Queensland AI Hub

What Queensland AI Hub does

Queensland AI Hub is a government-backed community organization that connects AI founders, technology experts, entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses (SMBs), and researchers across Queensland through programs, events, and training. Established as a $5 million initiative of the Queensland Government under the broader $755M Advance Queensland program, the Hub operates from The Precinct in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, with a state-wide network of nine regional chapters spanning Cairns, Mackay, Bundaberg, Townsville, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, and Logan. Its core programs are the Launch AI pre-accelerator (annual cohorts of 10-11 AI startups since 2023, with a fourth cohort announced for 2026), regional chapter events, the monthly Hub Office Hours mentoring program, and the annual QLD AI Summit, which drew 1,000+ attendees at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in 2024. The Hub does not develop proprietary AI technology; instead it serves as a convener and capability-builder, backed by founding partners KPMG, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and The University of Queensland (UQ), and by AI Consortium members KJR, MaxKelsen, 9points, IntelliHQ, and AIkademi.

Commercial operations were transferred to CoSpaces, a registered Queensland Real Estate Agency, in July 2022 under a community management agreement covering strategy, events, partnerships, and program delivery. Revenue is generated primarily through Queensland Government grant funding, supplemented by event ticketing (AI Summit 2024 priced at $149 per attendee, down from $249), workshop fees (C-Suite Executive Workshop at $200 + GST), and merchandise sales via an online shop. Strategic partners for the 2024 Summit included Fujitsu, NVIDIA, NetApp, Google Cloud, and KJR, alongside regional government partners such as Rockhampton Regional Council and the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training. Leadership transitioned between 2021 and 2024, with Toni Peggrem serving as CEO/Executive General Manager and Nicholas Therkelsen-Terry as Chairman of the Board.

Name

Queensland AI Hub

Legal name

Queensland AI Hub

Website

https://qldaihub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Queensland AI Hub is a government-backed community organization that connects AI founders, researchers, SMBs, and tech experts across Queensland through the Launch AI pre-accelerator, nine regional chapters, mentoring programs, and the annual QLD AI Summit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI Ecosystem Development and Community Programs

NAICS

Computer Training (611420)

akta.pro primary industry

AI & Machine Learning (Foundations & Applied) (EDAMACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF)

Keywords

• AI ecosystem development
• Startup accelerator programs
• Regional community chapters
• AI industry events
• Technology education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Fassifern Valley

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The Queensland AI Hub is a $5M investment from the Queensland Government as part of the Advance Queensland initiative. This serves as the primary funding source.
2. Event Tickets: Revenue generated from event ticket sales, such as the AI Summit 2024 at $149.00 per attendee.
3. Workshop Fees: Revenue from workshops such as the C-Suite Executive Workshop for Trustworthy AI Deployment at $200 + GST.
4. Product Sales: E-commerce sales through the shop, including AI Summit tickets and merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Queensland AI Hub operates as an ecosystem connector, running programs and events that bring together AI founders, tech experts, entrepreneurs, SMBs, and researchers across Queensland. Its primary deliverables are the Launch AI Pre-Accelerator program for early-stage AI startups, a network of nine regional chapters, monthly Hub Office Hours for mentoring, and the annual AI Summit. The organization does not sell a software product; it sells access to community programs and events funded by a $5M Queensland Government investment.

Product overview

Queensland AI Hub operates as a community organization offering a portfolio of programs and events to accelerate AI/ML adoption across Queensland. The core offerings include the Launch AI Pre-Accelerator program for early-stage AI startups, a network of nine QLD AI Hub Chapters across regional Queensland providing local educational and networking events, Hub Office Hours for community mentoring, and the annual AI Summit. The organization functions as a connector between founders, tech experts, entrepreneurs, SMBs, and researchers rather than operating a unified software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Launch AI: An early-stage pre-accelerator program for founders to discover, activate, and launch AI/ML models and products to market, composed of workshops, 1:1 mentoring, and demo night.
• QLD AI Hub Local Chapters
• Hub Office Hours

Products and services

• Launch AI Pre-Accelerator
• QLD AI Hub Chapters
• Hub Office Hours
• AI Summit

Quantifiable outcome

• State-wide coverage through 9 regional chapters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• FujitsuflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2024Fujitsu partnered with Queensland AI Hub for QLD AI Summit 2024. Fujitsu CTO Mahesh Krishnan shared insights on AI in driving sustainability and digital transformation. Fujitsu has developed AI test drive in partnership with NVIDIA and NetApp, offering ready-to-use AI computing environments.
• NVIDIAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2024NVIDIA partnered with Queensland AI Hub for QLD AI Summit 2024. As world leaders in AI computing, NVIDIA has revolutionized tech with GPU and pioneered accelerated computing intersecting computer graphics, high-performance computing, and AI.
• NetAppflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2024NetApp partnered with Queensland AI Hub for QLD AI Summit 2024. NetApp delivers cutting-edge AI solutions including the NetApp Data Science Toolkit, a Python library enabling data scientists and engineers to perform data management tasks efficiently.
• CoSpacescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 14 June 2022CoSpaces was appointed as the new community manager of the Queensland AI Hub from 1 July 2022. As a registered Queensland Real Estate Agency, CoSpaces took over management of commercial operations including strategy, leasing, facility management, compliance, asset management, reporting, community management, brand and marketing, integrated partnerships, events, activations, and program delivery.
• Rockhampton Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2021Queensland AI Hub formed a strategic partnership with Advance Rockhampton team at Rockhampton Regional Council to strengthen AI technology uptake across the region. This partnership builds the first regional Community of Practice to improve industry productivity, generate jobs, and increase market access.
• Google CloudcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoogle Cloud joined Queensland Government, Fujitsu, NVIDIA, NetApp, and KJR as partners of QLD AI Summit 2024.
• KJRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKJR joined as a partner of QLD AI Summit 2024. KJR is an Australian Software Quality Engineering Consultancy with over 26 years of experience, specializing in Responsible AI implementation.
• She CodescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueensland AI Hub renewed its partnership with She Codes, an organization teaching technical skills to women across Australia. She Codes hosts its six-month program She Codes Plus at the Hub.
• KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner of Queensland AI Hub. KPMG is one of the founding partners alongside QUT and UQ.
• Queensland University of Technology (QUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner of Queensland AI Hub. QUT is one of the founding partners alongside KPMG and UQ.
• The University of Queensland (UQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Partner of Queensland AI Hub. UQ is one of the founding partners alongside KPMG and QUT.
• KJRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI Consortium Member. KJR leads the industry standard in Software Quality & Assurance and continues to innovate for clients in Software QA, DevSecOps and Data Quality & AI Assurance.
• MaxKelsencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI Consortium Member of Queensland AI Hub.
• 9pointscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI Consortium Member of Queensland AI Hub.
• IntelliHQcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI Consortium Member of Queensland AI Hub.
• AIkademicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI Consortium Member of Queensland AI Hub.
• Department of Employment, Small Business and TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Queensland AI Hub to advance AI adoption across regional Queensland during Small Business Month, delivering AI education events in regional locations.
• Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to develop and deliver world first pilot program of Autonomous Systems Training for Marine Surveyors.
• Australian Maritime College Search (AMC Search)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Queensland AI Hub to develop Autonomous Systems Training for Marine Surveyors.
• Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Queensland AI Hub for the world first pilot program of Autonomous Systems Training for Marine Surveyors.
• Queensland XR HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Queensland AI Hub and Queensland Robotics to deliver a disruptive tech program for World Science Festival Brisbane 2021.
• Queensland RoboticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Queensland AI Hub and Queensland XR Hub to deliver a disruptive tech program for World Science Festival Brisbane 2021.
• Goethe-InstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to deliver thought-provoking panel discussions on AI, Culture & Creativity during World Science Festival Brisbane 2021.
• World Science Festival BrisbaneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to deliver the Visualising AI - Science Meets Street Art Co-Lab sub-program during the 2021 festival.
• University of QueenslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey sponsorship support for Visualising AI - Science Meets Street Art Co-Lab. UQ researchers paired with street artists for public murals.
• Brisbane Street Art FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to deliver Visualising AI - Science Meets Street Art Co-Lab, a globally unique urban art initiative pairing AI experts with street artists.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vector Institute (Toronto): Canadian AI research and ecosystem institute backed by government and corporate sponsors. Comparable AI ecosystem-builder role connecting research, industry, and startups through programs and partnerships.
• AI Singapore: Government-backed national AI initiative running AI apprenticeship, PhD, and ecosystem programs. Closely comparable structure: public funding, industry partnerships, programs to grow AI talent and startups — though at national rather than state scale.
• startupAUS: Australian national advocacy and ecosystem organization for startups. Comparable role in connecting founders, corporates, and government to grow Australia's tech ecosystem, with similar policy and community focus.
• Stone & Chalk: Australian technology and startup hub providing community, events, and accelerator-style programs. Directly comparable as a domestic ecosystem builder focused on emerging-tech founders, with overlapping government and corporate sponsorship model.
• Digital Catapult: UK government-backed technology and innovation accelerator running programs, events, and corporate partnerships for emerging tech including AI. Comparable public-private partnership model delivering accelerator programs and ecosystem events.
• Mila (Quebec AI Institute): Government and industry-backed AI research and ecosystem hub. Comparable mission connecting AI researchers, startups, and industry through programs and events, with similar public-private sponsorship structure.

Broad incumbents

• CSIRO Data61: Australia's national science agency digital/AI research arm. Comparable as a major Australian AI institution connecting research, industry, and government, but operates at much larger national scale and as a research organization rather than an accelerator.
• Y Combinator: Global pre-accelerator/accelerator running cohort-based programs for early-stage startups. Comparable Launch AI pre-accelerator model, but operates globally and at much larger scale with venture-backed model.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running mentorship-driven programs for startups. Comparable accelerator/ecosystem model, though operates commercially across multiple verticals at much larger global scale.

Regional players

• LaunchVic: Victorian state government's startup agency funding accelerators, programs, and ecosystem activities. Comparable state-level public funding model and ecosystem-building mission, but serves a different Australian state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/qld_ai_hub
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChdIhC9fjZvYkisV2WQT32g
• Facebookfacebook.com/queenslandAIhub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/queensland-ai-hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Queensland AI Hub