_SOUTHSTART secures multi-year South Australian Government partnership, cementing role as Australia’s destination for innovation

_SOUTHSTART, Australia’s festival destination for innovation, announce the renewal of its foundational partnership with the South Australian Government. This new three-year commitment will support the delivery of _SOUTHSTART festivals in 2026, 2027, and 2028 – marking a major milestone: a decade of the festival under its current custodianship.

Since taking the reins in 2018, the _SOUTHSTART team has transformed the event from a home-grown startup conference into the nation’s most loved festival for startups – recognised for its unparalleled ability to mobilise the skills, networks and capital required to accelerate innovation.

With an alumni list including the likes of Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, Techstars Founder Brad Feld, Founders of Australian Unicorns like Canva, Culture Amp & Safety Culture and more – the festival has grown from strength to strength, building a reputation as a deal-making engine long attributed for being the linchpin behind capital raise moments.

With its distinctive ‘human-first’ spirit and supper party ethos, _SOUTHSTART has become a gathering place for those building the future – where business meets soul, investors break bread with first-time founders, and hard questions are asked around shared experiences.

“This moment is a signal of belief,” said Danielle Seymour, Co-Director at _SOUTHSTART. “In the importance of innovation, and the power of bringing people together to wrestle with the challenges of our time, and build the solutions that will help us overcome them.”

Craig Swann, Co-Director at _SOUTHSTART, added, “The renewed partnership will fuel continued evolution, helping to attract world-class thinkers, deepen local industry engagement, and amplify our position as a global hub for innovation and future-focused leadership. Our next chapter will also see us cater to the growing maturity and evolving needs of the startup community that has supported the event over the years.”

From the Adelaide CBD to South Australia’s regions, the festival’s uniquely immersive format invites participants into rich experiences of exchange, reflection, and celebration.

The Hon. Dr Susan Close MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, said: “_SOUTHSTART has proven its value as a catalyst for innovation, investment, new connections and business growth, helping put South Australia’s burgeoning startup sector and emerging industries on the map. Through this $2 million investment, the South Australian Government is backing the next stage of _SOUTHSTART’s growth, creating more opportunities for local entrepreneurs, showcasing the depth of opportunities for investors, attracting new partnerships and strengthening South Australia’s innovation economy.”

The next edition of _SOUTHSTART will take place in South Australia on 17 – 19 March 2026, with program and ticketing details to be released in October 2025.