Welcome to HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program. HATCH aims to inspire, support and launch innovative ideas and actions to help address some of the most pressing environmental and conservation challenges currently facing our planet. 

We are calling on innovators, thought leaders, disruptors, developers, passionate individuals and everyone in between to help develop and implement brilliant ideas for the planet. 

One simple idea could change the future. The future starts today. What’s your brilliant idea?

Applications closing soon!

HATCH applications close 5pm on Tuesday 24 March - apply now!

Apply now

HATCH is a 14-week accelerator program designed to help you develop your brilliant idea into a not-for-profit or social enterprise venture that has a positive impact on the environment. The program will involve two immersive events in Sydney, weekly online workshops that you can attend from your home location, and a final pitch event in Sydney.

What is an accelerator?

Think of an accelerator as similar to a University or TAFE unit – a structured, fixed term development program. However, the purpose of an accelerator program is not only to educate, but to help participants to develop and refine their initiative or business venture.

During the HATCH program, you will undertake education sessions, peer collaboration, and have access to mentors from a range of different expertise. You will also undertake work on your game changing idea or product for the planet in your own time. 

Accelerators often provide seed capital to participants as well. HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program will provide $2,000 to each participating team. 

At the end of the structured program, participants will present their ideas to a panel of experts. The panel will provide feedback and determine which idea or product is the overall winner and recipient of the major funding. 

If you have an innovative idea, an accelerator such as HATCH is a great place to develop your idea with the support of experts, and to meet and collaborate with like-minded people. 

HATCH program inclusions

• The opportunity to receive up to $50,000 to bring your brilliant idea to life 
• $2,000 seed funding for each team participating in the program (at zero equity)
• A blended approach of face to face workshops, online sessions and digital modules to provide you with the knowledge to develop your initiative 
• Expert learning, guidance and support from mentors and subject matter experts including Taronga experts, industry professionals, and not-for-profit and social enterprise leaders
• Co-working space during the program, subject to availability 

Your brilliant idea is...

• Targeted to address a key conservation or environmental challenge
• An innovative approach to address the issue you’re targeting 
• Designed to make a positive impact on the natural environment
• Aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Taronga’s 360 degree approach to conservation
• Early stage – you bring the concept, we’ll help you to assess, test and validate it
• Is established as, or plans to develop into, a not-for-profit or social enterprise organisation 
• Ideally it has potential to scale up for ever greater impact over time

Taronga's 360^o approach to conservation

At Taronga we recognise that to achieve successful conservation of species we must also consider and support the habitat in which the species live, and the communities that interact with the species and habitat. Below are some examples of activities that Taronga undertakes under each area that may help you to consider how your initiative aligns to these areas.

Key dates

• Open to Australian citizens and permanent residents only
• All applicants must be 18 years and over
• Teams can be a maximum of 5 people per team; individual applicants are welcome
• Initiatives must align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to Taronga’s 360 degree approach to conservation 
• Initiatives must be delivered in Australia to benefit/support the Australian environment
• Not for profit and social enterprise initiatives are welcomed; for profit initiatives are not eligible for this program
• If applying as an organisation, the organisation will likely have an annual revenue of less than $150,000  
• All participants must comply with the Terms and Conditions associated with the HATCH Program
• All participants must comply with Taronga’s Code of Conduct 

Header photo: Shunsuke Ono