What is Melbourne Migrapreneurs?
Melbourne Migrapreneurs is a program designed for migrants, refugees and international students living or working in Melbourne who want to learn how to launch a startup and become future innovators and change‑makers.
The program supports early‑stage founders to build strong foundations, validate their ideas, and connect with the networks, knowledge and resources they need to thrive.
Delivered in partnership with the City of Melbourne and Arctic 90, Melbourne Migrapreneurs combines practical learning, personalised guidance and a supportive community, right in the heart of Melbourne’s innovation ecosystem.
Who is this program for?
This program is designed for:
Migrant, refugee or international student founders based in Melbourne
Early‑stage entrepreneurs building or exploring a startup idea
Founders who want structured support, practical tools and access to a welcoming entrepreneurial community
Those who benefit from learning in a supportive environment designed to address unique barriers faced by new migrants, refugees and international students
The program is structured into two streams: aligned with your stage of business (assessed through your application):
Ideation stream – for founders at the early ideation stage, building the foundations to launch a startup, run by Catalysr
Traction stream – for founders who have initial traction and are ready to validate and grow, run by Arctic 90
All participants share a cohort experience, with tailored workbooks and activities for each stream.
Program Highlights:
Participants in both streams will share a cohort experience featuring:
Masterclass Series: 8 x weekly interactive sessions delivered in a hybrid format (alternating online and in-person) at Stone & Chalk Melbourne from 12th May – 30th June 2026.
Virtual Coaching: Fortnightly 1:1 virtual coaching sessions for all participants by the Catalysr team
Built-in Community: Access to a cohort WhatsApp group and Catalysr national Slack community of over 1,000 migrapreneurs and mentors.
City of Melbourne Networking Event: Connect with successful alumni, mentors, and key ecosystem stakeholders at a dedicated event in June.
Select participants to participate in the Validation Sprint & Mentoring
The masterclasses will focus on the following topics:
Entrepreneurial Mindset & Lean Startup*
Prototyping and user-testing
Building a minimum viable product (MVP)*
Understanding competition
Building a team and culture*
Business Models and Metrics*
Pitching and Story-telling*
Intro to Fundraising
*Mandatory topics for the Traction Stream participants.
The Validation Sprint & Mentoring
Led by Arctic 90 — By Selection Only
Reserved for Traction stream participants and a select group of high-potential founders from the Ideation stream.
The Validation Sprint is an intensive, small‑cohort program designed for founders with an operating business who are ready to test critical assumptions and make evidence‑based decisions about their next stage of growth.
This component does not cover foundational entrepreneurship skills. Instead, it focuses on deep validation, structured experimentation, and targeted mentoring to help founders address the most important strategic questions facing their business.
Is it for you?
The validation sprint is suitable for founders who:
Have an operating business (early revenue, pilots, or active customers)
Have completed the selected masterclass sessions
Are facing critical questions around growth, pricing, customers, or direction
Program structure (12 weeks)
The validation sprint & mentoring is delivered in three connected phases:
Orientation & Focus Setting
Week 1 workshop
Deep Validation Sprints
Weeks 2–8 — founder‑led experimentation with guided support
Mentoring & Decision Execution
Weeks 8–12 — intensive mentoring for the top four validation plans
Each phase builds on the last, supporting founders as they move from clarity → evidence → action.
Validation Grant
We know that testing a business costs money.
To support your journey, founders selected for the Validation Sprint will receive a $1,000 Validation Grant to help cover essential expenses.
About Arctic 90
Arctic 90 is a boutique advisory firm dedicated to empowering impact‑driven entrepreneurs— particularly CALD women, migrants and next‑gen founders. Through strategic execution, operational excellence and sustainable business models, Arctic 90 has a strong track record of guiding early‑stage ventures to scale and turning bold ideas into resilient, high‑impact businesses.
Why you should join?
Learn from lived experience: gain insights from experts who have successfully navigated the Australian startup landscape as migrants themselves.
Join an ambitious and inspiring community of migrapreneurs learning about and building their own startups in Melbourne
Access personalised coaching, peer support and Melbourne's thriving startup ecosystem through our partnership with Stone & Chalk, Australia's largest innovation hub.
Commitment & Expectations
We are investing in your journey and expect the same commitment in return.
To ensure a high impact, collaborative environment, we require all participants to adhere to the following expectations:
✔️ Ideation Stream participants must attend at least 80% of all masterclasses to receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible for the Validation Sprint.
✔️ Validation Stream participants must attend all the masterclasses selected for their stream to move forward to the Validation Sprint.
✔️ We ask that you come prepared to engage, share, and support your fellow founders. This is a community-based program where your input is as valuable as the expert-led content.
How to join
We are investing in your journey and expect the same commitment in return.
Submit your application form
Complete our online application form below to tell us about your startup idea or current business traction.
Our team will review your stage to match you with the Ideation or Traction stream.
