MLAI: price, who can join and alternatives
MLAI is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run AI community born in Melbourne that aims to help create 1,000 Australian startups. It runs monthly AI founder co-working days at State Library Victoria's StartSpace, with short show-and-tell pitches, plus meetups and hackathons at Stone & Chalk's Melbourne hub.
MLAI at a glance
| What | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Australian founders bringing startup ideas to life with AI | mlai.au |
| Mission | Aims to help create 1,000 Australian startups | luma.com |
| Origins | Australia's machine learning and AI community, born in Melbourne | luma.com |
| Upcoming event | AI Founder Co-working Days on 7 November and 5 December 2026 (dates from Luma event data) | luma.com |
| Where | StartSpace at State Library Victoria, 328 Swanston Street | luma.com |
| Format | Co-working days end with three-minute pitches and Q&A | luma.com |
| Access | Non-StartSpace members can use the space only during the event | luma.com |
| Other venue | Meetups at Stone & Chalk Melbourne Startup Hub, 121 King Street | mlai.au |
| Volunteers | Free coworking for MLAI volunteers | mlai.au |
Who it suits
- Founders building AI products who want a Saturday to build alongside others
- Technical founders who like show-and-tell feedback
- People looking for AI hackathons and meetups in the CBD
Who it doesn't suit
- Non-technical founders who don't plan to use AI
- Anyone wanting a paid, curated peer group
- Founders after investor pitching nights
Alternatives to MLAI
| Community | Price | Entry rule |
|---|---|---|
| Aussie Founders Club | Slack is free; its 19 Nov event is free or A$45 (All Access Pass) | Open to join |
| Cremorne Digital Hub (CDH) | Community: apply (price not published); Clubhouse from $300 a month (currency not named) | Apply to join the community; register for events on Luma |
| Founders Running Club Melbourne | Not published; no sign-up needed for the run | Turn up on Saturday; join the WhatsApp group |
| FoundHer | Networking free; dinners and workshops paid (price not published) | Request to join on Luma; join the mailing list |
| Kinaway Chamber of Commerce | Not published | Majority Indigenous-owned Victorian businesses apply for membership |
| One Roof (Melbourne) | Walk: members free, first visit $5, returning non-members $15 (currency not named) | Request a ticket on Luma; host approval |
| Startup Valley Melbourne | Ticketed on Luma; free Seed Pitch slot by approval | Buy a ticket on Luma; apply with your deck to pitch |
| StartupHaus Melbourne (LiveHaus) | A$40 to A$60 per ticket (Early Bird to Final Release) | Buy a ticket; seats are capped |
Compare all 471 founder communities, each row dated.
Questions about MLAI
- What is MLAI?
- A not-for-profit, volunteer-run machine learning and AI community born in Melbourne that aims to help create 1,000 Australian startups.
- Where are MLAI's co-working days?
- At StartSpace in State Library Victoria on Swanston Street. Non-StartSpace members can use the space only during the event.
- When is the next MLAI co-working day?
- Luma lists AI Founder Co-working Days on 7 November and 5 December 2026.
- Website
- mlai.au
- Price
- Co-working days free (registration needs host approval)
- Entry rule
- Request to join each event on Luma
- Format
- Volunteer-run AI community: Saturday founder co-working days, meetups and hackathons
- Checked
MLAI isn't connected to Remote Builders. Prices and entry rules change, so check mlai.au before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the members' chat.