Southstart, Startmate and Rampersand are teaming up to give early stage founders a chance to talk with VCs and pitch their startups

Adelaide ideas and innovation festival Southstart is joining forces with startup accelerator Startmate and VC Rampersand to create two new opportunities for this year’s program, under the theme Odyssey. 

Rampersand’s Giant Warm Intro, which connects underrepresented founders with investors, and was a huge hit in Sydney last year (it returns in 2023) is heading to Adelaide, while Startmate will present ‘Pitch Stage’.

VCs including Blackbird, TEN13, Airtree, Square Peg, Flying Fox Ventures, and South Australian Venture Capital Fund will be part of it along with the nation’s leading angel investors from syndicates such as Southern Angels, ArchAngels, Aussie Angels, and Perth Angels. 

Recognising that the startup ecosystem is highly dependent on personal connections, it’s an opportunity will give founders a warm introduction to the industry thanks to Rampersand. 

Founder Odyssey ticket holders will have the change to apply to pitch to or meet with leading investors from around Australia through Rampersand’s Giant Warm Intro and _SouthstartOdyssey’s Pitch Stage program, powered by Startmate as part of Village on Thursday, March 9.

Pitch-ready founders will be allowed to take the stage at Village for Pitch Stage. Ten founders will be selected to showcase their ideas and make direct requests for investment during the event. 

Applications close next week on February 24. 

Southstart is on in Adelaide and surrounds March 7-10. It features a range of keynotes, workshops, masterclasses, panels, and summits on tech and startups, spanning sectors such as agriculture, creative, innovation, and science, presented by founders, executives, industry experts, investors, and other innovation leaders

Event experiences will be held at various places across the city and surrounds, including The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Lake Breeze Winery, McLaren Vale, and WOMADelaide, among others. 

Tickets are now on sale. 

And if you’re worried about the cost, Southstart has also partnered with the Atlassian Foundation to offer a bunch of sponsored places to be a part of it.

Scholarship applications are open but hurry, they close next week on Feb 24 too.

Registrations for _SOUTHSTART // ODYSSEY 2023 are now open here.