Plus Eight

Bootcamp for our milestone 10th Plus Eight Accelerator cohort is officially underway. 🚀

Last night, 25 shortlisted startups joined us for night one of Bootcamp, meeting the Plus Eight team, learning more about the program, and stepping straight into surprise pitches where founders had to present their startups in front of the room. 🎤

Tomorrow, the teams return for a full day of mentor and partner sessions, where they’ll be challenged across every part of their business, from customer problem-solution fit and growth strategy through to legal, product development, business model, fundraising and more.

It’s one of the most exciting and intense stages of the program, giving founders direct feedback from experienced mentors, operators, investors and industry leaders before selections are made for Phase One of the Accelerator. ✔️

➡️ Stay tuned as we soon announce the startups selected for our milestone 10th Plus Eight Accelerator cohort. 👀

This program is made possible by the support of our partners, the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, BetterLabs, Spacecubed, Kaizen West, Hawaiian, CFC Group, K&L Gates, DFK Gooding Partners, Insight Advisory Group and Andy Ford.

🎤 Join us on June 9 as the latest cohort from the Plus Eight City of Canning Pre-Accelerator take the stage to showcase their businesses after six weeks of mentoring, validation and growth. 💡

🎉 This showcase is an opportunity to hear directly from emerging local founders building what’s next, while connecting with Perth’s wider innovation community. FREE to attend, sign up here ➡️ https://hubs.ly/Q04h-N-q0

City of Canning Pre-Accelerator Program Showcase Join us on Tuesday, June 9 as we celebrate our City of Canning Pre-Accelerator cohort of innovative startups, ready to present their ventures to the world!

11 founders. Six weeks. One showcase. 🚀 Last month, we welcomed the latest City of Canning Pre-Accelerator cohort into Plus Eight, bringing together a diverse group of founders working across AI, education, finance, clean tech, leadership and community-focused ventures.

From AI operations platforms and parenting tech through to leadership coaching and digital solutions, this year’s cohort reflects the depth of entrepreneurial talent emerging from the City of Canning region. 🌏 Find out more via our latest blog: https://hubs.ly/Q04hM7SQ0

11 founders. Six weeks. One pitch night. Meet the City of Canning Pre-Accelerator cohort Meet the 11 founders joining the 2026 Plus Eight City of Canning Pre-Accelerator, building solutions across AI, biotech, fintech, education, and more.

What do founders consistently get wrong about global expansion? 🌏 This Wednesday, Spacecubed is hosting a special fireside chat with Vinnie Lauria, Partner at Golden Gate Ventures, one of Southeast Asia’s leading VC firms, to unpack the realities of scaling internationally and what founders should think about before entering new markets.

This is a valuable opportunity for founders looking to scale globally to:
💡 Learn what startups often underestimate when expanding internationally
🌍 Hear firsthand lessons from scaling companies across Asia, Silicon Valley and beyond
💰 Better understand how investor expectations differ across regions
🚀 Gain insight into raising capital and entering new markets strategically
🤝 Connect with Perth’s innovation community over lunch at Riff

Spots are strictly limited — register now via https://hubs.ly/Q04hMtqy0

Fireside Chat with Golden Gate Ventures: What Founders Get Wrong About Global Expansion Join international VC and Golden Gate Ventures Partner Vinnie Lauria for a candid fireside chat on what actually goes wrong when startups expand internationally

At some point in the growth stage, the work shifts. 🧠 The business has traction, but the questions get harder, the decisions carry more weight, and the playbook you used to get here stops being enough.

🔥 On Tuesday 26 May, Kate Harris and Dr. Genevieve Hohnen, Co-Founder of The Volte, are sitting down for a direct, unfiltered conversation about what leadership actually looks and feels like when you're scaling. Not a panel. Not a workshop. A real conversation, designed for founders who are in it right now. 🎤

➡️ Hosted at Spacecubed, doors open at 5pm. Secure your spot for just $20: https://hubs.ly/Q04g2j5x0

The Weight of Leadership -A conversation with Kate Harris & Dr. Genevieve Hohnen · Luma There's a point in the founder journey where the business has traction, but leadership starts to demand something different. Decisions carry more weight. The…

⏳ Applications for the 2026 Plus Eight Accelerator officially close tonight at 11:59pm. 👀 This is your final chance to apply for our milestone 10th cohort and join one of Australia’s leading accelerator programs. 🚀

Successful founders will gain access to:
💰 $700K seed funding pool
🌎 International immersion to San Francisco
🤝 World-class mentors, investors and founder networks
🏢 Coworking and support within Spacecubed's innovation hub
& much more!

If you’re building something with real growth potential, now’s the time to take the next step. 👉 Apply now before 11:59pm Thursday, May 14: https://hubs.ly/Q04gwK890

Last night, we celebrated 10 years of Plus Eight alongside founders, alumni, mentors, investors, partners and the wider startup community. 🎉

What started as a local accelerator has grown into one of Australia’s leading startup programs, supporting founders to raise capital, scale globally and build companies with lasting impact. Hearing firsthand from alumni (uDrew, Shiine Media, Tender Relief, Coursebox AI, Relait, GenLearn) through our reverse pitches was a powerful reminder of just how far the community, and the companies within it, have come over the past decade. 🌠

A huge thank you to the alumni who shared their stories and reverse pitches last night, alongside our broader alumni network, mentors, partners and supporters who have helped shape the Plus Eight journey over the past decade.

Special thanks to our current partners, the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, BetterLabs, Kaizen West, CFC Group, Spacecubed, Hawaiian, K&L Gates, DFK Gooding Partners and Insight Advisory Group, whose continued support helps make the program possible. 🙏

➡️ Applications for our milestone 10th Plus Eight Accelerator cohort officially close this Thursday, 14 May. ⏰ If you’re ready to scale your startup with the support of funding, mentorship and global networks, now’s the time to apply: https://hubs.ly/Q04gnjfl0

⏳ Final chance to apply for the 10th Plus Eight Accelerator cohort. Applications close this Thursday.

Our six-month Accelerator gives ambitious founders access to $700K in shared seed funding, world-class mentorship, investor connections and an international immersion to San Francisco. If you’re serious about scaling your startup, now’s the time. 🚀

Applications close at 11:59pm on Thursday, May 14: https://hubs.ly/Q04glCY60

Plus Eight Accelerator Program | Seed-Funded Growth Program More than just your average accelerator program, Plus Eight combines programs with world-class mentoring, growth networks & seed funding.

🚀 Last night, we welcomed the latest cohort from the Plus Eight City of Joondalup Pre-Accelerator to the stage for the end of program Showcase! 🎤 After six weeks of mentoring, workshops and growth, founders showcased the progress they’ve made across industries spanning wellness, creative industries, sustainability, health and more.

🏆 A huge congratulations to our winners, Lindsay Weaver, Darren Smillie, Sarah Hoey and Rachel McMurray and to every founder who took part in the program, and thank you to our mentors, Tim Sondalini, Victoria Howe, Paul Cannavan, Joshua Nici, En Khong and judges, Amanda Cassidy and Morgan Becker. 👏

For many founders, programs like this are just the beginning. Applications for the 10th cohort of the Plus Eight Accelerator close next Thursday, offering the next step for startups ready to scale with access to funding, mentorship and a national network of founders and investors. 🔥

➡️ To learn more, join us Tuesday 12 May, as we celebrate 10 years of Plus Eight with a special founder, partner & alumni celebration. Hear reverse pitches from alumni and program partners, gain insights to strengthen your application, and connect directly with the Plus Eight team and wider startup community: https://hubs.ly/Q04fWK-00