InnovationACT
Dip your toes into the world of entrepreneurship by learning to build and pitch your startup for a share of AU$10,000! This opportunity is open to students, researchers and staff at the Australian National University, University of Canberra, University of New South Wales Canberra, and Canberra Institute of Technology, Academy of Interactive Entertainment, and Australian Catholic University.
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InnovationACT
Now open for 2026
InnovationACT
Now open for 2026
IACT Pitch Night 2025
IACT Pitch Night 2025
IACT Pitch Night 2025
IACT Pitch Night 2025
IACT Pitch Night 2025
IACT Pitch Night 2025
IACT Pitch Night 2025
IACT Pitch Night 2025
InnovationACT 2026 will be held in August - registration now open for 2026!
Got an idea that could potentially change the world? Want to explore what entrepreneurship is all about? Form a team, work on a bold startup idea over 2 weeks and pitch for a share of $10000 grant pool and in-kind support from our ecosystem.
Program Outcomes
Validate your market opportunity
Without customers, there is no business. Learn how to talk to customers before you build anything, to understand the market potential of your solution.
Craft a winning pitch
Even with customers with a problem, validated pricing and business model, your business can fail, if you do not learn how to tell its story to the key stakeholders.
Wow the judges to win seed money
The real test comes when you deliver the short pitch on stage (virtually) and answer questions of the judges. Will you make it to the top 10 teams?
Access mentoring and post-competition support
Throughout the program you will have access to innovation and business mentors. After the program, winners will be offered support from CBRIN.
Build your team
Your chance to succeed alone are small. Use this opportunity to develop your teambuilding and team coordination skills.
Ideate and evolve your ideas
Learn how to generate multiple ideas so that you can pick the one worth pursuing. Evolve the idea with the team, mentors and potential customers.
Prototype
Showing is better than telling. Learn how to build minimal viable products by observing how users interact with the prototype of your solution.
Build a business model
Business models define the way you can make money on delivering your solution to your customers. Learn how to find the one that will fit your business.
Competition schedule
Here you can find a quick overview of what is involved for you to participate in InnovationACT intensive this year.
Orientation: 06 August 2026
10:30 – 11:30 am Ask questions ONLINE
Mandatory for team captains. 30-60 minutes to get familiar with competition format and an opportunity to ask questions.
Workshop 1: 10 August 2026
1pm - 3.30pm Ideation + Validation Canberra Innovation Network
Develop a variety of ideas and learn how to test them with potential customers to select which ones to focus on.
Registrations close 10 Aug at 5pm
Workshop 2: 13 August 2026
1pm - 3.30pm Business models & market tests Canberra Innovation Network
Continue to learn how to validate your most promising ideas to see how they fit with a business model that can scale.
Workshop 3: 17 August 2026
1 - 3.30 pm Prototyping & pitch design Canberra Innovation Network
Finalise team structure. How can you demonstrate the value of your solution to potential customers? Begin to build the story of your solution.
Team registrations close 19 Aug at 5 pm.
Workshop 4: 20 August 2026
1 - 3.30 pm Pitch practice & feedback Canberra Innovation network
Great pitches come with practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. And get feedback you can use to improve your pitch!
Pitch Heats: 27 August 2026
10 min slots Canberra Innovation Network
Present your pitch to a panel of judges in a closed-room setting for a chance to be shortlisted for the Final Pitch Day.
Pitch Night: 03 September 2026
Pitch to judges Canberra Innovation Network
The final event. Top 10 teams will be invited to live pitch to a panel of judges, answer their questions and receive prizes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still have questions feel free to reach out.
Yes you can participate as an individual. But competition prizes will only be available to teams with 2-5 members.
Testimonials
The voices of our community
Hear from people who've been a part of this
This program gave me practical experience, skills and confidence I can apply directly to my work. The trainers were supportive, the sessions were engaging and the resources were top notch. Overall, a great workshop.
IACT, 2025 Participant
Related stories
Articles and stories
Read the stories of those who've lived the InnovaitonACT journey.
InnovationACT: Interview with Draper (Dex)
With just a few weeks to go until InnovationACT kicks off, we thought we'd catch up with some of the program's successful alumni. We asked them what they enjoyed most and where their journey has taken them since.
What Is Innovation ACT?
InnovationACT is an entrepreneurship competition for students and researchers who are looking to gain experience in the world of business.