Latitude37 – a new accelerator for young Aussie technical founders

Airwallex has launched Latitude37, a new accelerator program offering young Australian technical founders aged 25 and under a $100,000 no-equity grant, trips to San Francisco and Singapore, and access to the Airwallex ecosystem. The program targets early-stage startups where AI is central to the product or business model, aiming to accelerate their growth without requiring debt or equity.

Watch Video Shape the future of AI. We're backing you. Shape the future of AI. We're backing you. A new program accelerating young Australian founders to turn ideas into impact. Applications open now. A new program accelerating young Australian founders to turn ideas into impact. Applications open now. $100K No equity. No debt. The grant is yours to deploy however you need, runway, hiring, infrastructure, so you can stay focused on building. No equity. No debt. The grant is yours to deploy however you need, runway, hiring, infrastructure, so you can stay focused on building. No equity. No debt. The grant is yours to deploy however you need, runway, hiring, infrastructure, so you can stay focused on building. TRAVEL Two intensive trips to San Francisco and Singapore tech hubs. Time with investors, founders, and customers who can accelerate your progress. Two intensive trips to San Francisco and Singapore tech hubs. Time with investors, founders, and customers who can accelerate your progress. Two intensive trips to San Francisco and Singapore tech hubs. Time with investors, founders, and customers who can accelerate your progress. ACCESS Meet mentors, domain experts, potential investors, and customers from across the Airwallex ecosystem who can open doors that would otherwise take years to reach. Meet mentors, domain experts, potential investors, and customers from across the Airwallex ecosystem who can open doors that would otherwise take years to reach. Meet mentors, domain experts, potential investors, and customers from across the Airwallex ecosystem who can open doors that would otherwise take years to reach. About you AI is central to your product, service, or business model. You’re aged 25 or under at the application deadline. You’re an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or have local roots, and you’re still early stage . AI is central to your product, service, or business model. You’re aged 25 or under at the application deadline. You’re an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or have local roots, and you’re still early stage . You haven’t raised more than AUD$1,000,000 in external funding before the deadline. You haven’t raised more than AUD$1,000,000 in external funding before the deadline. How to apply Tell us your big idea, what you’ve done so far, and most importantly, why you? Tell us your big idea, what you’ve done so far, and most importantly, why you? Judging criteria Your founder mindset Your founder mindset Sharp thinking, relentlessness, and the scale of your vision. We are backing people, not just ideas. And if you have a founding team, we’ll consider their contributions too. Sharp thinking, relentlessness, and the scale of your vision. We are backing people, not just ideas. And if you have a founding team, we’ll consider their contributions too. The big, audacious, idea The big, audacious, idea The strength and originality of what you’re building. What do you understand about the AI space that others don’t, and how are you capitalising on its rapid evolution? The strength and originality of what you’re building. What do you understand about the AI space that others don’t, and how are you capitalising on its rapid evolution? The strength and originality of what you’re building. What do you understand about the AI space that others don’t, and how are you capitalising on its rapid evolution? Your story so far Your story so far What you’ve already done, however early. Users, product, insight. Evidence that you build, not just think. What you’ve already done, however early. Users, product, insight. Evidence that you build, not just think. What you’ve already done, however early. Users, product, insight. Evidence that you build, not just think. The panel The Latitude 37 Advisory Council The Latitude 37 Advisory Council Jack Zhang Airwallex Lucy Liu Airwallex Paul Bassat Square Peg Michael Tolo Blackbird Jackie Vullinghs Airtree Prof. Thas Nirmalathas Dean of FEIT, University of Melbourne David Burt Director, UNSW Founders Jack Zhang Airwallex Lucy Liu Airwallex Paul Bassat Square Peg Michael Tolo Blackbird Jackie Vullinghs Airtree Prof. Thas Nirmalathas Dean of FEIT, University of Melbourne David Burt Director, UNSW Founders Jack Zhang Airwallex Lucy Liu Airwallex Michael Tolo Blackbird Jackie Vullinghs Airtree Paul Bassat Square Peg Prof. Thas Nirmalathas Dean of FEIT, University of Melbourne David Burt Director, UNSW Founders The dates Your calendar is packed. Your calendar is packed. 28 Jun 2026 Application deadline Spearhead the design direction and strategy for a range of cutting-edge products. 28 Jun 2026 Application deadline Spearhead the design direction and strategy for a range of cutting-edge products. 28 Jun 2026 Application deadline Spearhead the design direction and strategy for a range of cutting-edge products. Jul 2026 Interviews Short list of applicants will be invited to interview with the Latitude 37 Advisory Council and Airwallex team Jul 2026 Interviews Short list of applicants will be invited to interview with the Latitude 37 Advisory Council and Airwallex team Jul 2026 Interviews Short list of applicants will be invited to interview with the Latitude 37 Advisory Council and Airwallex team Early Aug 2026 Selection outcome Successful applicants will be contacted, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome. While we will not be able to provide individual feedback for all applications, we will share brief feedback for those we invite to interview. Early Aug 2026 Selection outcome Successful applicants will be contacted, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome. While we will not be able to provide individual feedback for all applications, we will share brief feedback for those we invite to interview. Early Aug 2026 Selection outcome Successful applicants will be contacted, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome. While we will not be able to provide individual feedback for all applications, we will share brief feedback for those we invite to interview. 28 Aug 2026 Kick-off: Melbourne Where it all begins. A full day with your cohort, the Airwallex team, and program mentors. Lock in for orientation, introductions, and the start of the year ahead. 