The 2025 Startup Genome report is out, and if you’re building a tech company in Australia, it’s worth paying attention. Sydney ranks 25, Melbourne 32. We’re on the map, but we’re not leading, and that has real implications for founders who want to build global products from here.

The good news? The biggest barriers aren’t funding or talent.
They’re experience, speed and leverage.

I’ve pulled out what matters most if you’re a founder thinking globally.
Yes, it has a “work with Everest” flavour. We’ve helped startups scale through these gaps before, and we know what actually works.

Australia’s startup scene is good, not great

We’ve got momentum, but it’s not translating into breakout scale. According to the report, Australia’s ecosystem is solid but underpowered when it comes to AI capability, defensible IP, and scale-up experience.

Founders here often move slower than they need to, not because they want to, but because they don’t have the support structures to go faster.

Execution, not funding, is the constraint.
And that means your ecosystem won’t carry you. You’ll need to find leverage early.

You don’t have to learn the hard way

One of the report’s clearest takeaways: there’s a shortage of scale-up experience in Sydney and Melbourne. Most support is skewed to early-stage startups. When you hit traction, you're suddenly alone.

That’s where Everest comes in.

We’ve helped early and growth-stage startups around the world, across AI, fintech, healthtech and platforms. We bring working patterns that shorten feedback loops, reduce risk and speed up product delivery.

We don’t just build the thing. We help you build it the right way, at the right time, for scale.

Falling behind in AI, here’s how to catch up

The report calls out Australia’s slow AI progress. While standout companies like Leonardo are making waves, the broader ecosystem lacks hands-on AI product capability.

We’ve already worked with multiple AI-native startups to design and deliver:

• products built on foundation models
• fast feedback loops using prompt tuning
• AI-first user experiences validated in real-time

If you’re trying to break into AI, we can help you move faster than the market.

IP isn’t just patents, it’s product thinking

Australia ranks low in patent activity, but the real issue isn’t legal. It’s strategic. Too many teams aren’t building with defensibility in mind.

We help founders uncover the real value in their product, whether that’s proprietary data, a unique workflow or a differentiator in their architecture.

Even if you’re not filing patents yet, you can still build something worth protecting.

The community’s thinning out, but we’re still here

The report is blunt: Australia’s ecosystem momentum is slowing. Network effects matter, and we’re losing some of our early edge.

At Everest, we’ve stayed embedded in the scene. We’re showing up, at meetups, mentoring sessions, founder events and product communities.

You don’t just get a delivery partner. You get a team with real connections in product, tech, and capital.

Don’t pay more to get less

Labour costs in Australia are average globally, but delivery outcomes vary wildly.

Working with Everest gives you access to:

• senior local leads who also coach your team
• trusted global delivery talent
• flexible scale-ups and scale-downs that match your runway

More capability, less overhead. No compromises.

Final word for Aussie founders

If you're building in Sydney, Melbourne or anywhere across Australia, remember this:
the ecosystem alone won’t get you there. But the right partner might.

Everest is built to fill the biggest gaps:

• startup to scale-up expertise
• AI product capability
• delivery velocity with enterprise-grade discipline
• real presence in your community

Partner smart. Build with pace. Compete globally.

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Let’s talk
Planning your next move? We’d love to hear about it. Even better, we’ll connect you to founders we’ve worked with who can tell you what it’s like to work with Everest.

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