With one month remaining before applications close, The Melt ENGAGE 2026 is calling for founders building climate and clean technology products to apply for its annual program in the Hunter Region.
The three-day immersion will run from 27 to 29 May at The Melt Modern Manufacturing Centre in Muswellbrook, with participation offered free to selected applicants and places capped. The program is supported by the NSW Government.
Applications close on 13 May.
Focus on physical products and scale
The Melt ENGAGE is designed for founders, startups and scaleups developing physical products in the climate and clean tech space. The program focuses on helping participants move from concept through to production by connecting them with industry partners, investors and technical specialists.
Participants are introduced to structured processes for product development, including proving, prototyping, piloting and producing, alongside access to facilities and expertise aimed at reducing technical and commercial risk.
The program also offers the potential to access early-stage investment of up to $300,000 through Melt Ventures, with further follow-on funding opportunities as products scale.
Direct exposure to Hunter energy and industry sites
A central feature of the program is its grounding in active Hunter-based projects and infrastructure.
The program includes site visits and briefings across the region’s energy and resources landscape, including clean energy precincts, rehabilitated mining sites transitioning to renewable energy, and large-scale projects such as pumped hydro, solar and storage developments. Participants will tour the Hunter Innovation Precinct and the Modern Manufacturing Centre.
Attendees will also engage with plans for the Hunter Energy Hub at the former Liddell Power Station and hear directly from companies advancing storage and manufacturing technologies in the region.
Investor access and structured feedback
The program combines site exposure with direct engagement with investors and industry.
Founders will pitch to potential customers, partners and investors, followed by structured feedback sessions to test product-market fit, identify risks and refine commercial pathways. The program also includes sessions on navigating funding pathways, including national initiatives such as the National Reconstruction Fund and Industry Growth Program.
Networking is embedded throughout, with opportunities to connect with Melt portfolio companies, alumni founders and industry partners working across energy, resources and manufacturing.
Manufacturing capability at the centre
A key component of the program is access to The Melt’s Modern Manufacturing Centre, which provides prototyping and production capability within the Hunter.
Participants will see the facility in operation and explore how it can support product development from early testing through to scaled manufacturing. The program positions this capability alongside the Hunter’s broader role as an energy and industrial region.
Final call for Hunter-focused founders
The Melt ENGAGE runs once per year, with limited places available for founders seeking to test, refine and scale hardware-based solutions.
With applications closing on 13 May, the program places participants inside the Hunter’s operating energy and manufacturing environment, connecting product development directly to the region’s evolving energy and resources economy.
