Ranked Australia's #1 Startup Festival by Startup Muster and Startup Daily

We curate deeply human experiences

Building something of importance is lonely work. Once a year, we gather the people who get it - so you can think bigger, go further, and never build alone.

See the 2026 gallery →
“Entrepreneurship is a lonely job. It's wonderful to have a place like southstart to help you realise you're not alone.”
Marc Randolph - Co-founder & first CEO, Netflix
“We added a couple of million to our capitalisation from the connections we made at southstart.”
Matt Pearson - CEO at Airspeeder & CXO at Fleet
“All the team at southstart did an amazing job of making me feel welcome in their city - and the event itself was one of the most organised I've had the privilege of being involved in.”
Cam Adams - Co-founder at Canva
Why southstart

Innovation was never about technology. It's always been about people.

southstart was founded in 2013 and reimagined by us in 2018 on that one stubborn belief. Once a year, the whole ecosystem lands in Adelaide - founders, investors, operators, artists, even astronauts - for three days in one room. The magic is what happens between them.

The crowd gathering at SOUTHSTART in Adelaide
Who it's for

We gather the builders, the dreamers and the deep thinkers yearning for a place to:

Find your people

The magic is in the collision - founders and artists, investors and astronauts, scientists and storytellers, all in one room. You'll find the people who get what you're carrying, and the unexpected ones who change how you see everything. Some become co-founders, backers, friends for life.

Share perspectives freely

The good stuff lives below the surface. You won't always share the same views here - and that's the point. We make room for honest disagreement, the kind held with respect that opens up a depth of perspective you can't reach on your own.

Leave with momentum

Walk in with a question, leave with a direction. A few days here can move you further than a quarter alone at your desk.

Remember why you started

The work is relentless. This is the rare moment to step back, think properly, and remember why you started in the first place.

The Archive

Every edition we've built

Thirteen years of them, every edition since 2013.

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2026
Resonance
2025
Space to breathe
2024
Step into the magic
2023
Odyssey
2022
Revival
2020-21
Emergence
2019
Convergence
2018
Frontiers of the future
2013
Where it began
The proof is in the room
13
Years of events and counting. Established 2013
10,000+
Person strong community across channels
96%
Made new connections (2026 festival outcome)
72%
Made deal-relevant intros (2026 festival outcome)
#1
Startup festival in Australia
Backed by those who build the future

We're better, together

South Australian Government
Adelaide Economic Development Agency
ACS
Pledge
Xenon / NVIDIA
RAA
Radium Capital
Stripe
Adelaide University
Flinders University
Stone & Chalk
+ many more
Partner with us
Who's shared our stage

Where brilliant, curious minds collide

Over the years, hundreds of remarkable people have spoken at southstart - founders who've scaled globally, investors who've seen thousands of pitches, and voices from well outside tech.

Marc Randolph
Netflix
Dr Christyl Johnson
NASA
Derek Sivers
CD Baby
Cam Adams
Canva
Ronni Kahn AO
OzHarvest
Peter Helliar
Spruik
Marta Dusseldorp
Actor & Producer
Flavia Tata Nardini
Fleet Space
Luke Anear
SafetyCulture
More than a festival

The work that happens between the big days

Throughout the year we run complementary programs that keep our community connected and the conversations going.

Since 2018

Founder & Investor Dinners

Curated dinners that put founders and the investors who back them around one table.

Since 2024

MASTERM!ND

A small cohort of founders going deep together, well away from the noise of the main stage.

2022

Startup Week

A full week of programming across the city - the festival energy, stretched right out.

Ongoing

Ecosystem Engagement

Interested in a bespoke collaboration? Reach out.

The Table, by southstart

Good ideas love a long dinner.

The Table is our small rebellion. One long table, one real question, and nothing said ever leaves the room with your name on it - so people are free to be honest. Break bread, think hard, stay late. You'll leave full, a little changed, and with better questions than you came in with.

Reserve a seat
In the news
Save the date

16-18 March 2027

We'll be back. Register your interest and you'll be first through the door - and first to know as the next one takes shape.

Register your interest

Or just keep in touch

Interested in partnering? Let's talk.