Authors: Marita McGinn + Joyce Sidopoulos

Last week we wrapped up an incredible five-day visit to Australia that brought us from Brisbane to Sydney, united around a shared mission: connecting global robotics innovation with Australia’s fast-growing robotics ecosystem. What we experienced and learned along the way reminded us why international collaboration is so important for scaling robotics and physical startups and commercializing robotics solutions for real-world impact.

Launching Propel-AIR 2.0 with ARM Hub

We were honored to kick off the tour in Brisbane alongside our partners at ARM Hub for the launch of Propel-AIR 2.0, the next iteration of a national robotics and AI accelerator program designed to give Australian innovators a pathway to global markets. The launch brought together a vibrant showcase of robotics projects, roundtable discussions, and thought leadership that highlighted the energy and talent emerging from Australia’s technology community.

From demonstrations to discussions with state and federal stakeholders, it was clear that Australia’s robotics sector isn’t just growing, it’s ready to compete on the world stage. The conversations we had with founders, researchers, and industry practitioners reinforced how important it is for founders to not only build innovative technology but to also navigate pathways to customers, capital, and commercialization opportunities.

A Week of Insight, Connection, and Inspiration

After Brisbane, we continued the tour in Sydney, where we visited leading universities including UNSW, the University of Sydney, UTS, and Western Sydney University. Across multiple sessions, we talked about global trends in robotics and embodied AI, what investors are looking for, and how startups can accelerate from prototype to product in global markets.

One of the highlights of the tour was a fireside conversation hosted by Stone & Chalk, where we connected with members of Sydney’s innovation community. For us, those informal but deep conversations, where founders and ecosystem builders share real experiences and insights, were among the most meaningful moments of the trip.

We also had the opportunity to meet with industry leaders, including a roundtable with representatives from Amazon facilitated by the Committee for Sydney. These discussions illustrated how much momentum there is in the Australian tech sector and how keen companies are to collaborate internationally.

What Propel-AIR 2.0 Offers

Now that entries are open for Propel-AIR 2.0, we’re excited to see how Australia’s startups will take advantage of this platform to expand globally. The winning team will receive a one-month residency at MassRobotics in Boston, complete with mentorship, investor introductions, and planned visits to world-class robotics organizations. That exposure can be transformational, just as it was for last year’s winner, whose experience helped catalyze their first customer wins and ongoing growth.

Looking Ahead

From the innovation showcases in Brisbane to the academic sessions and community conversations in Sydney, this trip reminded us of the power of global connection. We’re grateful for the warm welcome from the Australian ecosystem, especially our partners at ARM Hub, and for the many founders and students who shared their ideas and aspirations with us.

We left Australia energized and inspired, excited for what’s next, including hosting a Propel-AIR winner in Boston later this year. And if this trip showed us anything, it’s that there’s enormous potential when ecosystems come together to support robotics innovation and help founders thrive on a global scale.

Learn more about how we collaborate with international organizations here. 

This post was written by Marita McGinn, Director of Growth and Joyce Sidopoulos, Co-Founder and Chief of Operations. See some of the exciting nature and infrastructure they witnessed in Australia below!