Curtin University has announced 13 startups selected for its 2026 Curtin Accelerate program, highlighting emerging ideas across healthcare, education, workplace safety, environmental monitoring and consumer products.
The program, which has operated since 2013, provides early-stage businesses with guidance from experienced founders, access to industry networks and support to bring new products and services to market. Curtin says more than 180 founders have participated since launch, with many continuing to operate in Western Australia’s startup ecosystem.
This year’s cohort includes technologies aimed at improving clinical decision-making, expanding regional health access, enhancing safety and advancing sustainable manufacturing. Among the participants is Minerva, a virtual-reality platform that converts CT and MRI scans into full-scale 3D images to support planning for complex paediatric heart surgery. Sunfish Robotics is also included, developing a solar-powered ocean robot designed for long-duration, low-cost data collection.
Curtin Director of Entrepreneurship Danelle Cross said interest in the program continues to grow as new founders look for structured pathways to commercialisation. She said the 2026 cohort reflects rising ambition in the state’s innovation sector, with projects focused on healthcare tools, safety technology and sustainable consumer products.
Curtin Executive Director Commercialisation Rohan McDougall said the program is centred on practical learning and mentorship aimed at helping founders progress more efficiently while reducing risk. He said past participants have launched more than 70 ventures and attracted more than $41 million in funding over the past decade.
The 2026 cohort includes companies working in virtual imaging, telehealth, cultural learning, education technology, materials planning, dementia risk prediction, safety monitoring, oral care, respiratory insights, skincare reformulation, environmental sensors, operational software and ocean robotics.
The companies selected are:
- Minerva – VR imaging platform for life-sized 3D medical visualisation
- Sonowest Healthcare – Telehealth primary-care model for remote WA communities
- Yalkarang Consulting – Noongar-led cultural learning services
- AchieveAble – Maths tutoring model combining coaching, micro-practice and interactive lessons
- aisembl – Design-to-documentation platform for material and project planning
- NeuroAnalyse – Dementia-risk prediction integrated into GP software
- Safe Call Up – Discrete safety-monitoring app for family and domestic violence survivors
- Eikonic – Menopause-focused oral crème using regenerative materials
- Respiradigm – Digital health tool predicting infant asthma risk
- Suss Beauty – Waterless, refillable skincare range
- Next Generation Sensors – Portable sensors for detecting explosives and water pollutants
- hyvr – Cloud platform streamlining maintenance handovers and operational compliance
- Sunfish Robotics – Solar ocean robot for extended data collection
