About

Since its opening in 2000, ilab has incubated over 140 start-up companies and helped them raise over $80 million in grants and investment to fund their growth and has generated nearly 800 technology jobs.

The early days

ilab was established by the Queensland Government in 2000 originally as a business incubator to support early stage, high-tech companies through the first few years of development by building their business management capabilities, fostering mentor networks for start-up founders, creating investor ready companies, and graduating companies with increased chances of success. In 2009, The University of Queensland (UQ) acquired ilab in an arrangement with the State Government.

ilab as an Accelerator

With the rapid growth of internet, mobility and cloud computing, different methods of supporting early stage companies through accelerated startup approaches became more applicable.  These are characterised by low capitalisation requirements during the initial business validation and early product build phases and support rapid growth for successful businesses model, but also rapid, low cost failure where the model proves less compelling.

In support of this, ilab changed its model in 2012 to introduce a new accelerator model – Germinate –  while maintaining complimentary incubation and co-shared office capability for more established companies.

ilab as part of UQ and UniQuest

ilab benefits significantly from its participation with UQ and UniQuest through provision of facilities and infrastructure, and ready made access to high quality commercialisation legal, mentoring, networks and back office support arrangements.  As importantly, ilab is well served by innovations,  founders and aspiring entrepreneurs graduating from UQ.

ilab supporting Queensland

With continued strong from the Queensland State Government, ilab casts a wide net in its support of new startups. Startups from across the state, across a range of demographics and from a variety of institutions well beyond UQ are benefiting from ilab’s new programs.   ilab is also focussed on supporting the growth of startup eco-systems across Queensland.