Our early-stage investment fund
The Macquarie University Early-Stage Investment Fund advances the University's commitment to world-leading research with world -changing impact.
We back founders translating Macquarie-connected research and innovation into ventures that address local, national and global challenges, delivering lasting economic, social and environmental benefit.
Learn more about what we invest in, what we look for, how our process works and how to start a conversation with us.
Who we back
The fund invests in ventures with a clear and ongoing connection to the Macquarie University ecosystem, across our three core domains:
- Education: Ventures built by Macquarie staff, students, graduate researchers or emerging from our Incubator and Deep Tech Incubator programs.
- Research: Ventures commercialising Macquarie-owned intellectual property, or actively engaged with our researchers and research facilities.
- Health: Ventures working with Macquarie University Health or affiliated health research organisations on our campus.
If your venture connects meaningfully to any of these, we’d like to hear from you.
What we look for
We take a thesis-led approach. Every opportunity is considered on its own merits and the strongest ventures generally show:
- proprietary technology, research-derived innovation or knowledge commercialisation at the core of the product or service
- early evidence of market need such as customer discovery, pilots, letters of intent or other traction
- a large, clearly defined addressable market
- a credible source of durable competitive advantage
- a scalable, capital-efficient business model with a viable pathway to exit
- a committed founding team with the domain expertise, commercial capability and research credibility to deliver.
How we invest
We invest primarily through Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs) at the earliest stages and direct equity once a venture is ready for a priced round. We typically deploy capital in smaller initial amounts, with follow-on funding reserved for ventures meeting agreed milestones.
Our process
Our process is designed to be considered, transparent and respectful of your time. Here’s what to expect.
Opportunities reach us through Macquarie’s research community, our innovation networks and the broader startup ecosystem. Every submission is reviewed on its merits.
To get started, share your venture with us through our short submission form. It takes around 10 minutes and gives our team what we need to take a closer look.
If your opportunity progresses, you’ll meet with our team in person or online. Together, we’ll explore:
- how your venture aligns with the fund’s mandate and the wider Macquarie community
- the early evidence behind your product or technology
- your pathway to scale and commercial viability
- the material risks ahead and how we might help you navigate them.
Our work here is shaped by your stage. We get to know your team, your technology, your market, your traction so far and the risks and opportunities ahead.
Alongside this, we may speak with customers, references and subject-matter experts and draw on our network across academia, industry and the investor community. Where it helps, we also seek independent guidance from our Investment Advisory Panel.
Once that’s complete, we prepare a formal recommendation for review and approval by our investment delegate.
Once approved, we work with you to agree the investment terms, any conditions and the paperwork required to close the round.
When the agreements are signed and funds are released, your venture formally joins the fund’s portfolio and the wider Macquarie community that supports it.
Beyond capital
For us, investment is the beginning of a relationship, not the end of a process.
The founders we back become part of the wider Macquarie ecosystem with access to our researchers and clinical expertise, our Incubator and Deep Tech Incubator programs, our research facilities and our networks across academia, industry and government.
We stay engaged between rounds, support agreed milestones and work alongside you as your venture grows committed to the impact you set out to create.
How to apply
To share your venture with us, complete our short venture submission form. It takes around 10 minutes).
If you have questions along the way, reach out to us at: investment@mq.edu.au.