Designed to tackle the complexity of U.S. market entry, Oz2US Ventures’ 24-week program fuses Melbourne accelerator prep with an on-the-ground Silicon Valley landing pad.
Australian tech startups eyeing U.S. expansion now have a structured pathway to Silicon Valley success, thanks to a new accelerator program that addresses the fragmented support system currently facing founders.
Oz2US Ventures has launched its U.S.-expansion Accelerator and Silicon Valley Landing Pad Residency programs, designed specifically to empower Australian high-growth tech startups to conquer the American market.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Current support systems for high-growth Australian startups looking to expand in the U.S. are minimal and fragmented, leaving founders ill-prepared for the considerable market, regulatory, cultural, and financial challenges that await them across the Pacific.
Program structure
The comprehensive 24-week program splits into two distinct phases: a 12-week Melbourne-based accelerator followed by a 12-week Silicon Valley Landing Pad residency. This dual-location approach ensures founders receive thorough preparation before entering the competitive U.S. market.
Applications are now open for the inaugural Melbourne cohort, commencing September 6, 2025. A free public Information Session will be held on July 29, 2025 in Melbourne to guide prospective applicants through the program details and application process.
According to a study by Startup Genome, startups that go through structured accelerator programs are 10–15% less likely to fail, thanks to the mentorship, structured support, and network access accelerators provide, which help founders navigate challenges more effectively.
Expert mentorship
Participants gain access to a network of 40 U.S. and Australian U.S.-expansion expert mentors, service providers, and VC advisors, including Vera Shokina from Silicon Valley Bank, Tom Chi from At One Ventures, Benjamin Levy from BootstrapLabs, and Trena Blair from FD Global Academy.
“Oz2US Ventures is redefining how Australian founders scale to the U.S.,” said Robert Gallup, Founder and Principal of Oz2US Ventures. “Our programs deliver unmatched preparation, mentorship, and networks to help founders land and grow in the U.S., turning bold risks into confident leaps.”
The program addresses practical challenges that Australian founders face when expanding internationally. Founders will gain practical tools and insights to assess market readiness, select launch locations, develop go-to-market strategies, prepare for funding, and navigate legal and visa requirements, while mastering strategies for market research, pricing optimisation, sales approaches, and building U.S. teams.
Industry backing
The program has garnered support from successful Australian entrepreneurs who have navigated U.S. expansion challenges firsthand. Ben Wunderman, Co-Founder and CEO of Packsmith, shared: “As an Australian founder having faced the incredible challenges of scaling across both the U.S. and Australia over the last few years, I wish we had this level of domain expertise, founder support, and investment advice across a US pre-launch accelerator and arrival landing pad. We look forward to supporting the advance prep and a soft landing for the next batch of U.S.-bound Aussie founders.”
Fabio Ficano, Managing Director of AI & Innovation and Head of Venture Studio at Silicon Valley BootstrapLabs, an Ares Company, expressed confidence in the program’s leadership: “We’ve engaged Robert for over 10 years as a co-founder, a fractional CMO for portfolio companies, and most recently to help identify the best talent coming out of Australia. Results have always been impressive, which is why we’re fully committed to supporting Oz2US Ventures’ transformative programs, confident they will equip these innovators to become Valley-ready and highly fundable.”
Gallup emphasized the program’s broader mission: “I’m impressed by the volume of amazing Australian founders solving incredible challenges, yet disheartened by the lack of available funding and resources to help them scale globally, I’m hoping to create a new paradigm for international expansion. No other initiative provides this seamless integration of in-depth preparation and in-market engagement, enabling founders to launch confidently and scale successfully.”
The program also prioritizes diversity and inclusion, with Oz2US’s mission to enable diverse Australian tech innovators to drive global impact, prioritising equitable opportunities with a commitment to The Panel Pledge, ensuring gender equity and diversity in its panels and events, and a 50% fee discount for women and underrepresented founders.
Join the free Information Session on July 29, 2025, in Melbourne to explore the programs and application process. Registration is required at https://lu.ma/9hszjfr1.
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