Get involved with the innovation ecosystem
More than just a space, CBRIN is a community of like-minded individuals and organisations big and small, all passionate about taking innovations from ideas to real world impact.
Innovation Showcase 2025
Innovation Showcase 2025
Female Founders Network
Female Founders Network
Innovation Showcase 2025
Innovation Showcase 2025
Female Founders Network
Female Founders Network
The process
How to get involved
Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It is nurtured and encouraged when the right people ask the right questions. At CBRIN, we don't just help people build startups. We cultivate a community of clever, connected and creative changemakers. We invite you to explore the many ways you can spark or support the next big breakthrough in Canberra.
Host / sponsor
Do you run an event that is relevant to the innovation community in Canberra? Are you seeking a trusted local partner for entrepreneur or innovation focused events or programs? Access our facilities and sponsorship opportunities.
Mentor / coach
Guide a startup or innovation team through the unknown. Use your experience to help founders navigate challenges and see around corners they didn't know existed. We will first seek to understand where you are keen to add value and connect you with projects as they may need your input.
Invest
Ideas, projects and companies need access to risk tolerant capital. We connect with all types of investors interested to explore current and future opportunities in knowledge-internsive, and high growth / high impact ventures in the ACT and the broader region.
Become a partner
Enable the network and its ativities through funding, infrastructure, connections, services and access to resources that can help accelerate entrepreneurial projects and allow our entire community to thrive.
Sponsor a challenge
Become a Challenge Sponsor for our mission-led initiatives. From sustainability and social equity to urban health, you can fund the 'prizes' and programs that turn abstract goals into real-world impact. Help us turn Canberra into a living lab for the world’s most pressing challenges.
Custom involvement
There are infinite ways how you can get involved with the innovation ecosystem. We do not believe in one size fits all. Whether you can provide expertise, customer problems, testing or prototyping facilities, computing power, access to software, tokens, connections, events, your customers or community, we will co-design how to create the most value for all involved.
FAQ
Frequently asked question
Are you curious about how to get involved? Book an intro session with us to learn more about us!
For investors, start by emailing enquiries@cbrin.com.au. We'll discuss your investment focus and connect you with startups that match your criteria.
Pathways
Find your pathway for involvement
Share your expertise, invest in new ideas, or accelerate your own venture. Our community is a launchpad that connects talent, capital, and opportunity to fuel growth across the ecosystem. Find your pathway and get involved.
Programs
Empowering Innovators through our ongoing programs
Check out our flagship initiatives
Book a free 30-minute meeting with a member of our growth team!
FWC is a regular monthly networking event that activates the ACT innovation ecosystem.
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Students can pitch a business idea to a panel of judges to win from a pool of $10,000 AUD!
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Join a cohort of business peers for a full day of intensive work on unblocking your business growth.
Idea to Impact is designed to help entrepreneurs sharpen their skills and drive business growth.
ON Prime equips researchers to explore where their expertise can make the greatest impact.
A bi-monthly event dedicated to empowering and inspiring female entrepreneurs in Canberra.
Innovation Connect (ICON) Grant program and provide matched funding between $10,000 and $30,000.
Matched funding from ACT Government of up to $30k targeting early stage social enterprises.
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Bring your physical prototype to life with a $10,000 voucher.
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Fast-track your startup with essential skills, knowledge and networks for young entrepreneurs.
Teams of innovators led by expert mentors competing to solve real-world challenges
Are you an ambitious founder of an SME, looking to network and a morning event before work?
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Growing and consolidating the ACT's energy innovation ecosystem
Midday sessions where speakers share knowledge and connect over lunch.
Access experienced mentors and connect with potential investors to grow your venture.
Annual event showcasing Canberra's innovation community and emerging ventures.
We bring in relevant, highly experienced people as our brains trust.
CBRIN hosts events that bring entrepreneurs together with industry experts
Bringing diverse groups of people together to solve complex issues.
An annual event connecting Canberra's innovative companies with investors.
Ready to launch your Social Enterprise but need some help getting started? GRIST can help!
