We want Western Australia to be recognised as a global hub for entrepreneurial and technology talent, where the value that startups bring to the economy is widely embraced.

StartupWA supports the WA Government’s focus on the need to diversify our economy and strongly believes that startups play an integral role in creating new industries and net new employment.

StartupWA is a not-for-profit, representative organisation which promotes the growing startup sector in Western Australia. StartupWA aims to accelerate and advocate for the startup ecosystem that includes investors, technology hubs, accelerator programs and early-stage technology businesses.

The need for local supply chains, advanced technologies and digital skills has never been greater and the startup sector plays a crucial role in moving WA forward.

StartupWA is keen to see the startup sector benefit from a level of government support that reflects the high economic value that startups unlock for WA and in line with other similar-sized business sectors.

StartupWA welcomed the $16.7m New Industries Fund released in 2017. This fund has now run its course and StartupWA are excited to see what the state government will invest in the sector going forward.

StartupWA proposes the following initiatives be supported and/or led by the WA Government:

New digital economy jobs

1. Create a government-led co-investment fund.

2. Lead on-going quantification and analysis of the economic impact of startups. 

3. Incentivise investment with government and industry in startups.

Government contracts for startups

4. Develop and fund a government led GovTech initiative to unlock solutions to government issues while creating new businesses in WA.

Promote the sector: 

5. Promote entrepreneurship in high schools as a viable career option.

6. Attract international talent to migrate and/or return to WA to create new startups and invest in the sector. 

7. Engage tourism agencies to promote WA’s combined attractions of lifestyle and innovation.

8. Fund the role of State Chief Entrepreneur.

Building innovation infrastructure 

9. Partner with Industry for an Automation Centre of Excellence to showcase WA.

10. Build a technology precinct enabling co-working spaces and laboratories.