ilab was established by the Queensland Government in 2000 as a business incubator to support early stage, high-tech companies through the first few years of development. In 2009, The University of Queensland (UQ) acquired ilab in an arrangement with the State Government. Since 2012, ilab has introduced Germinate accelerator programs, intern placement programs and a range of other founder friendly initiatives. UQ’s ilab has run 13 accelerator programs, continued its startup incubator, has supported in excess of 500 young founders across 185 startup companies and has organised over 3000 mentor sessions cementing its position as one of the most experienced startup accelerator programs in Australia. ilab startups have raised in excess of $50m since 2014. The end of the year 2018 also sees a change and the launch of Germinate PLUS. A bigger, enhanced and more ambitious accelerator program offering twice as much funding, running for twice as long and with high expectations for applicants and outcomes. ilab also organises Mentor Blaze events, Queensland’s biggest mentoring events, bringing together seasoned professionals and mentees ranging from students to young entrepreneurs and a larger crowd of people interested in starting or growing a business. We do also facilitate internships in startup companies for students at The University of Queensland, offering them a wealth of experience and an opportunity to build up their employability through valuable work experience. For more information about UQ’s ilab program, visit ventures.uq.edu.au/ilab // UQ Ventures