Press Play Ventures recently received $400,000 from Innovation Victoria to deliver the Press Play AI Pre-Accelerator for Women.
And that means there are 25 full-scholarship spots (valued at $6,500 each) in their first cohort, to offer to amazing women building AI startups in Victoria!
Over the last two years, Press Play has supported about 150 women founders, seen 111 startups come to life, and watched 118 jobs get created.
But the more women we worked with, the more we kept hearing the same thing:
"I want to build something with AI. I just don't know where to start."
Women with 10+ years of experience. Women who could see exactly what was broken in their industry. Women with the expertise, the insight and the drive - but no clear pathway in.
The programs out there - Too technical. Too late stage. Built for engineers - not for the healthcare professional who has watched the same inefficiency play out for 15 years, the finance expert who knows exactly where AI could transform her industry, or the educator who is done solving the same problem manually over and over again.
The Program
The Press Play AI Pre-Accelerator for Women is a 12-week AI Entrepreneurship program blending AI business fundamentals with hands-on AI experimentation.
By the end, you'll have:
- A validated problem worth solving with AI
- An AI-enabled prototype or MVP
- A clear business model and go-to-market plan
- Connections to accelerators, investors, and the Victorian startup ecosystem
And we have some AI pioneers partnering with us to bring all their technology expertise directly into the program, ensuring you get world-class tools, knowledge and networks from day one!
Think of it as the launchpad your AI startup idea has been waiting for. 🚀
What you need to know:
Program dates: 1 Feb 2027 - 15 May 2027
2-hr weekly online sessions (flexible options) + monthly in-person events in Melbourne
25 FULL scholarship spots (first come, first served), each worth $6,500
Applications close: 15 October 2026
This program is for you if:
- You have an idea for an AI-enabled or AI-native startup
- You have industry knowledge and can see a problem AI could solve
- You DON'T have a technical background, and this is a barrier to your progress
- OR, you HAVE a technical background, but don't know how to build a business model for your idea
- You're a woman based in Victoria and can commit 4-5 hours a week to your startup journey