Government Funding for I2N to Support Women Founded Ventures

• NSW Government backs University of Newcastle’s I2N with $4 million to support women entrepreneurs
• FLIP NSW will help 188 women founders across NSW over the next two years
• MacDougall Foundation adds $200,000 for mentorship and seed funding support

The Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) of University of Newcastle has been chosen by the New South Wales government to assist women entrepreneurs across New South Wales to expedite their ventures by commercialising their ideas.

I2N will expand its FLIP Program with support from a new $4 million Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program from the New South Wales Government to create opportunities for women entrepreneurs across New South Wales, beyond the Hunter and Central Coast regions.

FLIP NSW is designed to support ambitious women with creative and innovative business ideas by providing them with the skills, confidence, and connections necessary to create or grow their businesses.

FLIP NSW aims to provide assistance and support to 188 women entrepreneurs throughout New South Wales over the next two years, with an emphasis on assisting at least 50% of participants from regional New South Wales. FLIP NSW will also be delivered online, providing support to women regardless of their location or background and assisting them in growing their business ideas.

In addition to funding from the New South Wales Government, the MacDougall Foundation, established by University of Newcastle alumni Belinda and Adam MacDougall will provide $200,000 over two years to support women through enhanced access to mentors and providing early stage seed funding for select businesses participating in the Showcase event.

“The MacDougall Foundation has been critical to the success of our local FLIP program from day one, with a consistent conviction that female founders deserve support at the earliest stage possible,” said Siobhan Curran, University of Newcastle Acting Director of Knowledge Exchange and Entrepreneurship. 

“Their continued support and passion will help us give even more women the ability to grow their innovation and entrepreneurial know-how.”

Data from Forbes Australia shows that Australian startups raised just over $5 billion across 390 commercial deals in 2025, yet funding for female founders dropped by four percent. According to Curran, FLIP NSW aims to help close the funding gap and improve the investment trend.

“We know women have amazing ideas for new ventures and the drive to make them succeed,” Curran said. 

I2N has supported over 188 startups and small businesses over the last ten years, helping the entrepreneurs of these companies raise greater than $63 million in capital and to create 280 jobs as well as generating over $44 million in wages for the Hunter and Central Coast areas.

University of Newcastle Vice Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO commented, "This partnership creates pathways to expand and support more women to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship all over NSW."