PRESS RELEASE: Canberra Innovation Ecosystem Celebrates 10 years of First Wednesday Connect

MEDIA RELEASE
Canberra Innovation Ecosystem Celebrates 10 years of First Wednesday Connect
When: Wednesday 2 July 2025 | 5:00pm – 6:30pm Where: ACT Government Business Centre, 220 London Circuit Registration: https://cbrin.com.au/events/first-wednesday-connect-july-2025/ Media Contact: [email protected] or (02) 6183 6812

On 2 July 2025 Canberra innovators and entrepreneurs will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of First Wednesday Connect, a regular monthly networking event of the Canberra innovation ecosystem. Championed and led by the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN), in collaboration with their Foundation members and partners, the 111th First Wednesday Connect will be hosted by the ACT Government ten years after the inaugural event launched on the first day of July in 2015.
“Ten years ago, it was obvious to us, that the Canberra innovation community needed a simple to understand space where business owners, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, mentors, investors, creatives, tertiaries, corporate and government partners can regularly come together to connect, collaborate and support each other in innovation activities. Little did we understand how massive and long term this need was.” says Petr Adamek, CEO of CBRIN, who together with Dr Craig Davis, GM Growth at CBRIN, initiated and led the first First Wednesday Connect a decade ago.

Over the past ten years, First Wednesday Connect has delivered extraordinary community impact, showcasing more than 1,600 pitches, welcoming over 22,500 registered participants, and being held in 27 different partner venues across Canberra. It became the pulse of the innovation ecosystem, the place where people go to find out what is happening, to find their co-founders, experts, investors, early customers, business partners and any other relevant connections.
Approximately half of the attendees each month are new to the innovation ecosystem. This confirms that the original value proposition of the event is still valid: First Wednesday Connect is the place where people get introduced to the ACT innovation ecosystem, a community that is large, dynamic and is always growing. The event stimulates belonging, a foundational aspect of community wellbeing, it celebrates diversity of the ecosystem and promotes the incredible innovations that are born in Canberra.

The July celebration will maintain the proven format that has attracted thousands of participants over the years—networking followed by rapid-fire pitches from local entrepreneurs and innovators, followed by more networking.
Anyone who could benefit from connecting with the Canberra entrepreneurial and innovation community is encouraged to attend. Registrations are essential, with strong attendance numbers expected.
Media representatives are invited to attend. Interviews with participating entrepreneurs, community leaders, and Canberra Innovation Network representatives can be arranged by contacting [email protected] or (02) 6183 6812.

About First Wednesday Connect
Launched on 1 July 2015, First Wednesday Connect emerged from a recognised need to bring together Canberra’s innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and investors in a regular monthly networking format. The initiative aims to share ideas, create meaningful connections, and contribute to the vibrancy and growth of the ACT innovation ecosystem through consistent community engagement and collaborative networking.

About Canberra Innovation Network
The Canberra Innovation Network empowers entrepreneurs to make an impact and drive positive change. Working alongside Foundation Members, strategic partners, clients, and the broader innovation community, with foundational support from the ACT Government, the organisation is dedicated to positioning Canberra as a clever, connected, and creative city where entrepreneurs and businesses build on our excellence in research and innovation to generate social, environmental and economic benefits for all.