The Startup Network: price, who can join and alternatives
The Startup Network is a founder community that runs monthly pitch nights in Victoria, mostly at The Commons QV in the Melbourne CBD, alongside Founder Connect socials, workshops and webinars. Paid membership adds a Slack community, advisor office hours and discounted tickets. Recent pitch nights have been themed, such as fintech and health.
The Startup Network at a glance
| What | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Founders just starting out or well along the way | thestartupnetwork.com.au |
| Format | Monthly pitch nights in Victoria | launchvic.org |
| Where | The Commons QV, 3 Albert Coates Lane, Melbourne CBD | meetup.com |
| Recent activity | Health and Wellbeing Pitch Night on Tuesday 27 October 2026 | meetup.com |
| Pitching | Founders apply to pitch through the Eventbrite listing | thestartupnetwork.com.au |
| Founder Connect | Social events to meet other founders | thestartupnetwork.com.au |
| Price | Early Founder membership is $300 a year (currency not named) | thestartupnetwork.com.au |
| Entry-level price | Networker membership is $150 a year (currency not named) | thestartupnetwork.com.au |
| Slack | Membership includes a Slack community it says has 6k members | thestartupnetwork.com.au |
| Community size | Says it has over 75,000 people in the community | meetup.com |
Who it suits
- Early-stage founders who want pitch practice in front of a room
- Founders who like themed nights in their own sector
- People who want a low-cost membership with advisor office hours
Who it doesn't suit
- Founders after a small, curated peer group
- Anyone who wants free events only
- Founders outside the CBD who can't get to weeknight events
Alternatives to The Startup Network
| 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 |
| MLAI | Co-working days free (registration needs host approval) | Request to join each event on Luma |
| 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 |
Compare all 471 founder communities, each row dated.
Questions about The Startup Network
- How often does The Startup Network hold pitch nights in Melbourne?
- LaunchVic lists it as running monthly pitch nights in Victoria. Recent ones were at The Commons QV in the CBD, including a Health and Wellbeing Pitch Night on 27 October 2026.
- How do I pitch at The Startup Network?
- Apply through the details in the Eventbrite listing for the pitch night you want.
- How much is membership?
- The Early Founder tier is $300 a year and the Networker tier is $150 a year. The page doesn't name the currency.
- Website
- thestartupnetwork.com.au
- Price
- Membership $150 to $300 a year (currency not named); events ticketed
- Entry rule
- Buy an event ticket; apply on Eventbrite to pitch
- Format
- Monthly pitch nights at The Commons QV, Founder Connect socials and workshops
- Checked
The Startup Network isn't connected to Remote Builders. Prices and entry rules change, so check thestartupnetwork.com.au before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the members' chat.