30X30 | Startup Executive Education Program | LaunchVic

30X30

Talent

30X30 is an ambitious program for ambitious scaleups. As the name suggests, we want to see 30 Victorian scaleups reach unicorn status by 2030.

Expressions of interest for our 2024 cohort have now closed.

HELPING AMBITIOUS FOUNDERS IN VICTORIA SCALE AND WIN

LaunchVic is helping founders tackle barriers to growth by upskilling C-suite leaders in Human Resources, Operations and Finance functions.

30X30 gives HR, Operations and Finance leaders in Victorian scaleups the skills and exposure to common challenges and bottlenecks – and frees up founders to focus on key strategic priorities fundamental to their growth.

What is 30X30?

As many founders know, some of the biggest pain points to growth are in the day-to-day running of the business, often in the HR, Operations and Finance functions.

30X30 aims to free up founders to focus on key strategic priorities fundamental to your growth, while giving HR, Operations and Finance leaders the skills and exposure to common scaleup challenges and bottlenecks.

As part of this bespoke program, your leadership team will receive sponsored executive education, and have access to a range of mentors who have themselves been through the scaling journey as a leader in either HR, Operations or Finance.

This is a fully subsidised program by LaunchVic, Victoria’s startup agency. LaunchVic does not take an equity stake in your company.

What To Expect

Learning and Development:

  1. Executive Coaching and Mentoring: Functional leaders will take part in at least two days of executive coaching and mentoring per month with a relevant experienced scaleup leader in their functional area. The cohort will work together across functional lines, bringing finance, operations, and HR leaders together to expand on the lessons learned and to develop an alumni network that extends beyond the program. Founders are required at select sessions, including two coaching sessions alongside their functional leaders;
  2. Executive Education: Each scaleup is eligible to receive ongoing support from mentors in the program, by booking sessions directly with the mentor and obtaining reimbursement of the costs from LaunchVic. A total budget of $6,000 for either executive education and/or international travel (refer to “New Market Entry” below) is provided to each scaleup.
  3. Cohort Engagement: Ongoing events to ensure the alumni of 30X30 continue to solve scaling problems together, during and post program.

Promotion:

  1. New Market Entry: With support from Global Victoria, the program will advance international market expansion with in-market introductions and travel reimbursement. A total budget of
    $6,000 for either international travel and/or executive education is provided to each scaleup;
  2. Networking: Where possible LaunchVic will leverage its networks to support access to opportunities for your scaleup, including those supported by Government.
  3. Profiling: At LaunchVic we believe we should celebrate our best and brightest founders and executives to help other founders and their teams to ‘be what you can see’. We will leverage our own media opportunities to profile your scaleup and the people behind it.

Time Commitment

The CEO/Founder is required to attend key sessions in person, throughout the program, which is approximately 30 hours in total time commitment:

  • Event: Founder dinner, 2.5 hours;
  • Event: Kick off celebration, 2.5 hours;
  • Program: Session 1, “Program Start and Strategy”, 6.5 hours;
  • Program: Founder onboarding session at the scaleups office at a mutually agreed time, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 2 – “coaching”, 2 hours;
  • Event: 30X30 Alumni Networking Drinks, 2hours;
  • Check in call, 40 minutes, between 25th March and 12th April 2024;
  • Program: Session 6 – “Scaling a Performance Culture”, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 7 – “Leadership Values”, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 8 – 2nd Coaching Session, 2 hours;
  • Event: End of Cohort celebration, 3.5 hours.

Each functional leader will be required to commit a total of at least 70 hours, to attend in person sessions, which include all events and program sessions detailed within the “Timeline” section.

Key Dates

DateActivity
25 September 2023, 10amExpressions of Interest open
4 October 2023Information Session and office hours for potential applicants
31 October 2023, 1pmExpression of Interest close
3 November 2023Scaleups advised if they have met eligibility requirements and eligible scaleups will be invited to submit a written and video application for the Program
20 November 2023, 1pmApplications close for eligible scaleups
27 November 2023Shortlisted Applicants invited for an interview
5-7 December 2023Shortlisted Applicants 20 minute interview
11-15 December 2023Successful applicants notified and contracted
31 January 2024Founder Dinner
6 February 2024Cohort 3 Kickoff Celebration
19 February 2024Program Commences
16 May 2024Program Concludes

See Program Guidelines for full program schedule dates and times

Information Session

Learn more about the 30X30 experience as program lead, Peter Goldsworthy (GM of Startups, LaunchVic) chats with 30X30 finance stream mentor Marc Orchard (CEO & Co-Founder, Planet Startup) and Cohort 2 alumni Jane Watson (Head of People and Operations, XY Sense).

As many founders know, some of the biggest pain points to growth are in the day-to-day running of the business, often in the HR, Operations and Finance functions.

30X30 aims to free up founders to focus on key strategic priorities fundamental to your growth, while giving HR, Operations and Finance leaders the skills and exposure to common scaleup challenges and bottlenecks.

