Tech Ready Women's Female Founder Startup Program

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Applications are now OPEN and close on Monday, 8 April 2024. Apply Today!

from idea to launch

Join the TRW Female Founder Startup Program

Our 8-week startup program has been specifically designed to help you test and launch your idea in the market.

The program has been developed by industry experts and successful entrepreneurs. Throughout the program you will be supported by mentors, ensuring you get access to the best advice, education and networks to help you to succeed on your startup journey. 

HEAR FROM OUR PROGRAM LEAD

Why TRW Female Founder Startup Program?

 

You will get access to

✔️ Hybrid Orientation Night at Sydney Startup Hub

✔️ Weekly online workshops (from 12.30 PM to 2 PM on Mondays)

✔️ Small Group Office Hours*

✔️ E-Learning modules

✔️ Community platform

✔️ Additional Lunch & Learns with special guests

✔️ World-class mentors and industry experts

✔️ A community of like-minded female founders

*One-on-one office hours are also available at an extra subsidised cost. Read our FAQs for more information.
Time commitment: As in any life project, investing time and effort will make a difference. The program requires 1.5 hours for the weekly workshops plus 4-5 hours/week to implement the activities and attend office hours.

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What you will gain from the program

 

  • Proven methods to test, build and launch your idea
  • Confidence in your own skills and abilities to create a successful startup 
  • Access to a quality mentor and peer network
  • Clear understanding of early stage startup legals 
  • An opportunity to put into practice all of your learnings

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Get mentored by

Australia's Top Entrepreneurs & Experts

2024 June intake - Key Dates

🚀 Applications close: 5 PM AEST on Monday, 8 April 2024

🚀 Applications outcome: Last week of April 2024

🚀 Program starts: Monday, 3 June 2024

🚀 Program ends: Monday, 29 July 2024

Apply HERE

What's the cost of the program?

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the NSW Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade, and Sydney Startup Hub, we're offering 50 scholarships of $723+GST ($2,723+GST) to make this program accessible to female founders.

Payment plans are also available. Read our FAQs for more information.

Please note that this program is for female founders based in NSW only.

8-week startup course outline

Week 1

Orientation

Introduction to Tech Ready Women, getting to know you and understanding you as a founder
3 June 2024
Week 2

The Idea

Learn about design thinking, understand problem-solution fit and learn how to conduct user research
11 June 2024
Week 3

Customer & Market Discovery

Customer testing, buyer personas, competitor analysis and Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
17 June 2024
Week 4

Business & Financial Modelling

Understand different types of business models, value proposition and financial modelling for startups
24 June 2024
Week 5

Developing an Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Different types of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and landing page experiment
1 July 2024
Week 6

UX, Tech & Product Management

Product management, programming frameworks & languages, rapid prototyping and customer experience and UX design
8 July 2024
Week 7

Startup Legals

Company registration & structures, shareholders and protecting your IP
15 July 2024
Week 8

Pitch Preparation

Craft your 2-minute elevator pitch and pitch submission. You can do it!
22 July 2024
Final Week

Virtual Graduation Night

A night to celebrate and commemorate your achievements
29 July 2024
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Founders across five cohorts
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from diverse backgrounds
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FEMALE MENTORS
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(OUT OF 10) INCREASE IN STARTUP SKILLS RATE
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IDEA VALIDATED AFTER 8 WEEKS
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MENTORS & EXPERTS

Meet the 2024 Mentors Cohort

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Impact Entrepreneur & CEO at YVY Life Sciences
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Head of Growth Marketing at Turo Australia
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Founder & CEO at Skwill
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Founder of Mycoo
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Innovation Strategist & Startup Advisor
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Head of Mobile and Web Development at Audax
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Founder & Director of Tech Ready Women | Co-Founder at Intu Wellness
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Senior Lawyer at LegalVision Australia
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SVP Product Engineering at Culture Amp
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Program Lead at Tech Ready Women
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Founder - Middle8 and Formerly JobGetter | Startup Mentor @ UTS Startups
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Executive Coach | Mindset Coach | Startup Advisor & Investor
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Coralus Activator | Founder & Chief Play Officer at Playful Purpose
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Director at Equity Hive | Advisor, Investor, Leader & Disruptor
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Senior Consultant at Padiso
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CEO at Adaca
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Managing Director at FrontPaw
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Non-Executive Director and Business Consultant

Hear from some of our alumni & mentors

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Without the course, I would never have had the courage to apply for an MVP grant and so much more.

Kate Neubauer
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Joining the program gave me a clear direction and a place to ask questions to help get my startup off the ground.

Nina Leelah
Bartrick Parkour
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Through the Tech Ready Women course, I have met so many inspiring, strong and ambitious women in business.

Rebecca Lim
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I wish that when I started, I had access to a program like this with industry experts of this calibre!

Lauren Warwick
Former Co-founder of Glamazon, Marketing Lead at Urban Company
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The program helped me to clearly define my goals, find major holes in what I was doing, pulled them apart and helped me put them back together. 

Blaise McCann
Founder, Hear Us Roar
 
 
 
 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Applications

Who is the program for?

This program is for women who have an idea for a tech startup. The program covers all of the key steps required to test and launch your idea. You are ideally in the early stages of developing your business and you feel like you’re missing some key skills and knowledge to help you to get it to market. 

 You also do not have to have prior experience in order to apply. 

We welcome female founders from underserved communities including women who are diverse, based in regional communities, CALD, Women of Colour, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and/or returning to work.

We recognise and acknowledge the intersection of race and gender identities. Our program is offered to marginalised genders including women, women-identifying individuals, and non-binary and gender non-conforming people who are comfortable in a community space that centres on the education, mentoring and business support of women in the startup ecosystem.

 

Please note: Program scholarship positions are for NSW residents only. 

How do I apply?

You can apply online with two simple steps. First register through our website. You will then be sent an email with the application form.

When do applications close?

Application close dates are advised on the website and included in the application email.

Applications for our 2024 June intake are closing at AEST 5 PM on Monday, 8 April 2024.

What is the application process?

Once we have received your initial application you will be notified if you have been shortlisted. The top 50 applicants will be selected for the program and will be notified via email and/or phone.

Application outcomes will be notified during the last week of April 2024.

What is the program cost and what's the judging criteria?

Thanks to the support of the NSW Government, 73% of the program participation fee has been subsidised. There are 50 scholarships available for the cohort.

If your application is successful you will be offered a part scholarship of $723+GST ($2,723+GST).

Criteria for judging are based on the following:

  • You self-identify as a woman or you are a non-binary and gender non-conforming individual who is comfortable in a community space that centres on the education, mentoring and business support of women in the startup ecosystem
  • You have an idea for a startup, or have already started building one (see definition of startup in our FAQs)
  • Your connection to the idea and why you are the best person to build it
  • Clarity in the application (how well you can articulate your idea)
     

The judging panel consider the criteria outlined before along with the additional information provided by the applicant via the application form to determine whether the application is successful. This assessment is performed case by case.

Can I apply if I'm not based in NSW?

This program is sponsored by the NSW Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade and Sydney Startup Hub, therefore, scholarships are offered to NSW-based founders only. Regrettably, this means that if you're not based in NSW, we will not be able to offer you a spot in this program. If you have any questions, please contact one of our team members at [email protected].

How do you choose the participants?

We will spend time reviewing each application before deciding on the final participants to ensure those selected will benefit the most out of the program. 

Places are limited so if your application is not successful for this round we will encourage you to reapply for the next intake. We want to see you succeed so will also refer you to other programs and communities that can support your stage of business.

Can I apply if I'm a visa holder?

This program is for permanent residents and Australian citizens. If you're a visa holder, we won't be able to offer you a spot in this program.

What's a startup?

A startup is a company in the initial stages of bringing technology and innovative products or services to market in a new way.

This includes small businesses selling products or services online, an app to make people’s lives easier, a platform to help businesses be more efficient, and many others. The beauty of startups is that there are infinite possibilities to innovate and bring solutions to our communities.

We encourage startups in both technology and innovation to apply. We are looking for scalable startup ideas, i.e. a business model that can increase revenue, without a direct increase in expenditure.

What stage should my idea be at?

Our 8-week program supports women in the early stages of developing a startup idea. Typically, you will have:

  • A startup idea unformed and looking to up-skill through expert teachings and mentor assistance
  • A startup idea formed and looking to create a business product from the idea during the program with feedback from mentors
  • A startup idea fully formed and some research conducted with a focus on connection to mentors and industry experts
  • Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in the market but not yet commercialised or reached product market fit
Is my application/startup idea kept confidential when I apply?

Yes, we will not disclose your application details to any unauthorised parties or sources. We ensure confidentiality of the information with the data that you provide to us via the application form.

If you are concerned about your startup idea IP, you don't need to share with us anything you wouldn't share in a public forum.

2. Program

When does the program start?

The 2024 June TRW Female Founder Startup program starts on Monday, 3 June 2024 and runs for 8 weeks until Monday, 29 July 2024.

If the start or end date is moved, we will update communications and let you know as soon as possible.

What is included in the 8-week program?

