An independent charity helping startups to thrive

Our mission

To spark engagement into and across the Australian startup ecosystem

Spark started in 2016 to solve a simple problem: NSW's emerging startup ecosystem was full of activity, but disconnected. Back then, the spark that was needed was connection – bringing people into and across events that already existed.

A decade on, the landscape has changed, and so has our job. It's no longer enough to point people toward what's already there. The spark that's needed now is one to reignite community activity itself, and to back the next generation of ecosystem leaders who can build the gatherings that don't exist yet, in the areas that need them most.

That has meant expanding our focus – not just driving people into existing events, but consciously filling the gaps: rebuilding a regular, year-round schedule of meaningful startup activity for NSW, wherever the ecosystem needs it.

Alongside that, we are the voice for Australian startups in the public policy landscape – giving a platform to those who can't (and shouldn't have to) make political donations or pay for expensive industry body memberships to get access to the policymakers who need to hear them.