Get support to scale up your business.
Related stories
Success stories
Find inspiration and knowledge from those who are in your position
Accelerating Canberra's Energy Transition
With assistance from the ACT Government under the Energy Innovation Fund, the initiative aims to strengthen and consolidate Canberra’s energy innovation ecosystem as we work towards net-zero.
Human Connection. Relationships. Customers.
For startups and high-ambition innovation companies, one thing is increasingly obvious: your competitive advantage is no longer just about your product or technology. Human connections, relationships and presence with customers are the new driving forces.
Early retirement doesn't mean never working again
When you are financially independent, you have plenty of choices. So when Serina was asked if she wanted to return to her old job for a short-term contract that was full-time in the office, she said yes.
Check out how an ANU startup is about to change hardware as we know it
Barbell Foods adventure, authenticity and biltong
Top 5 reasons to join a coworking space
There are so many benefits to coworking; Here are the things we love most about working up on Level 5, 1 Moore Street.
BoomBox Booth DJ in a box with Dan Rawson, Founder & Director of BoomBox Industries
We had the pleasure of attending the Idea to Impact 10-week workshop with Dan Rawson, Founder & Director of BoomBox Industries, and no lie – this guy nailed it. Before the program had finished he had the emcee on the phone with CEOs to spruik the business.
Canberra start-up changing the world of 3D printing
Canberra advanced technology startup Syenta has been listed among top ten 3D printing startups to watch by 3D print.com, an online magazine that covers industry stories to help investors, enterprises, and decision-makers understand and tap into the potential of the rapidly growing additive manufacturing sector.
New ANU hub to support First Nations innovators
The Australian National University (ANU) has launched a new Indigenous-led innovation hub to develop long-term partnerships and collaborations with First Nations businesses and communities, which already contribute billions of dollars to the Australian economy.
Canberra companies named in AFR's list of Australia's 50 most innovative
The Australian Financial Review last week released its list of Australia’s 50 most innovative companies for 2016, with Canberra based companies Thinkplace and Seeing Machines both making the list, placing 19 and 27 respectively.
8 Innovative Canberra Businesses Awarded $237,000 through the Innovation Connect Grant Program
$237,000 awarded to 8 local innovation businesses in the second round of the 2025 ICON Grant. Three of the funded projects are led by local female founders.
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Pinary Capital - The Takeaway Ed. 10
Welcome to the first TakeAway of 2026! Each month, Pinary Capital joins us at First Wednesday Connect and shares thier honest take on the pitches and the broader startup landscape.
So, you’re thinking of coming along to a Female Founders event?
Excellent choice. You’re about to join a community that’s equally inspiring, energising, and to be perfectly honest, sometimes overwhelming in the best possible way.
AI Colab: Action Cluster Ignition Collab Lab
Participants examined seven key landscape rehydration techniques across a range of contexts throughout the workshop, sharing their experiences and building a group understanding of the high-level issues that need to be addressed.
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ACTNRM Rehydration Collab Lab
Participants examined seven key landscape rehydration techniques across a range of contexts throughout the workshop, sharing their experiences and building a group understanding of the high-level issues that need to be addressed.
Swiss Embassy Innovation and Trust Hackathon
CBRIN partnered with the Embassy of Switzerland to deliver a two-part innovation program exploring the theme of trust and innovation in the modern day.
SpaceHack 2023
Calling earthlings excited by all things space and space technology! CBRIN has teamed up with UNSW Canberra to launch SpaceHack 2023, a 2 day challenge to develop out of this world ideas.
Not-For-Profit Innovation Forum
CBRIN partnered with Hands Across Canberra, the University of Canberra and a coalition of sector, research and government partners to deliver the inaugural Not-for-Profit Collaborative Innovation Forum. The forum brought together community organisations, funders, researchers and innovators to build innovation capability in the NFP sector, with loneliness selected as the first annual challenge theme.
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Got an innovation idea? This new pilot will help you build it
Sixteen Canberra inventors will soon have the means to bring their visions to life, thanks to a new grants program by the capital’s leading innovation institutions.