As part of this bespoke program, your leadership team will receive sponsored executive education, and have access to a range of mentors who have themselves been through the scaling journey as a leader in either HR, Operations or Finance.

This is a fully subsidised program by LaunchVic, Victoria’s startup agency. LaunchVic does not take an equity stake in your company.

Learning and Development:

  1. Executive Coaching and Mentoring: Functional leaders will take part in at least two days of executive coaching and mentoring per month with a relevant experienced scaleup leader in their functional area. The cohort will work together across functional lines, bringing finance, operations, and HR leaders together to expand on the lessons learned and to develop an alumni network that extends beyond the program. Founders are required at select sessions, including two coaching sessions alongside their functional leaders;
  2. Executive Education: Each scaleup is eligible to receive ongoing support from mentors in the program, by booking sessions directly with the mentor and obtaining reimbursement of the costs from LaunchVic. A total budget of $6,000 for either executive education and/or international travel (refer to “New Market Entry” below) is provided to each scaleup.
  3. Cohort Engagement: Ongoing events to ensure the alumni of 30X30 continue to solve scaling problems together, during and post program.

Promotion:

  1. New Market Entry: With support from Global Victoria, the program will advance international market expansion with in-market introductions and travel reimbursement. A total budget of
    $6,000 for either international travel and/or executive education is provided to each scaleup;
  2. Networking: Where possible LaunchVic will leverage its networks to support access to opportunities for your scaleup, including those supported by Government.
  3. Profiling: At LaunchVic we believe we should celebrate our best and brightest founders and executives to help other founders and their teams to ‘be what you can see’. We will leverage our own media opportunities to profile your scaleup and the people behind it.

The CEO/Founder is required to attend key sessions in person, throughout the program, which is approximately 30 hours in total time commitment:

  • Event: Founder dinner, 2.5 hours;
  • Event: Kick off celebration, 2.5 hours;
  • Program: Session 1, “Program Start and Strategy”, 6.5 hours;
  • Program: Founder onboarding session at the scaleups office at a mutually agreed time, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 2 – “coaching”, 2 hours;
  • Event: 30X30 Alumni Networking Drinks, 2hours;
  • Check in call, 40 minutes, between 25th March and 12th April 2024;
  • Program: Session 6 – “Scaling a Performance Culture”, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 7 – “Leadership Values”, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 8 – 2nd Coaching Session, 2 hours;
  • Event: End of Cohort celebration, 3.5 hours.

Each functional leader will be required to commit a total of at least 70 hours, to attend in person sessions, which include all events and program sessions detailed within the “Timeline” section.

DateActivity
25 September 2023, 10amExpressions of Interest open
4 October 2023Information Session and office hours for potential applicants
31 October 2023, 1pmExpression of Interest close
3 November 2023Scaleups advised if they have met eligibility requirements and eligible scaleups will be invited to submit a written and video application for the Program
20 November 2023, 1pmApplications close for eligible scaleups
27 November 2023Shortlisted Applicants invited for an interview
5-7 December 2023Shortlisted Applicants 20 minute interview
11-15 December 2023Successful applicants notified and contracted
31 January 2024Founder Dinner
6 February 2024Cohort 3 Kickoff Celebration
19 February 2024Program Commences
16 May 2024Program Concludes

See Program Guidelines for full program schedule dates and times

Learn more about the 30X30 experience as program lead, Peter Goldsworthy (GM of Startups, LaunchVic) chats with 30X30 finance stream mentor Marc Orchard (CEO & Co-Founder, Planet Startup) and Cohort 2 alumni Jane Watson (Head of People and Operations, XY Sense).

Program Guidelines

What’s in it for Executive team?

  1. Learn from those that have walked your path in some of the top startups globally;
  2. Build a network of ally’s that you can lean on and solve problems together with forever;
  3. Gain the tools the enable you to contribute even more to the success of your startup.

What’s in it for Founders?

  1. The program will help  improve the strategic alignment of your executive team;
  2. Your functional leaders will be transformed into company leaders, becoming a voice at an executive level;
  3. Help scale your international markets, through a global network and budget.

Not quite ready for 30X30?

If you’re not yet at the stage to join 30X30, we’d still love to hear from you. Click the button to fill in the form and register your interest in a future cohort.

Register your interest in joining 30X30

Thanks for your interest in 30X30. Please leave your details below to register your interest in joining our next cohort.

30X30 Alumni Stories

growing the next wave of unicorns

Expert advice from mentors from existing unicorn ventures such as Atlassian, Canva, Culture Amp, Judo Bank and SEEK.

A supportive cohort of C-Suite leaders sharing the same growth challenges.

Skills and exposure to common growth challenges and bottlenecks.

Media and case study opportunities.

Equity-free and zero cost for participation.

A soft landing pad to expand into global markets.

FAQs

What are the eligibility criteria for 30X30?

