What are the time commitments for TRAM Accelerator?

Participants are required to attend one three-hour session in-person per week. In addition, you’ll be spending time meeting with your mentor, coaching and working on your business.

Am I eligible for the TRAM Accelerator?

To be considered for the accelerator program, teams must: have an incorporated business entity (startup); meet at least one of the following:be commercialising IP that is licensed or assigned from the University of Melbourne; or have a research affiliation with the University of Melbourne with at least one founding (key) team member being a researcher, graduate researcher, student, alumni of or honorary from the University of Melbourne, or a University of Melbourne-affiliated organisation, including Medical Research Institutes and hospital partners; Previous participation in one of the MEC programs may be viewed favourably.

Is the TRAM Accelerator right for my team?

If you’re unsure whether your team is at the right stage, we still encourage you to apply. Many founders find the application process valuable in helping refine their thinking, commercial strategy and venture direction. If TRAM Accelerator is not the best fit right now, the MEC team can help connect you with other programs and opportunities across MEC.

What is the application process?

Stage 1 Submit your written application through the MEC Portal here Stage 2 Take part in the first round of interviews Stage 3 Pitch your startup plus a Q&A session in the final panel interview

The Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre (MEC) is the University of Melbourne’s flagship innovation centre driving entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture creation. We connect innovators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and investors through educational programs, venture building and global innovation networks, equipping them with the skills, confidence and connections to bring transformative research and new ideas to life. Since 2018, MEC has delivered exceptional impact outcomes: $440M+ in venture funding raised, thousands of innovators supported, and a dynamic global community of 150+ expert mentors.

Helping research founders build and scale investable ventures

TRAM Accelerator (formerly TRAM Air) supports University of Melbourne research teams to build and scale impactful, investable ventures.

Designed to help founders create sustainable and viable businesses, the accelerator provides tailored guidance that expands team capabilities and equips participants with the knowledge and tools needed for successful capital raising.

What is TRAM Accelerator?

The TRAM Accelerator is designed by the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre for startup teams working towards growth, investment readiness and commercial development.

Delivered through workshops, mentorship and accountability sessions, this accelerator supports founders to strengthen commercial strategy, refine investor readiness and prepare for growth.

Participants gain hands-on support from domain experts, founders, resident entrepreneurs and investors, while building alongside a cohort of research-based teams at a similar stage of growth.

What you’ll gain

$10,000 of equity-free funding for each team
Connections to investors, industry partners and commercialisation experts
Dedicated mentorship from domain experts, Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) and experienced founders
Tailored guidance across business strategy, go-to-market planning and capital raising
Practical support to strengthen commercial positioning and investor readiness
A cohort of research-based founders at a similar stage of growth
AI-supported tools and workflows integrated throughout the program
A 1-year Claude Team subscription worth $1,200 for all participating teams
Office space in the MEC building at Melbourne Connect
Access to the broader MEC ecosystem and community

“The TRAM accelerator equipped me and the Porous Lane team with much needed knowledge and insight on how to attract investment and become investment ready. The workshops and tailored mentoring were highly valuable. I believe that over the course of program I became more of an entrepreneur and less of an academic. TRAM brought me into the startup ecosystem. It wasn’t just a training; it was an experience that I lived and one that changed me”

"Being part of the TRAM accelerator has been amazing. We enjoyed attending structured workshops, catching up frequently with advisors, working together with a friendly team, and presenting at the investor breakfast. Through TRAM, Vysum has become more investor-ready, and we have gained many invaluable connections."

"The TRAM accelerator has jumpstarted our fundraising journey by providing the essential insights necessary for investor readiness, as well as making connections to investors within our industry."

2026 Cohort Timeline

Applications Open 21 May 2026 – 21 June 2026

Interviews 9 July 2026 –14 July 2026

Onboarding 28 July 2026 – 1 August 2026

Program Delivery 11 August 2026 – 24 October 2026

FAQs

Participants are required to attend one three-hour session in-person per week. In addition, you’ll be spending time meeting with your mentor, coaching and working on your business.
To be considered for the accelerator program, teams must:
- have an incorporated business entity (startup);
- meet at least one of the following:
  - be commercialising IP that is licensed or assigned from the University of Melbourne; or
  - have a research affiliation with the University of Melbourne with at least one founding (key) team member being a researcher, graduate researcher, student, alumni of or honorary from the University of Melbourne, or a University of Melbourne-affiliated organisation, including Medical Research Institutes and hospital partners;
Previous participation in one of the MEC programs may be viewed favourably.
If you’re unsure whether your team is at the right stage, we still encourage you to apply. Many founders find the application process valuable in helping refine their thinking, commercial strategy and venture direction.
If TRAM Accelerator is not the best fit right now, the MEC team can help connect you with other programs and opportunities across MEC.
Stage 1
- Submit your written application through the MEC Portal here
Stage 2
- Take part in the first round of interviews
Stage 3
- Pitch your startup plus a Q&A session in the final panel interview
The Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre (MEC) is the University of Melbourne’s flagship innovation centre driving entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture creation.
We connect innovators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and investors through educational programs, venture building and global innovation networks, equipping them with the skills, confidence and connections to bring transformative research and new ideas to life.
Since 2018, MEC has delivered exceptional impact outcomes: $440M+ in venture funding raised, thousands of innovators supported, and a dynamic global community of 150+ expert mentors.

TRAM Accelerator