Accelerator Application Hacks with Sam Monkhouse
How to write an Accelerator application that stand out
Startmate gets 1,000+ applications an intake and invests in the top 1–2%. The difference between the pile and the shortlist is usually not the startup – it's how clearly the founder explained it.
Sam Monkhouse, Investment Associate at Startmate, goes through the application question by question and shows you what a strong answer actually looks like.
When
📆 Thursday 1 October 2026, 5:30 – 6:30pm AEST
📍 Live on Zoom · free to attend
What we'll cover
Every question in the application – what we're really asking, and how to answer it well
Real examples from founders who got in – the answers that worked, and why
Ask Sam directly
The last stretch is open Q&A. Sam reads applications for a living, so this is the rare chance to ask "would this answer land?" and get a straight response before you hit submit.
Showing up counts
The Startmate team notes who's in the room. Turning up, asking good questions and staying engaged across Open House is part of how we get to know founders before applications close – and it's taken into account when we're selecting for the Accelerator.
Who it's for
Anyone who wants a shot at the Startmate Accelerator and a $120k investment.
We get 1,000+ applications an intake and take 15–20 companies. An hour with the person who reads those applications is the most direct leg-up you'll get – this is how you stand out before you've even hit submit.
Ready to go further?
Startmate invests $120k into startups twice a year.
→ Apply for the Accelerator