bio.

09/09/2025

Help shape the future for Victorian startups

Now is your last chance to have your say in Australia’s largest startup ecosystem survey

Must close Monday 15 September

If you’re a founder, investor, educator, accelerator, incubator, coworking space, service provider, or policymaker -- your input matters.

Why take part?
✅ Help showcase what’s working – and what needs fixing – in the ecosystem
✅ Contribute to 12 years of data that informs government and research
✅ Access exclusive partner offers and discounts

Grab a coffee and complete the survey here: https://startupmuster.com/

Make sure your startup or support organisation is represented