The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons Monash University Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at Monash University, you may be familiar with the local incubators and entrepreneurial programmes offered on campus. While these initiatives provide valuable support, expanding your horizons could significantly increase your odds of long-term success. In fact, one study found that 87% of startups that went through top-tier programmes were still active after five years, compared to just 44% of those that went it alone. That’s the kind of difference the right programme can make.

But how do you know if an incubator programme is right for you? With so many rigid, one-size-fits-all options out there, finding the right fit can be tough. That’s where EWOR comes in: a uniquely flexible platform combining global mentorship, funding opportunities, and a prestigious network – designed specifically to help ambitious founders thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore five key reasons why Monash University students should look beyond their local incubators and consider EWOR to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

1. Access to Global Mentorship

Many university incubators and local programmes offer mentorship from faculty, alumni, or nearby founders. While helpful, these perspectives are often limited to regional markets and conventional startup paths.

EWOR operates borderless, on a global scale. Fellows are paired with mentors who have founded and scaled companies across continents and industries – including unicorns like SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove. Rather than sporadic office hours, mentorship is built into the fabric of the programme – modular, consistent, and personal.

Monash University's startup hub, The Generator, offers founder mentorship as part of its comprehensive support for early-stage entrepreneurs. This includes access to a network of experts from the Australian startup ecosystem, including investors and successful founders. Local mentors provide valuable real-world perspectives and guidance, helping startups refine their business models, enhance customer engagement, and develop essential leadership skills. The value of local mentors lies in their understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities within the local market and their ability to provide relevant connections and insights. Programs like The Accelerator connect founders with this network to help them scale their businesses.

With EWOR, you’ll have the chance to work with mentors who have scaled their businesses across different countries and industries, providing invaluable insights that can help your startup succeed in the global marketplace.

2. Larger Funding Opportunities

While local incubators may provide grants or limited seed funding, securing substantial capital is often a challenge for early-stage entrepreneurs. EWOR offers up to €500,000 in initial funding for selected startups, which can significantly boost your ability to develop your business. Moreover, EWOR provides access to a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angel investors, ensuring that you have the opportunity to secure further rounds of funding as your startup grows.

Monash University offers various funding opportunities for student startups through its entrepreneurship hub, The Generator. The Generator Accelerator Program provides eligible teams with $20,000 in equity-free seed funding. This intensive three-month program also includes mentorship, co-working space, and access to professional services. Additionally, the Monash University Malaysia's Startup Bootcamp offers participants the chance to win prize money and seed funding through idea pitches. Monash also has a Pre-Seed Fund, in partnership with Breakthrough Victoria, which provides early-stage funding for university-originated startups and spinouts with significant links to Monash.

By choosing EWOR, Monash University students can tap into larger funding sources, giving them the financial support needed to scale their businesses more effectively.

3. A Highly Selective and Prestigious Network

One of the main advantages of EWOR is the highly selective nature of its community. EWOR accepts only the top 0.1% of applicants, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

This exclusivity doesn’t just elevate the quality of each cohort — it also unlocks access to an extraordinary network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Just to name a few: Fabrice Grinda, one of the world’s leading angel investors and founder of OLX; Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine after Google; and Vaitea Cowan, co-founder of Enapter, (€640M IPO) and a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Energy. 

Monash University's local incubators, such as The Generator, cultivate a strong community to support students. They bring together students, staff, alumni, and researchers from diverse fields, fostering a like-minded environment for building and thriving. These incubators facilitate connections through various means, including expert mentorship, strategic networking opportunities, and dedicated co-working spaces designed to encourage collaboration and innovation. Programs like the Accelerator specifically gather cohorts of entrepreneurs to connect with experts, investors, and successful founders. This focus on community and networking helps students build valuable relationships and collaborate on projects.

While local incubators at Monash University may provide valuable networking within the campus or regional ecosystem, EWOR’s global network opens doors to entirely new levels of collaboration. Fellows work alongside peers from dozens of countries and industries, connecting with elite investors, unicorn founders, and seasoned operators.

As many fellows have said, the community is one of the most unexpected – and most valuable – parts of the experience. “The real magic lies in the community: the kind of conversations, insights, and connections that lead not only to breakthroughs – but to lasting friendships with some of the most fascinating people they’ve ever met”.

4. Flexibility and Remote Access

Many local incubators require in-person participation, which can be limiting for students balancing coursework, part-time jobs, or other commitments. 

Monash University offers local incubators like "The Generator" and Monash Innovation Labs, primarily located at the Clayton campus. These spaces provide a collaborative environment with access to facilities, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The Accelerator program, a key part of The Generator, is explicitly an in-person program held at the Clayton campus. This in-person structure, while potentially limiting for remote students, fosters a strong community and allows for direct access to on-site resources and face-to-face interactions with mentors and peers. Monash Innovation Labs also emphasize on-site facilities like labs and co-working spaces. This focus on physical presence likely impacts participation by favoring students who can attend in person.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. Monash University students can access top-tier mentorship, founder-led education, and global resources without needing to relocate or follow a rigid schedule. Whether you’re validating an idea or scaling your first product, you’ll have the freedom to build around your life, not the other way around.

And if you're worried about missing out on in-person connection – don’t be. EWOR hosts real-world gatherings like the EWOR Connect and EWOR House, a multi-day retreat where fellows, alumni, and investors connect in person. We also organise city-based meetups and our flagship Grand Pitch event, which brings hundreds of top-tier investors together twice a year. So while the programme is remote-first, it’s far from remote-only.

5. Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Education

Local incubators often provide valuable workshops and learning modules, but they may be limited in scope and depth. EWOR offers over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and educational modules designed by top entrepreneurs and industry experts. This comprehensive entrepreneurial education covers everything from refining your business idea to scaling and securing funding, ensuring that you develop both as an entrepreneur and a leader.

Monash University's Generator is a key hub for entrepreneurial support, offering programs like The Validator for startup fundamentals and mindset development, and Startup Sprint for refining business models. They also provide The Accelerator, a flagship program for building and growing startups. For researchers, there's the Researcher to Innovator program and the Monash Venture Studio. Educational support includes masterclasses, workshops on ideation, validation, prototyping, pitching, business modelling, and planning. Monash also hosts events like Startup Bootcamps, Startup Weekends, Hackathons, and Venture Nights. They offer resources such as co-working spaces and office hours for guidance.

With EWOR, you’ll gain access to a more extensive and detailed entrepreneurial education, giving you the tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in today’s competitive startup landscape.

That’s a Wrap

While Monash University's local incubators offer great resources for students starting their entrepreneurial journey, EWOR provides an unmatched opportunity for those looking to take their startup to the next level. With access to global mentorship, larger funding opportunities, a highly selective network, flexible remote programmes, and comprehensive entrepreneurial education, EWOR offers Monash University students the chance to build and scale their startups on a global stage. If you’re ready to look beyond local incubators and accelerate your entrepreneurial success, EWOR could be the ideal platform for you.

Image credits: Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash