Free National Program from SMEC AI Aims to Turn 1,500 Australians into AI Founders
In AI Today reports on SMEC AI opening its fifth Pathfinder cohort, targeting more than 1,500 applicants in what would be the largest free AI founder program run in Australia.
First published by In AI Today. Summarised here by SMEC AI.
In brief
In AI Today reported on 15 September 2026 that SMEC AI had opened its fifth AI Pathfinder cohort. The report describes a free national program seeking more than 1,500 applicants, which would make it the largest free AI founder program run in Australia. Startup ScaleUp carried the same report. SMEC AI's own account is narrower than the headline. Pathfinder is for people who already know an industry and want to turn that knowledge into an AI product. It is not only for career software developers. Cohort 5 has since started, and that intake is closed.
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