The program is an 8-week hybrid program. Week 1 will be conducted as a face-to-face session out of Sydney Startup Hub and will be live-streamed for our regional founders. Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be held virtually with 1.5 contact hours required each week.

You will have a facilitator and mentors to support and assist you with your questions and to implement your learnings. Our activities and exercises are specifically designed to improve your success rate, when it comes to building sustainable technology products and services.

You will have also access to office hours sessions every week with mentors and experts.

The online modules have been created by industry experts in startups, UX design, software development, product strategy and investment. We’ll provide you with templates, resources, and activities to help you develop your idea, tech product or service.

In general, during the course of the program, you will get access to:

  • Weekly online workshops (from 12.30 PM to 2 PM on Mondays)
  • E-learning modules
  • Weekly small group office hours with experts and mentors
  • Additional Lunch & Learns or Ask Me Anything with special guests
  • Community platform: TRW Female Founder Connect
  • A supportive community of female founders
Will I be able to understand if I don't have a tech background?

Yes. Tech Ready Women’s programs are designed for non-tech female founders. There will be unfamiliar terms, but the mentors and experts are there to explain any concepts you may have questions about.

3. Payment and payment options

If I am selected for a part subsidised spot, are payment plans available?

We have two payment plan options available:

  • 2x monthly instalment payment plan (x2 $361.50+GST) = $723+GST
  • 3x monthly instalment payment plan (x3 $260+GST) = $780+GST

In both cases, the first invoice will be paid before the program starts.

Payment plans are approved based on a review of your personal case.

Can I claim the cost of the fee on tax?

If a company purchases the course, that company can claim the GST. The course is tax-deductible, however please seek advice from your accountant.

4. Before the workshop

How much time do I need to commit each week during the program?

Typically, there is a 2-hour digital e-learning & activities per module delivered by our experts and 1.5 hours of live workshops per week. The first three weeks will require more time than most due to the activities set. We recommend you set aside at least 4-5 hours per week outside of the workshops to implement the activities and attend office hours.

What is the e-learning about?

We want you to maximise as much time with the mentors as possible so all of the learning content is offered via our e-learning platform. This means you will have the opportunity to do pre-work before the workshops, giving you time to implement some of the learnings, and gain valuable feedback from our mentors. The content is taught via video so be sure to take notes of any questions so the facilitators and mentors can answer them on the weekly online workshops.

5. Mentors/Office Hours

How much time do I get with mentors?

You get 1.5 hours per week with mentors during the weekly online workshops. Each online session has approximately 10 mentors. 

Also, you will get access to additional sessions as small group office hours every week and Ask Me Anything sessions with experts and mentors.

How can I communicate with Mentors?

Program participants can contact mentors via our community platform that you will get access to if you have any questions about course content.

How do small group office hours work?

Office hours are held in small groups of 4 founders for a total of 60 minutes with one of your mentors. These sessions are a great opportunity for founders to ask questions about their startups and the content of the program, as well as connect with other founders in small settings.

Each week, you will get access to the calendar of office hours available with our mentors for you to book.

Can I get access to one-on-one office hours?

Yes, you can. If you would like a personalised experience during your office hours, one-on-one 60-minute office hours are available on-demand at a subsidised extra cost of $130/session (valued at $280).

6. Weekly Workshops

Who teaches the weekly workshops?

All of our experts have a minimum of 5 years of experience but mostly 10 to 20 years of experience in UX design, product management, technology and entrepreneurship. Please speak to one of our team for a list of who will be teaching your program.

Where are the weekly workshops held?

Workshops will be held online through Zoom. You will receive calendar invites with dial-in details to Zoom prior to your workshop.

What dates and times the weekly workshops are held?

Workshop sessions are held on Mondays (or Tuesdays if the date falls on a public holiday). 

Every online workshop starts at 12:30 PM AEST sharp so you are required to log in to the Zoom room by 12:25 PM AEST. You will be queued in a waiting room and let in at 12:30 PM. The workshops run for 1.5 hours and will finish at 2 PM AEST.

The calendar of weekly workshops is available on our website.

See below our program brochure.

If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, please contact [email protected]

Tech Ready Women's Female Founder Startup Program is sponsored by

Tech Ready Women respectfully acknowledges the the Gadigal people of the Eora nation,
Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and learn.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

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Tech Ready Women

TRW Female Founder Startup Program

Applications for the 2024 June intake of the TRW Female Founder Startup Program are now OPEN!

Register your details below to start your application process. You will then get access to our full application form and receive an email with further information about the program.

See you in the future 🚀

Note: To avoid our comms landing in your spam or promotions folders, add techreadywomen@c.kajabimail.net and [email protected] to your contact list 🙌