Good day from Brisbane

Your map to
Brisbane's startup scene

15+ superconnectors. 20+ investors. 30+ founder-friendly cafes. Everything you need to build in Brisbane.

$417M
Raised FY2025
427
Active Startups
#111
Global Ranking
37%
YoY Growth

Brisbane Superconnectors

The people who make the ecosystem tick. They're accessible, but respect their time.

Wayne Gerard

Co-Founder

RedEye

Visionary
"Give before you get"

Steve Baxter

Founder & Investor

River City Labs

Visionary
"Godfather of Brisbane tech"

Julia Spicer

Chief Entrepreneur

Office of the Chief Entrepreneur

Government
"Backing Queenslanders"

Andrew Liveris

President

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee

Visionary
"2032 Olympics Mandate"

Leanne Kemp

Founder

Everledger

Visionary
"Circular economy pioneer"

Varun Pillai

Chief Student Entrepreneur

UQ Ventures

Community
"Student-founder journey"

Rowena Barrett

Pro Vice-Chancellor

QUT

Community
"Entrepreneurial Mindset"

Glen Murphy

Director

QUT Entrepreneurship

Technical
"Tech-enhanced learning"

Build something that matters.

Brisbane is collaborative, not competitive. It's less formal than Sydney, more relationship-focused than Melbourne. With $417 million in startup capital raised in FY2025, the city is ready. Are you?

Where to Live & Build

Find your tribe in the right postcode. Most founders live in the inner-ring suburbs (3-5km from CBD).

Fortitude Valley

Startup Hub

High Energy

The heart of the ecosystem. Home to The Precinct, AI Hub, and a high concentration of agencies. Vibrant nightlife and walkable to CBD.

Newstead & Teneriffe

Scaleup Alley

Premium

Urban tech lifestyle hubs. Modern apartments, fast fibre, and incredible cafes. The 'grown-up' choice for founders.

West End

Creative

Bohemian

Bohemian and multicultural. Home to many individual founders. Great food, artistic vibe, and just across the river.

Workspaces & Hubs

Where the magic happens. From scrappy garages to corporate innovation labs.

The Precinct

Fortitude Valley

High

Queensland's leading startup hub. Home to AI Hub, XR Hub, Chief Entrepreneur, and growing scaleups.

River City Labs

Brisbane CBD

High

Brisbane's longest-running startup hub. Landing pad services, structured programmes, and events.

Innovation Central Brisbane

Brisbane CBD

Medium

QUT-Cisco partnership hub connecting big tech, academia, industry, and government.

Active Investors

Who's writing checks right now. Seed to Series A.

Brisbane Angels

Angel Group

$50k - $500k

Focus: Sector Agnostic

TEN13

Syndicate

$500k - $5m

Focus: SaaS, Marketplace, Fintech

QIC Ventures

Government Fund

$1m+

Focus: Queensland Growth (VCDF)

Visiting & Accommodation

Brisbane Airport (BNE) is 20 mins from the city. The Airtrain is your best bet ($15) directly to Fortitude Valley or Central.

The Calile Hotel

Fortitude Valley

$400+/night

The city's most iconic hotel. Poolside meetings are a status symbol here.

Ovolo The Valley

Fortitude Valley

$250+/night

Fun, rock-n-roll vibe. Great for creative founders who hate beige hotels.

Quest Apartments

Various Locations

$200+/night

Practical, reliable, and equipped with kitchens. Good for longer stays.

Founder-Friendly Cafes

Where deals actually happen. Caffeine is the fuel of established startups.

John Mills Himself

CBD (Charlotte St)

Quiet

Hidden through a gift shop. Best filtered coffee in the CBD. Quiet atmosphere.

Coffee Anthology

CBD (Charlotte St)

Busy

Top specialty coffee in 1890s heritage building. Rotating single origins.

Edward Specialty Coffee

CBD (Edward St)

Quiet

Tiny shop with White Horse Coffee beans. Good for serious 1:1s.

Ecosystem Events

The calendar that matters. Skip the noise.

Startup Oasis

Networking

Free

Founders pitch live then break into feedback rooms. High value.

Something Digital

Conference

Ticketed

Brisbane's flagship digital festival. 80+ speakers, 2 stages.

Founders Collective

Social

Ticketed

Game-based networking for founders and creators. Focus on relationships.

SaaS Summit Brisbane

Conference

Ticketed

Gathers SaaS leaders and investors for market dynamics.