24 NOVEMBER 2026 · NEX NEWCASTLE
60+ SPEAKERS.
ONE BIG DAY.
Find the people you came to hear across Learn, Connect, Share and Lightning Talks. Tap a face to see their session.
70+
speakers
8+
keynotes
1
day
600+
attendees
THE BIG IDEAS · KEYNOTES & ADDRESSES
LEARN
THE COMMON GROUND · DISCUSSIONS
CONNECT
THE LAB · WORKSHOPS
SHARE
ONE IDEA · 3 MINUTES
LIGHTNING TALKS
STRAIGHT FROM THE ALLEY
"WE ARE A SELF-FUNDED STARTUP... IT HELPS US TO GET NOTICED, TALK TO PEOPLE, GAIN A GREATER FOOTPRINT, GET ADVICE, AND LEARN A LOT."
Hugh Perrottet, co-founder of newave · Startup Alley 2025
GET IN FRONT OF SOME EYES.
WHERE YOU’LL BE
THE AVENUE.
STANDS SA1-SA10
Startup Alley runs along The Avenue at NEX, beside the exhibitor space and right where the morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea crowds gather.
Stands are allocated on arrival at bump-in by our Startup Alley ambassador, so Monday bump-ins get first pick. Parking: paid parking at the Bull Street underground car park. See our website for other options.
MOST USEFUL THINGS TO KNOW
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Early to growth-stage Hunter startups in any sector that are using technology to tackle a global problem.
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A free Startup Alley stand, festival tickets for you and one team member, and a listing in the festival app. It's worth over $2,000.
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About 1.5 m × 1.5 m, with a cocktail table, black tablecloth and WiFi. Bring your own pop-up banner, demo and swag, and travel light.
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No. Bring battery-powered demos and charged devices, plus a power bank for the day.
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Monday 23 November between 12pm and 4pm, or Tuesday 24 November between 7am and 8am. Monday bump-ins get first pick of stands. Our Startup Alley ambassador allocates every stand, making room for larger items like robots, so please follow their direction. Guests arrive upstairs from 8:15am, so be ready to roll.
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Yes. We have the whole area booked and security on site overnight, so no one else is allowed up there.
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From 6pm, then join the after-party. Take everything with you: anything left on a stand after 6pm without someone there will be disposed of by the venue. If you need to leave earlier, let us know when you apply.
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There's paid parking at the Bull Street underground car park. See our website for other options.
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Your headshot, company logo and a short bio, added through our speaker management portal by Tuesday 17 November, 5pm. We'll send the link and the exhibitor manual with your offer.
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Email us at hello@hunterif.com.au and we'll get back to you.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE THU 12 NOV, 5PM
TEN STANDS.
ONE BIG DAY.
Startup Alley
Tell us what you're building, the problem it tackles and what you'll bring to the stand. We review as applications come in, and everyone hears from us by Friday 13 November.