28 Aug 2026 Kick-off: Melbourne Where it all begins. A full day with your cohort, the Airwallex team, and program mentors. Lock in for orientation, introductions, and the start of the year ahead. 28 Aug 2026 Kick-off: Melbourne Where it all begins. A full day with your cohort, the Airwallex team, and program mentors. Lock in for orientation, introductions, and the start of the year ahead. Oct 2026 Trip: San Francisco Three days in the world’s most concentrated AI ecosystem. Sessions with Airwallex experts, leading investors, and the founders building the new wave of AI companies. Oct 2026 Trip: San Francisco Three days in the world’s most concentrated AI ecosystem. Sessions with Airwallex experts, leading investors, and the founders building the new wave of AI companies. Oct 2026 Trip: San Francisco Three days in the world’s most concentrated AI ecosystem. Sessions with Airwallex experts, leading investors, and the founders building the new wave of AI companies. Jan 2027 Trip: Singapore Three days in one of Asia’s leading tech ecosystems. Sessions with Airwallex experts, investor meetings, founder dinners, and deep exposure to how AI companies are being built and scaled across the region. Jan 2027 Trip: Singapore Three days in one of Asia’s leading tech ecosystems. Sessions with Airwallex experts, investor meetings, founder dinners, and deep exposure to how AI companies are being built and scaled across the region. Jan 2027 Trip: Singapore Three days in one of Asia’s leading tech ecosystems. Sessions with Airwallex experts, investor meetings, founder dinners, and deep exposure to how AI companies are being built and scaled across the region. 29 Jan 2027 Demo Day: Sydney Founders take the stage to present their progress to investors, Airwallex leaders, and the broader Latitude 37 community, a public milestone to build toward across the year. 29 Jan 2027 Demo Day: Sydney Founders take the stage to present their progress to investors, Airwallex leaders, and the broader Latitude 37 community, a public milestone to build toward across the year. 29 Jan 2027 Demo Day: Sydney Founders take the stage to present their progress to investors, Airwallex leaders, and the broader Latitude 37 community, a public milestone to build toward across the year. Our mission I arrived in Melbourne when I was fifteen, alone, barely speaking English, not sure what came next. What came next was that Australia gave me everything. A world-class education at the University of Melbourne. Lifelong friendships. And eventually the confidence for me and my co-founders to revolutionise global finance. Australia is one of the most important and underappreciated innovation hubs on earth. Its research universities rank among the best globally. Its culturally diverse people, nearly a third born overseas, brings a perspective that can’t be manufactured. Its founders learn to think creatively and globally from day one, because the market demands it. And its proximity to Asia puts it at the crossroads of the fastest-growing economies in the world. But building here isn’t easy. Access to early capital is limited. Support often comes too late. And too many founders feel like they need to leave to build something global. At the same time, we are in the midst of one of the most profound platform shifts of a generation with the acceleration of artificial intelligence. The founders who understand this moment will define the next era. It’s important to me that Australia leads the way. That means investing in the next generation of founders with support, access and the belief they need to build global companies from day one. Australia has given me so much. It’s time for me to give back. I arrived in Melbourne when I was fifteen, alone, barely speaking English, not sure what came next. What came next was that Australia gave me everything. A world-class education at the University of Melbourne. Lifelong friendships. And eventually the confidence for me and my co-founders to revolutionise global finance. Australia is one of the most important and underappreciated innovation hubs on earth. Its research universities rank among the best globally. Its culturally diverse people, nearly a third born overseas, brings a perspective that can’t be manufactured. Its founders learn to think creatively and globally from day one, because the market demands it. And its proximity to Asia puts it at the crossroads of the fastest-growing economies in the world. But building here isn’t easy. Access to early capital is limited. Support often comes too late. And too many founders feel like they need to leave to build something global. At the same time, we are in the midst of one of the most profound platform shifts of a generation with the acceleration of artificial intelligence. The founders who understand this moment will define the next era. It’s important to me that Australia leads the way. That means investing in the next generation of founders with support, access and the belief they need to build global companies from day one. Australia has given me so much. It’s time for me to give back. jack zhang Our mission I arrived in Melbourne when I was fifteen, alone, barely speaking English, not sure what came next. What came next was that Australia gave me everything. A world-class education at the University of Melbourne. Lifelong friendships. And eventually the confidence for me and my co-founders to revolutionise global finance. Australia is one of the most important and underappreciated innovation hubs on earth. Its research universities rank among the best globally. Its culturally diverse people, nearly a third born overseas, brings a perspective that can’t be manufactured. Its founders learn to think creatively and globally from day one, because the market demands it. And its proximity to Asia puts it at the crossroads of the fastest-growing economies in the world. But building here isn’t easy. Access to early capital is limited. Support often comes too late. And too many founders feel like they need to leave to build something global. At the same time, we are in the midst of one of the most profound platform shifts of a generation with the acceleration of artificial intelligence. The founders who understand this moment will define the next era. It’s important to me that Australia leads the way. That means investing in the next generation of founders with support, access and the belief they need to build global companies from day one. Australia has given me so much. It’s time for me to give back. jack zhang