Created by a collective of business and industry professionals, the Studio Accelerator is powered by a national ecosystem of experts from across the built environment. This new program is the first industry-backed accelerator in Australia tailored specifically for founders and early-stage architecture and design studios.

Designed in collaboration with leaders across the built environment, the program connects participants to a supportive business hub that helps transform vision into sustainable practice – through strategy, mentorship and real-world tools.

“We see too many talented designers trying to build a studio with no roadmap,” says Kevin Mitchem, architect and CEO of CO-architecture. “They’re navigating fees, clients, hiring, systems – without training, mentorship or the confidence to grow sustainably. This program changes that.”

Rather than relying on ad hoc learning or trial and error, participants in the Studio Accelerator gain access to a curated ecosystem of mentors and advisors – people who’ve built respected practices and understand the real challenges founders face.

The program offers practical frameworks in areas often left out of traditional design education: pricing and profitability, operations, brand positioning, client engagement, resourcing and team management. It’s not about scaling for the sake of it – but building studios that are resilient, impactful and aligned with the founder’s vision.

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The Studio Accelerator supports founders and leaders across a range of studio types and stages:

• Architects and designers moving from freelance to formal practice;
• Small studio owners (typically under 15 staff) looking to refine systems, strategy and positioning;
• Senior practitioners inside larger firms preparing to step into their own venture.

The program acknowledges that no two practices look the same – and provides the flexibility and guidance to help each participant build on their own terms.

What sets the Studio Accelerator apart is the strength of the ecosystem behind it. Participants gain access to over 30 contributors including architects, studio founders, legal and finance advisors, brand consultants and business coaches.

Confirmed mentors and partners include professionals from: 

• CO-architecture 
• Hassell 
• Buchan 
• Bijl Architecture 
• Ewart Leaf 
• Jackson McDonald 
• AB Consulting 
• Strategy Bugs 
• The Advisory Studio 
• BuildPX 
• … and others.

This collaborative model ensures that participants learn from diverse perspectives, with advice grounded in lived experience across both design and business.

Expressions of Interest Now Open

The Studio Accelerator is open to studio founders interested in joining the inaugural cohort; industry professionals interested in mentoring; and partners and service providers looking to support Australia’s next generation of design leaders

Studio Accelerator
co-architecture.com