ThincSeed Accelerator Program
Elevate your start-up to the next level and get investor ready.
What is the ThincSeed Accelerator Program?
The ThincSeed Accelerator is the tailored program designed to propel your start-up towards success.
Benefit from 13 weeks of structured support, collaborative workshops and weekly 1:1 coaching to launch and scale your game-changing innovation. Our proven methodology guides companies through well-defined steps, preparing founders to fast-track their business goals. Join a cohort of driven founders and get the support, knowledge, and confidence you need to get your start-up to the next level.
The ThincSeed program dives into multiple business facets through interactive sessions, ensuring startups are well-positioned in all critical areas. Gain clarity and equip yourself with the knowledge and strategies to meet seed round investor expectations.
The ThincSeed program culminates with the ThincSeed Pitch Night event where founders have the invaluable opportunity to showcase their business to prospective customers, partners, and investors, with the chance to receive investment of up to a total of $40,000K to get their product or service to market.
Download the information pack here.
Sign up to the ThincLab Mailing list to be the first to know when the next applications open for the 2025 program.
What are the benefits of joining ThincSeed?
- Experiential Learning: 13 weeks of discovery from startup experts through immersive workshops, personalised mentoring, and collaborative activities.
- Coaching: Weekly 1:1 in-person sessions with entrepreneurial facilitators.
- Networking: Connect with fellow startups and the business community.
- Co-Working Access: Access ThincLab's central CBD co-working space during and upon successful program completion.
- Personal Development: Enhance your entrepreneurial mindset and develop positive behavioural changes to progress your business.
- Problem Solving: Solve pressing problems with your product/service.
- Go-to-Market Strategy: Tailor your go-to-market strategy for your target audience.
- Market Understanding: Understand your target market and build the foundations for an in-depth analysis.
- Model Business Growth: Think through the financial growth of your business.
- Pitch Excellence: Refine your pitch to a level that captivates investors, making your startup an appealing choice for seed round investment.
- Team Success: Plan for a winning team and organisational structure for startup success.
The ThincSeed Fund
Across the sixteen start-ups selected for the 2024 ThincSeed Accelerator program, participating companies have the opportunity to receive pre-seed investment of up to a total of $40,000 per company from the ThincSeed Fund. This funding is at the discretion of the ThincSeed Investment Committee. Proudly supported by The University of Adelaide’s Innovation and Commercialisation Services department and partnering with Bridgewater Advisory Pty Ltd, this strategic collaboration is designed to enable the first funding steps for high-potential start-ups. The intent of the funding is to drive your company to Seed Round funding success.
Key dates
Applications for the 2025 Accelerator will be open in May.
For general enquiries please contact Kat Ortega, ThincSeed Program Coordinator by email at thinclab@adelaide.edu.au
FAQ's
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What to Expect from the ThincSeed Program?
You will gain an invaluable understanding into investor mindsets and refine your pitch presentations and negotiating positions. The insights gained are relevant beyond fundraising; covering grant applications, corporate strategy development, and risk reduction for directors. We offer a holistic approach equipping founders with tools to make enhanced decisions to drive their businesses forward. Through the ThincSeed program, discover investor perspectives and unlock multiple growth opportunities.
- Fortnightly in-person workshops (2 hours)
- 1:1 in-person weekly coaching sessions tailored to your specific needs (1 hour)
- Tracking progress against personalised targets
- Networking and socialising
- Opportunity to pitch in front of a live audience at the ThincSeed Pitch Night Event
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Who is ThincSeed Program For?
This program is tailored for driven entrepreneurs and early-stage startup founders. Our program welcomes those hungry for growth, knowledge, visibility, and networking opportunities. We welcome startup founders from all industries to join the ThincSeed Accelerator Program.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Have a prototype or MVP ready, and have undertaken initial market validation
- Early revenue or currently undertaking market testing with a line of sight to revenues
- Founders are available to participate in person for all the mentoring sessions and workshops
- Operating under an Australian Registered Company (Pty Ltd)
Note: Any Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students who are selected for the program are able to claim 20 CaRST credits in Domain D.
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What Domain Experts Will your Start-up Have Access To?
The program sessions will be facilitated by Alex Cross, Jonathan Whalley and Tabitha McFarlane. Program and event management is coordinated by Kat Ortega from the ThincLab team.
Each program workshop will have an expert guest presenter selected for their domain knowledge. The experts have relevant industry experience and have a passion for the startup ecosystem to thrive.
In 2024, our guest presents are:
- Paul Daly, Expertise in Investing and the Start-up Ecosystem
- Tabitha McFarlane, Expertise in Finance, Tax and Compliance
- Joel Abraham, Expertise in Growth & Strategy
- Sean Grealy, Founder Led Sales and Sales Strategy, Sell Anything
- Cecilia White, Expertise in People and Culture, Perks People Solutions
- Nigel Barker, Expertise in Marketing, The University of Adelaide
- Mark Rice, Expertise in Intellectual Property, Product & Services Development
- Talent Academy, Expertise in Communication and Public Speaking
- Linda Phompak, Expertise in Product Management and Design
- Ashby Field, Expertise in Start-up Business Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, DSD
- James Allen, Expertise in Finance, Bentleys
- Amanda Green, Expertise in People and Culture, Perks People Solutions
Our 2023 guest presenters were:
- Paul Daly, Expertise in Investing
- Andrew Richards, Expertise in Product & Services Development
- Nigel Barker, Expertise in Marketing
- Joel Abraham, Expertise in Growth & Strategy
- Georgi Roberts, Expertise in Marketing
- Briony Hutchens, Expertise in Financial Law
- Lisa Calabrese, Expertise in Financial Law
- Kaye Frigo, Expertise in People and Culture
- Paul Young, Expertise in Growth & Strategy
- Josh Garratt, Expertise in Pitching and Angel Investing
- Tabitha McFarlane, Expertise in Tax and Compliance
Our program partners
ThincLab is the business incubator at The University of Adelaide and Bridgewater Advisory which specialises in navigating the critical early phases of business growth are partnering in the delivery and management of the program.
Recipient of AEDA's Strategic Partnerships Program
ThincLab's commitment to innovation has earned recognition through Adelaide Economic Development Agency's Strategic Partnerships Program. The funding from AEDA has enabled the ThincSeed program to run twice in 2024.
Adelaide Economic Development Agency
The Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) commenced operating in January 2021. The City of Adelaide recognised the importance of the need to accelerate economic growth in the City, and as part of its 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, sought to design and implement a new city-wide business model. This has led to the creation of AEDA. AEDA works closely with businesses, industry groups, state government agencies and other relevant organisations to deliver a range of programs designed to stimulate the city's economic growth with a focus on investment attraction, growing our visitor economy, residential growth, marketing the city as a whole and promoting Rundle Mall as Adelaide's premier shopping destination.
Bridgewater Advisory
Bridgewater Advisory are dedicated to driving success for technology innovators by propelling their global expansion. Their powerhouse team consists of seasoned business and commercialisation experts, including a dynamic ensemble of influential C-Level Principals, boasting extensive international experience. Bridgewater Advisory specialise in delivering ingenious, sustainable business solutions that can supercharge revenue but also seamlessly integrate technical expertise with entrepreneurial acumen.