MEC Student Startup Competition
Back bigger and bolder in 2026, the MEC Student Startup Competition empowers students from every discipline to think creatively, test ideas and experience what it’s like to build something real. Whether you’re curious about entrepreneurship or already working on a concept, this is your launchpad.
What is the MEC Student Startup Competition?
This beginner-friendly, multi-week competition is designed to help you explore entrepreneurship in a fun, supportive environment. It’s your chance to build real-world skills, meet people from across the University, and maybe even spark something bigger.
You’ll form a team of 2–6 students and work together on a startup idea. Think of a startup as something new that solves a real problem. It’s like a group project, but one you lead, own, and can keep building long after your subject ends. Your idea could be an app that helps students find second-hand textbooks, a social initiative tackling food waste, or a tool that helps international students settle in faster.
Whether you already have ideas, love solving problems, or have no idea at all but want to try something new, this competition is for you. The MEC Student Startup Competition is open to all University of Melbourne students*. You don’t need an idea or a team to start, just curiosity and a willingness to give it a go.
This competition is your opportunity to:
- Build a startup idea from scratch
- Develop your entrepreneurial mindset
- Learn from real founders and mentors
- Meet and team up with other students from across the University
- Network with other innovators and founders in the startup ecosystem
- Pitch your idea to a panel of experienced judges
- Win prizes and join the MEC startup community.
Who should register?
This competition is open to all currently enrolled undergraduate and postgraduate University of Melbourne students*, no matter your background or faculty.
- A current University of Melbourne student enrolled in Semester 1, 2026 (excluding MBA, Executive MBA, Senior Executive MBA or Master of Entrepreneurship students)
- You can join the competition as an individual and take part in all activities leading up to the preliminary round. However, to enter the preliminary round itself, you must be part of a team of 2–6 students. If you don’t have a team at the start, that’s completely fine. The competition includes dedicated opportunities to meet others and form a team along the way.
- Have a new business idea, a problem you want to solve or just want to learn something new
- Want hands-on experience in creativity, teamwork and problem solving (ideal for your resume)
- Are excited to collaborate with others from different degrees, backgrounds or skills.
- Your idea is already operating as a business or you have participated in/are participating in an accelerator/incubator program with that idea
- Your idea closely resembles an existing business. This competition is about exciting, new startup ideas rather than tried and tested businesses that exist. Startups disrupt their market, offer innovative solutions, and often employ risk taking business models.
- To remain aligned with University values and purpose, the competition does not accept startup ideas in industries that cause direct harm to humanity or the planet, such as gambling, tobacco, alcohol, weapons or any environmental destruction.
Key dates for 2026
- Wednesday 25 February
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Online info session
- Thursday 5 March
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Launch & Connect
- Tuesday 10 March
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In-person workshop 1
- Tuesday 17 March
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In-person workshop 2
- Tuesday 24 March
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In-person workshop 3
- Tuesday 31 March
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In-person workshop 4
- Friday 17 April
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Preliminary pitch submission
- Friday 24 April
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Finalists announced
- Wednesday 6 May
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Final pitch night
2026 Finalist prizes
This competition isn’t just about winning, but the prizes are seriously exciting. Thanks to our industry partners, the competition prize pool includes: Cash awards to kickstart your idea Places in MEC student programs Mentorship from industry leaders VIP ecosystem event passes Career & networking opportunities And more... While the prizes are exciting, every student who participates gains career-ready skills, develops an innovator’s mindset, and becomes part of the MEC startup community.
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Value of $6,500
- $5,000 cash to be split equally amongst team members
- MEC Explorer Membership places for team, includes
- Bespoke startup coaching from Program
- ManagersMonthly accountability meetings
- Hot-desking in our founder co-working space
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Value of $4,500+
- $3,500 cash to be split equally amongst team members
- Mentoring session: 45 min 1:1 with one of the Partners of NextGen Ventures
- VIP invitation to the next NextGen Founder Community Event.
- MEC Explorer Membership places for team, includes
- Bespoke startup coaching from Program Managers
- Monthly accountability meetings
- Hot-desking in our founder co-working space
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Value of $3,000+
- $2,000 cash to be split equally amongst team members
- Curated package of discounts/tools:
- Notion (6 months of a Business Plan for free)
- HubSpot (75% off for 12 months)
- Cake (free access for first 5 stakeholders)
- Webflow (12 free months of a CMS site plan)
- DocSend (90% off for 12 months)
- Miro ($1,000 in credits) (NextGen Ventures sponsored).
