Cicada Innovations is accepting applications for Cicada x Tech23 2026, its annual program selecting 23 of Australia’s most promising deep tech ventures.
What’s happening: Applications close 30 April 2026, with the main event taking place in Sydney on 9 September 2026.
Tech23 is not a pitch competition. It is not a startup showcase in the conventional sense either. Cicada Innovations, the Sydney-based deep tech incubator and national innovation centre, describes it as a curated platform designed to connect Australia’s most promising deep tech ventures with the capital, industry relationships and policy conversations that shape what comes next.
The format is deliberately different from most founder events. There are no formal pitches, no judges scoring presentations, and no theatre designed around performance. Instead, selected founders share their work through sessions built around conversation and connection, with investors, industry leaders and policymakers who have been specifically brought together because they can actually move things forward.
The event takes place on 9 September 2026 in Sydney, but the program begins well before that. Selected founders receive speaker coaching, invitations to founder-exclusive events in the lead-up to the main day, and early access to Cicada’s network from the moment they are confirmed as one of the 23.
What being one of the 23 means
Selection into Tech23 carries practical benefits beyond the event itself. Each of the 23 selected ventures receives national recognition as one of Australia’s top emerging deep tech companies, a dedicated demo area at the main event to bring their technology to life, and a spot in front of an audience of investors, industry leaders and media.
More significantly, it means joining a cohort of founders operating at a similar level, and becoming part of Cicada’s national deep tech community beyond the event itself. For ventures at the stage where the right introduction can unlock a funding round or a commercial partnership, that network has demonstrated value.
Past Tech23 alumni include Morse Micro, the Wi-Fi chip startup that has raised hundreds of millions globally, Q-CTRL, the quantum control infrastructure company, Samsara Eco, the enzymatic plastic recycling company, Endua and Uluu. These are companies that have used Tech23 not as a finish line but as a launchpad, raising capital, securing partnerships and scaling internationally in the years that followed their selection.
Who should apply
Eligibility is specific. To be considered, startups must be Australian-based and working on a deep tech solution grounded in science or engineering. They must demonstrate strong problem-market fit, show potential for real-world impact, and present a compelling team and vision.
The program is open to ventures across all stages, sectors and locations, meaning early-stage companies are not excluded by their size, and founders outside Sydney or Melbourne are not disadvantaged by geography. What Cicada is looking for is depth of thinking and seriousness of ambition, not polish or scale.
If your company is working on a hard scientific or engineering problem, has a clear sense of the market it is addressing, and is ready for more people to know what it is building, Tech23 is worth the application.
How to apply before time runs out
Applications close on 30 April 2026. With ten days remaining, founders who have had it on their list need to move now. The application is completed online through cicadainnovations.com.
For founders with questions before submitting, Cicada is hosting a free 30-minute information session on Tuesday 21 April. Questions can be submitted directly when registering and will be answered live. The session is designed for founders who want to understand exactly what the commitment involves or have specific questions about their venture’s eligibility before applying.
Selection follows a review by Cicada Innovations and a panel of experts, with shortlisted startups invited to join the Tech23 cohort ahead of the 9 September main event.
Apply here
Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
