SOUTHSTART

07/09/2026

AI has never been more relevant.

Most of us interact with it every day, whether we’re scrolling social media, searching for a recipe or asking it to solve a problem.

And while the conversation around AI isn’t always a comfortable one, there’s one sentiment that has continued to shine through our dinner series:

“The pleasure of good food, great company, and human conversation is something AI can’t touch.” The Table Edition 01 Attendee

So tomorrow, we’re setting The Table again in Sydney to continue the human conversation.

Wednesday 9th September
6.30pm – 9.30pm
Percy, 139 Murray Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009

Confirm your seat Southstart.co/the-table/

06/09/2026

AI so useful you forget it’s even there.

That’s the bar Xero is building to.

Xero started in 2006 in a small Wellington office, when Rod Drury and Hamish Edwards got frustrated with how far desktop accounting software had fallen behind.

While the rest of the internet had gone real-time, small business owners were still emailing spreadsheets back and forth. So they built something simple in the browser, that just worked.

Angad Soin now helps set that same strategy for Xero across the globe and made sure he showed up in Adelaide to share it.

At SOUTHSTART 2026, he spoke about AI built to work quietly in the background for small business owners, helping them save time on the tasks they hate, so they can get back to the ones they love. Not new skills to learn. Not new platforms to figure out. Just useful, built into where people already work.

These are the insights you gain at SOUTHSTART.

Let us know if you’ll be in the room next March: https://southstart.co/eoi/

29/07/2026

Building something of importance is lonely work. But it doesn't have to be.

SOUTHSTART brings founders, funders and operators, all in one room, all thinking bigger together.

Save your seat for 2027 → https://www.southstart.co/eoi/

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

23/06/2026

📣 Save the Date: 16 - 18 March, 2027 | Festival EOI now open !

www.southstart.co

We've been quietly decompressing, reflecting & reimagining the chapter(s) that await.

But we're waiting not until March to see you. More on that soon.

📸 Plus, our 2026 Gallery is now live: www.southstart.co/gallery

23/03/2026

To everyone who showed up last week... Thank you. Genuinely.

Your questions, your honesty, your willingness to be in conversation with strangers about things that actually matter... that's exactly what we do this for.

And now, as we enter a period of rest & reflection, we’d love to hear from you.

Please take 5 minutes & answer our post-event survey powered by Square Holes, to help us shape what comes next.

Survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8739786/142b28af3098

As a thank you, you'll go in the draw to win 2 x SOUTHSTART 2027 tickets, plus receive $50 off next years ticket guaranteed.

The next chapter is already taking shape.

More on that, alongside deeper reflections & sharing, soon.

18/03/2026

The final day has arrived and it’s time to slow down a bit.

The last few days have been a whirlwind of connections, ideas and conversations so now we get ready to wind down the event with OFFSITE hosted in Adelaide’s beautiful southern wine region - McLaren Vale.

Today is about:

→ Shared travel, meals, and conversations
→ Space to think bigger and reflect on what you’ve learned
→ Building relationships that last beyond the festival

Sometimes the most important insights come away from the stage.

📍 Beresford Estate & Vale Taphouse
🚌 Shuttle from City departing Lot Fourteen at 8:50am (7:45am for early morning Sound Bath Experience)
🔎 See the full program: https://www.southstart.co/program/offsite
📱Reminder to download the SOUTHSTART app for your personalised schedule and notifications!

Let’s close the festival together.

17/03/2026

DAY 2 - LET'S GO!

Today is where ideas collide and clarity emerges.

Get ready to meet and mingle with the full SOUTHSTART community at ASSEMBLY powered by ACS (Australian Computer Society) hosted at the National Wine Centre.

A quick look into the day:
→ Inspiring talks and panel discussions
→ Curated conversations across industries and technologies
→ Time and space to meet the people moving ideas forward

📍 National Wine Centre | 8am start
🔎 See today’s program: https://www.southstart.co/program/assembly
📱Reminder to download the SOUTHSTART app for your personalised schedule and notifications!

Let the conversations continue!

16/03/2026

SOUTHSTART - ARE YOU READY?

The day has arrived when Adelaide becomes a city-wide classroom.

PRECINCT powered by Adelaide Economic Development Agency is all about learning fast and meeting the people who can change your trajectory.

Here’s what today will look like:

→ Start your day at the Lot Fourteen Festival Hub, sign in and grab a coffee
→ Explore sessions across the city (making sure you have RSVP’d in the app!)
→ Meet founders, investors, and operators shaping what’s next

Then tonight, we meet at the Festival Opening Social, celebrating the start of three days of ideas, connection, and momentum.

📍Lot Fourteen Festival Hub + Locations across Adelaide CBD
🔎View the program: https://www.southstart.co/program/precinct
📱Download the SOUTHSTART app for your personalised schedule and notifications!

Let’s get this party started!

16/03/2026

🌟 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT 🌟

We’re excited to welcome Adelaide University as a Silver Sponsor of SOUTHSTART • RESONANCE (17–19 March).

Adelaide University is a leading contemporary comprehensive university of global standing, dedicated to ensuring the prosperity, wellbeing and cohesion of society. Through the success of its students, staff and alumni, the university is committed to addressing educational inequality and creating meaningful impact for communities locally and globally.

Learn more about Adelaide University here: https://adelaideuni.edu.au/

Join us at SOUTHSTART • RESONANCE (17–19 March) and connect with the Adelaide University team.

🎟️ Get tickets at: www.southstart.co/tickets

16/03/2026

It's SOUTHSTART Eve!

So before the panels, pitches and packed agendas begin — join us for an evening with the Adelaide startup ecosystem at Tank Stream Labs Adelaide.

What to expect
- Founder, investor and operator networking (without the awkward forced vibes)
- Food and drinks
- A high-quality pre-Southstart crowd
- A chance to check out the Tank Stream Labs Adelaide space

We’re also encouraging founders to explore the Australian Technologies Competition 2026 — one of Australia’s longest-running innovation and growth programs for high-potential tech companies.

Start your week with momentum - see you tonight!

📅Mon, 16 Mar, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
📍Tank Stream Labs, Adelaide

Kick off your Southstart week with founders, operators, investors and ecosystem leaders. Good people, good conversations, food + drink at Tank Stream Labs.