Starting on three days of innovation with AEDA Strategic Partner, _SOUTHSTART

_SOUTHSTART—proudly supported by the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA)—is set to champion bold ideas and drive innovation across the city when it kicks off on 4 March.

On until 6 March, the festival brings together founders, investors, and industry leaders to ignite pressing conversations and boundary-pushing concepts, putting Adelaide’s dynamic start-up ecosystem in the spotlight.

_SOUTHSTART is part of AEDA’s Strategic Partnerships Program which supports businesses and organisations that stimulate Adelaide’s economy. The program is funded by the City of Adelaide.

AEDA Business and Investment Executive Manager Tiffany Katchmar says AEDA is proud to support a festival like _SOUTHSTART that is loved in South Australia and abroad.

"_SouthStart serves as a key platform for Adelaide to demonstrate its dynamic and flourishing start-up ecosystem,” Ms Katchmar says.

"Such events are instrumental in positioning Adelaide as a global hub for innovation and showcasing its capabilities on the international stage.

"AEDA is thrilled to partner with _SOUTHSTART and looks forward to insightful discussion to help drive the shape of the start-up sector.

"We also look forward to attendees exploring the city and experiencing all it has to offer, from its diverse dining options to its vibrant retail scene."

The event, with the tagline ‘A Space to Breathe’, starts at the Garden of Unearthly Delights in Rymill Park (Mullawirraburka) for the ‘Growth Academy’ and Garden Party.

The Growth Academy is an immersive, hands-on guide to thriving at every stage of a business journey, designed to deliver expert-led sessions, accountable insights and practical tools.

Overall, the first day spent in the city aims to help attendees “grow as a human first” so they can confidently move forward.

The three-day event, which has days in both McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula, features a solid lineup of speakers, with key voices including:

• Phil Morle, Partner at Main Sequence Ventures
• Allys Todd, Co-Founder and CEO at ValAi
• Ben Pfisterer, CEO and Co-Founder at Zeller
• Paz Pisarski, Co-Founder at The Community Collective
• Rowan Simpson, investor, founder, author, and Chairman at Hoku Group
• Dom Pym, Founder of Euphemia
• Matt Loop, VP and Head of Asia at Rippling

_SOUTHSTART Director Danielle Seymour says Adelaide has a start-up ecosystem that does not sleep, so the festival helps innovators pause, connect, and embrace serendipity.

“Attendees will uncover meaningful insights, make genuine rather than transactional connections, and be an active participant in shaping what’s next,” Ms Seymour says.

“And if that’s not enough, it’s a celebration of the beauty and hospitality of Adelaide and its surrounding areas.”

“In 2025, we’ll be bringing back a lot of the elements that make _SOUTHSTART so popular, but also a series of fresh focuses too.”

_SOUTHSTART has been attended by more than 5000 people since its inception, representing more than $30 billion in capital.

To find out more about how AEDA supports innovation, and its Strategic Partnership Program click here.