Program value
The Melbourne Migrapreneurs program is valued at over $3,000 per participant, and is significantly subsidised for participants thanks to the support of the City of Melbourne and our partners.
Commitment Fee - how much does it cost you?
To ensure a high level of commitment from all participants, there is a one-time commitment fee of $100 for the 2026 program, payable once your enrolment is confirmed.
All fees are pooled into a Founder Grant awarded to the cohort’s top-performing startups.
Scholarships
We are committed to ensuring financial barriers do not prevent talented migrapreneurs from participating.
Although the program is significantly subsidised, with the only requirement of a $100 committment fee, however, of you are unable to afford the fee, you can apply for a full scholarship directly within the application form.
You will be asked to briefly explain your circumstances, and all requests will be kept strictly confidential.
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✅ You live or work in Melbourne
✅ You are a migrant, refugee or international student i.e. you were born outside of Australia
✅ You are interested in learning about how to launch your own startup
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👉 Application deadline 🗓️ Wednesday, 22nd April 2026
👉 Ideation program by Catalysr 🗓️ 12th May - 30th June, 2026
👉 Networking event organised by City of Melbourne 🗓️ June 2026 (date TBC)
👉 Validation Sprint by Arctic 90 🗓️ 15th June - 24th August 2026
👉 Mentoring by Arctic 90 🗓️ 24th August – 11th September 2026
All in person masterclasses for the Ideation program will be held at Stone & Chalk, 121 King St, Melbourne (in the evenings)
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Who is a Migrapreneur?
A Migrapreneur is an entrepreneur from migrant, refugee or international student background
To be eligible for the program, there must be at least one first-generation migrant, refugee or international student co-founder in your team, who will participate in the program.
A first-generation migrant, in this context, is an individual born outside of Australia.Permanent residence OR Australian citizenship is NOT a requirement of this program.
Can I apply if I’m an international student?Our program accepts international students and other temporary migrants e.g. if you are on a work visas, but you have to ensure that you meet your visa requirements e.g. on working hours etc.
Do I need to live or work in Melbourne to apply?
Yes, this program is an in-person program, exclusively available to migrapreneurs living and working in Melbourne
Can I be a solo founder? Do I need to have a team?We accept applications from solo founders as well as teams.
What if English is not my first language?We accept applications from people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. However, as our program is delivered in English, we can only accept applicants who understand and communicate in English
Where will in-person sessions be held?
In-person masterclasses will be hosted at Stone & Chalk Melbourne, 121 King St, Melbourne CBD, walking distance from Southern Cross Station
What happens if I miss a masterclass?
We understand that life happens. However, to maintain the integrity of the cohort and ensure you get most out of the curriculum, we require 80% attendance for all Ideation stream participants to receive an official Certificate of Completion from the City of Melbourne and Catalysr
Why is there an 80% attendance requirement?
The program is highly interactive. The value lies not just in the content but in the peer connections and group exercises. If you are unable to commit to 80% attendance, you may be better suited for a future intake when you have more availability.
If I get into the Traction Stream, do I automatically get the 1:1 mentoring?
No. All Traction participants go through the Validation Sprint, which provides the tools and structure to test your business.
However, the intensive 1:1 Mentoring in the final weeks is reserved for those who submit the highest-quality Validation Plans. Think of the Sprint as your opportunity to prove your concept and secure that expert time
What happens if I am not selected for the 1:1 Mentoring?
You still receive the full benefit of the Masterclasses, the Validation Sprint framework, and the cohort community.
You will finish the program with a completed Validation Plan that you can use to pitch to investors or partners independently
Is there a cost to participate in the program?
Melbourne Migrapreneurs is highly subisidised, due to the generous support of our funding partner, City of Melbourne
However, there is a $100 commitment fee. This fee helps us ensure that all participants are fully dedicated to the program and the growth of their startup.
What if I cannot afford the $100 fee?
We offer full scholarships for those experiencing financial hardship. You do not need to lodge a separate application; simply answer ‘yes’ to the question ‘are you applying for a scholarship’ in the main application form, and explain your situation.
When do I need to pay the fee?
You only pay once you have been officially accepted into the program. Instructions for payment (or confirmation of your scholarship) will be included in your acceptance email.
Is the fee refundable?
The fee is non-refundable once the program commences, as it secures your spot in the cohort.
Does the $100 cover both the Ideation and Traction streams?
Yes. The single commitment fee covers your participation in either stream. There is no additional cost if you are selected for the Arctic 90 Validation Sprint or Mentoring.
What happens to the $100 commitment fee I pay?
Unlike a standard tuition fee, your $100 is reinvested.
Every dollar collected from the cohort is placed into a grant pool.
At the end of the program, the total amount is awarded back to the most outstanding founders in form of a validation grant.
Who is eligible for the $1,000 Validation Grant?
This grant is specifically for founders who are selected for the Validation Sprint (Traction stream and select Ideation founders).
It is intended to help you pay for "out-of-pocket" costs like software subscriptions, hardware, or marketing tests needed to validate your business idea.