- MEC Explorer Membership places for team, includes
- Bespoke startup coaching from Program Managers
- Monthly accountability meetings
- Hot-desking in our founder co-working space
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Value of $1,000+
- $1,000 cash to be split equally amongst team members.
- Curated package of discounts/tools:
- Notion (6 months of a Business Plan for free)
- HubSpot (75% off for 12 months)
- Cake (free access for first 5 stakeholders)
- Webflow (12 free months of a CMS site plan)
- DocSend (90% off for 12 months) (NextGen Ventures sponsored)
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- MEC Explorer Membership places for team, includes
- Bespoke startup coaching from Program Managers
- Monthly accountability meetings
- Hot-desking in our founder co-working space
- MEC Explorer Membership places for team, includes
What do past participants say?
"The competition has allowed us to develop resilience and adaptability, hone our critical thinking skills, and improve our communication skills. These are skills which serve to have a wider impact on our lives."
– Charlotte Westaway and Lily Ivey, Team Solstråle, 2024 winners
Our 2026 sponsors
Powered by partners who back student innovation.
Principal sponsor: Airwallex
Founded in Melbourne in 2015, Airwallex is a global financial technology platform that empowers businesses to operate across borders efficiently. Serving over 150,000 businesses in more than 150 countries, Airwallex offers services including cross-border payments, multi-currency accounts and expense management. The company has achieved a valuation of $6.2 billion and continues to expand its global footprint.
Airwallex website
Major sponsor: University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund
Created in partnership with Breakthrough Victoria, the $15 million fund is designed to play a critical role supporting University of Melbourne affiliated students and researchers to accelerate the translation of their research.
Genesis Pre-Seed Fund websiteOur 2026 supporters
Supporter: NextGen Ventures
Australia's first student-led venture capital fund, NextGen Ventures focuses on backing student-founded startups. The fund provides early-stage capital and practical support, aiming to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.
NextGen Ventures website
Supporter: Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship
Located at Ormond College, the Wade Institute offers immersive education programs in entrepreneurship. Established in 2015, it delivers the University of Melbourne’s Master of Entrepreneurship and other initiatives to foster innovation and entrepreneurial skills.
Wade Institute websiteQuestions? We’re here to help.
Email us at MEC-StudentStartup@unimelb.edu.au.
Frequently asked questions
The things you'll want to know about before you sign up.
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- Launch event: meet other students, hear inspiring stories, and find your team.
- Four optional workshops: skill up on pitching, idea validation and confidence.
- Mentoring: get advice from real founders and startup experts.
- Final pitch night: Present your idea, win prizes, and walk away proud with something awesome for your resume.
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Even if you don’t win, you’ll walk away with:
- Experience solving real problems and making meaningful impact
- Practical, CV enhancing skills in innovation, communication and teamwork
- Hands-on experience in transforming ideas into reality
- A stronger sense of what entrepreneurship could look like for you
- New friends and connections across the University
- A Melbourne Plus digital credential to recognise your participation.
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A startup is something new you build to solve a problem and make a difference. It is usually an innovative, technology-based business that can scale rapidly and capture mass markets.
It could be an app that helps students swap second-hand textbooks, a platform for finding affordable mental health support, or a way to connect international students with local experiences.
Startups usually start small (even messy), but they’re designed to grow. You don’t need a polished idea or a business plan – just something you care about, or the curiosity to figure it out.
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Entrepreneurship isn’t just for founders – it teaches you to think differently, act on ideas, and develop practical skills like pitching, problem-solving and teamwork.
Even if you never launch a business, you’ll walk away with more confidence, a stronger resume and the experience of building something from scratch.
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You don’t need a business degree, a perfect idea or a startup dream – just the curiosity to give it a go.
This competition is open to all current University of Melbourne students, from any degree or faculty, with a few exclusions - see the eligibility section below.
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Contact our MEC team via MEC-StudentStartup@unimelb.edu.au, to learn more about the events, workshops, prizes, mentoring opportunities, rules and regulations, and some great tips on forming a team and selecting an idea to work on. Competition Handbook coming soon!