Basecamp: Ascent Opens For Founders Ready To Build Stronger Teams
Victorian founders and senior operators preparing to hire, grow or reshape their teams can now apply for Basecamp: Ascent, a free, practical Innovation Victoria program designed to help companies make better people decisions before common hiring mistakes become expensive.
The program is for founders, people leaders and senior operators facing real workforce decisions — from working out who to hire next, to improving onboarding, clarifying roles, delegating effectively and building stronger team operating rhythms.
Practical Support Before The Next Hire
Basecamp: Ascent will help participants step back from day-to-day delivery and build a clearer plan for the team they need.
Across the program, participants will explore hiring readiness, workforce planning, role prioritisation, onboarding, delegation, leadership habits and team operating principles.
The program includes an online kick-off, three online masterclasses and a closing event. Sessions will combine expert content, practical activities and peer discussion, with participants applying the learning directly to their own company.
Who Should Apply
The program is best suited to Victorian founders and senior operators who are preparing to make people-related decisions in the next three to six months.
It may be a good fit if you are asking:
Who should we hire next?
Are we ready to make this hire?
How do we design roles around outcomes?
How do we move from founder-led delivery to a stronger team model?
How do we onboard people well?
How do we delegate without losing momentum?
Participants will work towards practical outputs, including a hiring readiness snapshot, workforce design canvas, role prioritisation matrix, hiring roadmap and team operating principles.
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.
Applications close 1PM, 29 October 2026.
*From 6.00pm on 3 November 2026, the Victorian Government will enter caretaker mode ahead of the State Election on 28 November 2026. While this will not affect the delivery of the Basecamp Ascent program, some government communications and public-facing activities may be subject to caretaker conventions during this period.
Learn more
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. Head to the program page to view the program guidelines, or start your application.