To be eligible to participate in the 30X30 program, a scaleup must meet each of the following criteria:

  1. Victorian-based – the scaleup must be a Victorian registered and headquartered company. The founder/CEO must also have a primary residence in Victoria.
  2. Size: Meet LaunchVic’s definition of a Startup and meet at least one of the following measures of size:
    • 50 full time employees or;
    • A valuation greater than AU$30million but less than AU$200million or;
    • Revenue of at least AU$1million per month; or
    • Having raised a single venture capital round in excess of AU$5million.

 

  1. Leadership Structure: must have at least one executive leader supporting the Founder/CEO to manage the Finance, Operations and HR functions;

 

  1. Funding and runway: As 30X30 requires both a commitment of time and focus during and post program to implement ideas, each scaleup must have at least 12 months runway from the start of the program;

 

  1. Adheres to Victorian Government Policy on ESG Prohibited Activities: The Business must not be involved with;
    1. Tobacco or tobacco-related products;
    2. Cluster munitions and other controversial weapons;
    3. Thermal coal;
    4. Gambling;
    5. Logging of old growth forests;
    6. Uranium;
    7. Unregulated animal testing;
    8. Live cattle and/or sheep exports; or
    9. Fracking

 

My startup doesn’t quite meet the minimum requirements, can I still apply?

A startup needs to meet the minimum eligibility requirements to be considered. If your startup is ineligible for 30X30 we recommend checking out one of the many other programs supported by LaunchVic here. If you have any questions about your scaleup’s eligibility, please contact us.

Key dates

DateActivity
25 September 2023, 10amExpressions of Interest open
4 October 2023Information Session and office hours for potential applicants
31 October 2023, 1pmExpression of Interest close
3 November 2023Scaleups advised if they have met eligibility requirements and eligible scaleups will be invited to submit a written and video application for the Program
20 November 2023, 1pmApplications close for eligible scaleups
27 November 2023Shortlisted Applicants invited for an interview
5-7 December 2023Shortlisted Applicants 20 minute interview
11-15 December 2023Successful applicants notified and contracted
31 January 2024Founder Dinner
6 February 2024Cohort 3 Kickoff Celebration
19 February 2024Program Commences
16 May 2024Program Concludes

See Program Guidelines for full list of program dates.

What is the time commitment?

The CEO/Founder is required to attend key sessions in person, throughout the program, which is approximately 30 hours in total time commitment:

  • Event: Founder dinner, 2.5 hours;
  • Event: Kick off celebration, 5 hours;
  • Program: Session 1, “Program Start and Strategy”, 5 hours;
  • Program: Founder onboarding session at the scaleups office at a mutually agreed time, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 2 – “coaching”, 2 hours;
  • Event: 30X30 Alumni Networking Drinks, 2hours;
  • Check in call, 40 minutes, between 25th March and 12th April 2024;
  • Program: Session 6 – “Scaling a Performance Culture”, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 7 – “Leadership Values”, 2 hours;
  • Program: Session 8 – “2nd Coaching Session, 2 hours;
  • Event: End of Cohort celebration, 5 hours.

 

Each functional leader will be required to commit a total of at least 70 hours, to attend in person sessions, which include all events and program sessions detailed within the “Timeline” section.

 

How do you define Victorian-based?

Victorian-based means the scaleup must be a Victorian registered and headquartered company. The founder/CEO must also have a primary residence in Victoria.

How do you define a scaleup?

A Scaleup is a hyper-growth startup that has raised at least $1m, has at least 10 employees, no more than 10 years since founding and has experienced 20% growth year on year for at least the immediately preceeding three years (unless under three years old).

How much does 30X30 cost?

30X30 is a free program to participate in.

By participating in 30X30 will LaunchVic take equity in my startup?

No, LaunchVic will not take equity in any of the companies involved in the 30X30 program.

What topics will you cover?

Each area (HR, Ops, Finance) will focus on 1 particular element of their role each month. For example, the HR stream may focus on recruitment in the first month, followed by onboarding the next. For Operations, such topics as ‘codifying work’ and ‘defining a world-class COO’ are examples of topics that may be covered. In Finance, we’ll be looking at topics such as ‘fundraising best practises’, ‘board reporting’, and ‘expansion challenges’.

Is it just the founder that participates?

No, the crucial part of this program is that we are looking to serve and upskill leaders and executives in participating scaleups. 30X30 aims to free up founders to focus on key strategic priorities fundamental to your growth, while giving HR, Operations and Finance leaders the skills and exposure to common scaleup challenges and bottlenecks.

Why does my executive team participate?

As many founders know, some of the biggest pain points to growth are in the day-to-day running of the business, often in the HR, Operations and Finance functions. As revenue scales, the complexity for these three functions multiplies. 30X30 aims to provide HR, Operations and Finance leaders the skills and exposure to common scaleup challenges and bottlenecks.

How can I find out more?

We recommend reviewing our Program Guidelines document for an overall summary of the 30X30 program, in addition to the program’s eligibility criteria, selection process, and timeline. If you’re still unsure or want to discuss further, you can book in a briefing call with our GM, Startups, Peter Goldsworthy or contact us.