Component | Focus |
Program Kick-off – 60-90 minutes | Meet the cohort, clarify your current workforce challenge, and prepare for the first session. |
Session 1 – From Founder to First Team | Hiring readiness, founder bottlenecks, capability gaps, workforce planning and AI-assisted organisational design. |
Session 2 – Hiring with Intention | Role prioritisation, outcome-based role design, sequencing hires, interviewing, and avoiding common hiring mistakes. |
Session 3 – Building a Team That Scales | Onboarding, delegation, team operating principles, leadership habits, and planning for the next 6–12 months. |
Closing Event – in person | Cohort is brought together to consolidate learning, build connections and connect with the broader Basecamp alumni and Innovation Victoria community. |
Basecamp: Ascent
Basecamp: Ascent is designed for Victorian founders and CEOs approaching a period of team growth. People leaders or senior operators may also participate where they hold meaningful responsibility for workforce planning, hiring or building a team.
About Basecamp: Ascent
Delivered as a short cohort-based program, Ascent combines an online kick-off, three live online sessions with practical tools, peer learning and an in-person closing event. It is designed to help participants apply the learning immediately to a live workforce or hiring decision in their own company.
What To Expect
Three online sessions
Participants take part in three facilitated 90-minute sessions delivered over three weeks. Sessions combine expert content, facilitated discussion, practical exercises and peer learning.
Practical application
Participants use their own business as the case study and complete short activities between sessions to turn concepts into decisions and actions.
Program takeaways
By the end of the program, participants will have developed a small set of practical tools tailored to their company, which may include: Hiring Readiness Snapshot, AI Workforce Design Canvas, 6–12 month Hiring Roadmap, Role Prioritisation Matrix and Team Operating Principles.
Program Structure
Eligibility Criteria
Basecamp: Ascent is designed for early-stage companies approaching a period of team growth, with a genuine near-term workforce or hiring challenge that can be worked on during the program.
To be eligible and selected to join the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Preferably a founder/CEO; people leaders or senior operators are also eligible where they hold meaningful responsibility for hiring or building the team.
The participant; resides in Victoria, or the participant’s company is a Victorian based company.
The participant’s company; intends to hire one or more roles within the next three to six months and/or; has sufficient funding or revenue to support planned hiring.
The participant’s company has a current Dealroom profile.
Participants can commit to kick off, three sessions, and the closing event.
Key Dates
Applications open on 12 October 2026 and close 1PM, 29 October 2026.
The program is expected to begin with an online kick-off on 10 November 2026, followed by masterclasses on 18 November, 25 November and 2 December. A closing event in Melbourne is planned for mid-February.
Funds and ecosystem partners can refer suitable companies by encouraging founders or operators to complete the application form, please ensure they include the referral source in their application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and Contact
For questions about the application process, eligibility for Basecamp: Ascent, please contact the Innovation Victoria programs team at programs@innovationvictoria.com.