PARTNER WITH US →APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP  →PARTNER WITH US →APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP  →APPLY TO PITCH →GET TICKETS →PARTNER WITH US →APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP  →APPLY TO PITCH →PARTNER WITH US →GET TICKETS →APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP  →APPLY TO PITCH →PARTNER WITH US →GET TICKETS →APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP  →APPLY TO PITCH →PARTNER WITH US →APPLY TO PITCH →PARTNER WITH US →GET TICKETS →GET TICKETS →

A SPACE
TO BREATHE

SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 4 - 6 Mar

YOUR JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY AWAITS

_SOUTHSTART is a community offsite for founders, investors, and those who champion and create change. Designed to help you pause, connect, and embrace serendipity in a world that never stops. You'll uncover meaningful insights, genuine connections, and a glimpse of what’s next - while expanding your surface area of success—for today and the future.

4 MAR

GROWTH
ACADEMY
+
garden
party

ADELAIDE
CBD

5 MAR

MAIN
day
+
overnight
OPTION

MCLAREN
VALE

6 MAR

INDUSTRY
SUMMITS
+
FINAL
FAREWELLS

FLEURIEU
COAST

VIEW SCHEDULE

move Beyond the Ordinary

connect with angel investors & venture capitalists

_SOUTHSTART brings together a diverse network of Australia's top investors, ready to share their expertise and explore new opportunities. Whether you're a founder seeking funding, or simply looking to understand the investment landscape, this is your chance to engage directly with the people powering Australia’s most exciting ventures. Through curated office hours, discussions, and networking sessions, you’ll gain access to valuable insights, build meaningful connections, and discover what investors are looking for in the next big idea.

learn from those who have taken the path before you.

Our sessions are led by trailblazers and thought leaders across diverse sectors who bring real-world experience, cutting-edge knowledge, and forward-thinking perspectives. From hands-on workshops to in-depth conversations, you’ll have the opportunity to learn directly from those driving innovation and change, equipping you with practical tools, fresh ideas, and a deeper understanding of the trends shaping the future - and our today.

pitch your startup on festival day

We are giving 10 x founders the opportunity to pitch at the festival! This is your opportunity to share your vision, gain valuable feedback, and connect with key players who can help take your business to the next level. With a dynamic and supportive environment, our pitch sessions offer a unique platform to amplify your ideas, attract potential partners, and make your mark in the innovation ecosystem. Applications close on 20 Dec—don’t miss your chance to shine!

APPLY NOW

CREATE & NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAST BEYOND EVENT DAY

At _SOUTHSTART, we believe that building meaningful connections can be transformative. Our festival brings together a unique mix of founders, investors, creatives, executives, and thought leaders from across the globe, providing countless opportunities to foster valuable partnerships, collaborations, and friendships. Join us to build connections that could become the foundation of your next venture, support your professional growth, or simply inspire fresh perspectives.

gET TICKETS

WHAT TO
EXPECT

GROW

Start your journey in the trenches at our Growth Academy - focused on helping you grow as a human first, so that you can move into the future in any capacity. There'll be three stages of expert-led masterclasses, curated by - you guessed it - actual experts. Like the "I've been doing this for years, don't learn from my mistakes" type of people, who can help you get to point B much faster than if you did it alone.

IMMERSE

On Day 2, we're whisking you away to McLaren Vale for a day of conversations, activities and office hours amongst the backdrop of nature. You'll be able to dive into deeper discussions - the kind that need more time to be had - and invite room for you to participate in. Plus, you'll have ample opportunity to dive deeper into who you are, where you're going, and who can help you get there - through ample activities, office hour opportunities, and other moments.

CONNECT

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Fleurieu Peninsula, our Industry Summits are a rare chance to truly connect with others in your field. With thoughtfully curated content tailored to focused communities, these summits go beyond the surface, fostering meaningful conversations that lead to real collaboration. We understand that in order to drive deep, sector-specific change, we need to highlight what innovation looks like in practise.

ABOUT US

AUSTRALIA'S FESTIVAL for humans who create, invest and inspire change for our people and planet.

Founded in 2013, _SOUTHSTART is Australia’s most loved festival for startups as recognised by Startup Muster 2023. Every year, we come together to create a program where you can hear from, learn from, and connect with people who are specifically curated to help open the doors you need.  We spend a disproportionate amount of time sweating over locations, venues, vibes and attendee experiences. On the surface, this may look like just  fun ‘bells and whistles’, but it is so much more than that. Relaxed settings promote genuine social connections and collaborative learning, and creating these spaces for is where a lot of our energy goes.

FIRST RELEASE TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME


_SOUTHSTART is an investment in the intangible.

We’re here to create a substrate for serendipity—a rare space for happy accidents and joyful discoveries. In a world that accelerates faster every day, _SOUTHSTART is your moment to pause, and step back. Join us for an extraordinary meeting of minds, at a time and in a culture that needs it most.

festival

$599
Inclusions:
GROWTH ACADEMY
(Mar 4th, ADL CBD)
GARDEN PARTY
(Mar 4th, ADL CBD)
MAIN DAY + CBD COACH TRANSFER  
(Mar 5th, MCLAREN VALE)
EVENT APP + MEETING BOOKINGS
(Launched 1 Feb)
FOOD + BEVERAGE
(In abundance!)
BUY NOW

festival [+] overnight

$999
Inclusions:
GROWTH ACADEMY
(Mar 4th, ADL CBD)
GARDEN PARTY
(Mar 4th, ADL CBD)
MAIN DAY + CBD COACH TRANSFER
(Mar 5th, MCLAREN VALE)
MAIN DAY CONCIERGE + ACCOMODATION
(Mar 5th, MCLAREN VALE MOTEL)
INDUSTRY SUMMIT +  COACH TRANSFER
(Mar 6th, FLEURIEU COAST)
Choose from 7 Summits
VIEW SUMMIT OPTIONS
EVENT APP + MEETING BOOKINGS
(Launched 1 Feb)
FOOD + BEVERAGE
(In abundance!)
BUY NOW