2025 End of Year Message from the CEO
With over 250 events, across all sectors and stages of maturity of firms, close to 10,000 participants in those events, over 20 programs targeting different needs across the ecosystem, CBRIN brings together people to create an environment in which you can access mentors, customers, partners, investors, collaborators, makers, creatives, researchers, students and other talent and connections.
Canberra innovator turns natural waste products into useful home compostable items
In December 2020, ANU Research School of Chemistry PhD student Ashwani Kumar set out to achieve the seemingly impossible.
Jack Cassidy: 10 Weeks Isn't 10 Weeks
This post is about how I’ve grown in my role, what I’ve learned, and why I’m so enthusiastic about embracing change. Spoiler alert: it pays dividends to lean into new experiences and be comfortable with not having all the answers.
SME Business Accelerator: Unlocking Potential for Canberra's SMEs
The Accelerator, is the cornerstone of the Canberra Innovation Network’s support to local small businesses to use innovation methods to create better business outcomes.
Griffin Accelerator
Over the past decade, the GRIFFIN Accelerator has been a cornerstone for entrepreneurship in Canberra, connecting driven founders with seasoned local mentors. By pairing founders with mentors, providing investment, and pushing them to scale ambitiously, the program has become an integral part of our ecosystem.
What Is Innovation ACT?
InnovationACT is an entrepreneurship competition for students and researchers who are looking to gain experience in the world of business.
Canberra’s OX Rooms joins GRIFFIN Accelerator Program to drive innovation, efficiency, and security in real estate transactions
OX Rooms delivers unprecedented transparency for buying and selling real estate to agents, lawyers, buyers and sellers setting the stage for industry-wide transformation.
The Power of Community in Coworking
Coworking spaces have become thriving communities that encourage innovation, collaboration, and personal growth.
9 Local Female led businesses receive funding to launch their innovative projects
Turning your Idea to Impact with these innovation skills: Workshop Series with fresh content for 2025
10 Innovative Canberra Businesses Awarded $276,500 through the Innovation Connect Grant Program
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First Wednesday Connect Pitch List October 2025
Meet the team: Kate Stevens
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Australian Catholic University Joins CBRIN as Education Partner
Canberra innovation ecosystem recognised at Global Triple E Awards
ACT Winners of iAwards25: Australia’s longest running innovation recognition program
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Coworking at CBRIN and raising capital: some success stories
What It Feels Like to Build an Innovation Company in Canberra?
Challenging journey in a highly supportive ecosystem. What does it take to build an innovation-first entrepreneurial venture in Canberra?
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What is the SME Business Accelerator?
Connect with the Canberra Innovation Community
Canberra scale-ups have a new home base in the heart of the city
2024 End of year CEO message
We create impact together as a collective of entrepreneurs, innovators, business owners, educators, researchers, partners, mentors, investors, government and community organisations.
Phillipa Leggo – Where are they now?
We sat down with Phillipa Leggo, to hear about what has changed since we last interviewed her about the SCOTT LEGGO business.
PV Labs: Leading Australia in solar renewable energy
As the ACT moves to net-zero emissions by 2045, Canberra’s innovative start-up culture is well placed to help meet this target. We spoke with Lawrence McIntosh, co-founder and director of PV Labs, on how the Energy Innovation Fund is supporting Canberra companies in the transition to renewable energy.
HYREA: Driving a hydrogen powered Canberra
The ACT transitions to net-zero emissions by 2045, Canberra’s strong and vibrant energy innovation and start up culture is well placed to help reach this target. HYREA, a Canberra-based technology pioneer working to make green hydrogen a viable alternative to fossil fuel, is contributing to this goal with the help of the ACT Government’s Energy Innovation Fund (the Fund).
Fatigue Hack
Fatigue Hack, a 48-hour hackathon organised by CBRIN and the Australian Trucking Association in 2018. Seeking solutions to address and manage fatigue in long-haul drivers, Fatigue Hack brought together nine teams to tackle the challenge.
