What's the Melbourne tech scene like?
Quick Answer
Melbourne has a vibrant tech ecosystem with strong fintech and SaaS communities. It's smaller than Sydney but more collaborative, with good access to talent and growing investor interest.
Full Explanation
Melbourne's tech scene has matured significantly and offers real advantages for founders:
Strengths:
Collaborative culture: Smaller than Silicon Valley or even Sydney, which means more willingness to help each other. Competitors often grab coffee and share learnings.
Strong talent pool: Universities (Melbourne, Monash, RMIT) produce solid graduates. Growing number of experienced operators from successful startups.
Lower costs than Sydney: Office space, salaries, and general cost of living are somewhat lower while maintaining access to markets and investors.
Specialised communities: Strong fintech cluster, growing AI/ML scene, established SaaS community.
Challenges:
Smaller investor base: Less early-stage capital than Sydney, though improving. Many founders end up pitching Sydney and Singapore investors.
Timezone limitations: Challenging for US-focused products requiring real-time support.
Brain drain: Top talent sometimes relocates to larger markets.
Resources for Melbourne founders:
- Startup Victoria: Central hub for the ecosystem
- Melbourne Angels: Angel investor network
- York Butter Factory, Inspire9, ACMI X: Co-working spaces with startup communities
- SBE Australia events: Regular meetups and pitch events
- Universities: Melbourne Accelerator Program, various incubators
The Melbourne scene rewards hustle and genuine relationship building. It's small enough that being consistently helpful and visible makes a real difference.
Related Questions
How do I find a technical mentor?
Join communities where builders hang out, be helpful to others, and build in public. Mentorship often develops organically from relationships, not formal arrangements.
Do VCs fund non-technical founders?
Yes, but it's harder. VCs care most about traction, market insight, and your ability to execute. Having a technical co-founder helps, but it's not always essential.
Are there AI coding communities I can join?
Yes, many. Discord servers for specific tools (Lovable, Cursor), Twitter/X builder communities, and local meetups are the most active. Online communities are often more helpful than local ones for technical questions.
Get Hands-On Answers at Buildday Melbourne
Stop reading about building apps and start actually building. Join our one-day workshop and get your questions answered while creating something real.
Related Questions
Do VCs fund non-technical founders?
Yes, but it's harder. VCs care most about traction, market insight, and your ability to execute. Having a technical...
How do I find a technical mentor?
Join communities where builders hang out, be helpful to others, and build in public. Mentorship often develops...
Are there AI coding communities I can join?
Yes, many. Discord servers for specific tools (Lovable, Cursor), Twitter/X builder communities, and local meetups are...
How do I stay updated on new AI tools?
Follow key builders and newsletters on Twitter/X, join tool-specific Discord servers, and don't chase every new tool....
Is AI-generated code production ready?
It can be, but it requires review and testing. AI code is a starting point, not a finished product-treat it like hiring...
What's the difference between no-code and vibe coding?
No-code uses visual builders with fixed components. Vibe coding uses AI to generate real code from descriptions, giving...