Inclusion Networking Melbourne

AUSTRALIA × CHINA BUSINESS MATCHING & NETWORKING MELBOURNE · 10 SEPTEMBER 2026

**Join us for a special Australia–China Business Matching & Networking event in Melbourne, bringing together approximately 30 business and trade representatives from Chongqing, China, with Australian businesses interested in new trade and partnership opportunities.** **The Chongqing delegation includes representatives from government and trade organisations, as well as companies across a range of consumer goods sectors, including household products, home appliances, consumer electronics, gifts and stationery, food products, gardening supplies and hardware.** **This event is designed to create practical B2B connections between Australian and Chinese businesses.** **Who should attend?** **• Importers and exporters** **• Distributors and wholesalers** **• Retailers and supermarket procurement professionals** **• E-commerce businesses** **• Brand agents and representatives** **• Supply chain and logistics businesses** **• Business owners and entrepreneurs interested in China–Australia trade** **• Industry associations and trade organisations** **What to expect:** **• Introduction to Chongqing’s consumer goods industry** **• Insights into the Australian and Chinese consumer markets** **• Business presentations from selected companies** **• One-on-one business matching opportunities** **• Networking with around 30 visiting Chinese business and trade representatives** **• Opportunities to explore sourcing, distribution, import/export and potential long-term partnerships** **This is a valuable opportunity for Australian businesses looking to develop new connections with Chinese companies and explore opportunities in the China–Australia consumer goods market.** **📅 Thursday, 10 September 2026** **📍 Melbourne** **🤝 Approximately 60 participants** **Places for local business participants are limited. RSVP to express your interest in attending.**

Startup Networking Melbourne: Founders, Investors & Talent Mixer

Join founders, investors and tech talent at this curated **startup networking event in Melbourne.** Meet ambitious builders, exchange ideas and discover new opportunities in a dynamic community environment. RSVP: [Use this link](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-networking-melbourne-founders-investors-talent-mixer-tickets-1987629760118?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true) Please note that RSVP is managed via Eventbrite to control attendee lists — don’t ignore it to avoid issues with on-site payment. **💡 Why This Event Is Different** Most networking events end with exchanged LinkedIn profiles. This one focuses on real conversations and real opportunities. We bring together founders, investors, engineers, operators and talent in a curated environment designed to create meaningful connections. Through interactive networking rounds, open conversations and pitch opportunities, participants can share challenges, exchange insights and build relationships that last beyond the event. 🤝 What to Expect * **Interactive Networking** Structured networking rounds where participants briefly introduce themselves, share current challenges and explore collaboration opportunities. * **Talent Corner** Recruiters and hiring managers can briefly share open positions, while engineers and operators can introduce their skills and interests. * **Startup Conversations** Open discussions about fundraising, product development, growth and startup challenges. **👥 Who Should Attend** • Startup founders • Investors and angels • Engineers and builders • Operators and product managers • Recruiters and HR professionals • Sales and business development professionals • Job seekers interested in startups • Newcomers to the Melbourne tech ecosystem

Startup Pitch & Themed Networking Melbourne | Unlock Your Idea

Join founders, investors and tech talent at this curated **startup networking event in Melbourne.** Meet ambitious builders, exchange ideas and discover new opportunities in a dynamic community environment. **RSVP: [Use this link](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-pitch-themed-networking-melbourne-unlock-your-idea-tickets-1992455195124?aff=oddtdtcreator)** **Please note that RSVP is managed via Eventbrite to control attendee lists — don’t ignore it to avoid issues with on-site payment.** Most of us are in the same loop. You have an idea. You workshop it with ChatGPT, read another newsletter, tell three friends who don't quite get it. The idea stays in your head. Or worse — it never gets the kind of pushback that would have made it sharper. Research on creative work is clear: people who articulate their idea to like-minded peers begin to understand it deeper. Quality feedback isn't validation — it's the thing that changes how you see your own work. We mix the room on purpose. Different industries see the same process from different angles — that's where value compounds. We ask for your LinkedIn in registration so we can group you with the right people, not random tables. **How the evening runs (3 stages)** **Stage 1 — Themed Networking** You vote on the night's themes through the registration form (Fundraising, HR, GTM, Product, Pricing, Hiring — whichever wins the room). We group you by background. Each group's representative shares the conversation's main takeaway on stage. Featured contributors get a Featured Founder spotlight on ascentvalley.com — that's how the conversation scales across the ecosystem. **Stage 2 — Pitches** 5 curated startups present their idea for live feedback and investor introductions. After the event, we add them to our private founder database and route their application to the right investors inside the Ascent Valley network. **Stage 3 — Chill & Network** The structured part wraps. The bar stays open. The connections you started solidify here — most of our repeat attendees say this is where the real value lands. **Who's in the room** * Accelerator representatives — talent and dealflow scouts from Melbourne-based and EU-wide programs * Investors — angels, fund representatives, scouts from syndicates * Founders, Pre-seed to Series A — building across SaaS, AI, ClimateTech, FinTech, ConsumerTech * Operators — PMs, engineering leads, GTM leaders from scaling startups * Entrepreneurs across industries — fresh perspective is the point * Founders traveling through Melbourne — from Tel Aviv, Berlin, London, NYC, Lisbon nodes * Hiring leads from companies actively scaling teams **About Ascent Valley** Ascent Valley is a 3-layer ecosystem: Community, DealFlow, Events. Our mission is to break local boundaries and enable cross-region growth through real connection between founders, operators, and investors. **Philosophy: [IDEA → PROCESS → RESULT.](https://ascentvalley.com "https://ascentvalley.com")**

CBD Business Owners Network – Connect & Grow

CBD Business Owners Network is a professionally facilitated networking experience designed specifically for business owners who are serious about building meaningful connections and growing their business. This is not a typical large, unstructured networking event. The focus is on **quality conversations, genuine relationships, and long-term business growth**. **What This Event Is About** We bring together a small group of business owners in a relaxed, structured environment to: * Build strong professional relationships * Create opportunities for referrals and collaboration * Have real conversations about business growth * Connect with like-minded business owners in Melbourne There are **no presentations and no sales pitches** — just focused, high-quality networking. **What to Expect** * A curated group of business owners (not a large crowd) * Structured introductions to help you connect with the right people * Open networking and meaningful conversations * A relaxed and welcoming environment * Opportunities to build long-term referral relationships **Who Should Attend** This event is ideal for: * Business owners and decision-makers * Consultants, service providers, and entrepreneurs * Professionals looking to grow through referrals and partnerships This event is designed **for business owners only** **Why Attend** If you’re looking for a networking environment that is: * Not overcrowded * Not overly sales-driven * Focused on real connections and growth …then this is for you. **Contact** If you have any questions or would like to know if this is the right fit for you: **Rakesh Singh** PinnacleEdge Business Coaching 0423 804 123

A11y Allies Roundtable: Recruitment without Barriers

**Accessibility Allies monthly roundtable** **2nd Tuesday of each month** **Proudly supported by** [Builure](https://www.linkedin.com/company/builure/posts/) **Topic for September: Recruitment without Barriers** **Learn how to access talented staff with strengths and abilities workplaces need but often overlook.** **Join us for a discussion about how people with disability can provide skills and abilities your workplace needs.** **Learn about alternative recruitment programs that help people with disability to become valuable staff.** **Meet accessibility professionals and advocates.** * **No presentations** * **Open discussion** * **Exchange ideas** * **Genuine connections** **Tuesday 8 September 2026** **6 pm - 8 pm** **Free** **Light refreshments provided (incl vegetarian and GF)** **Location: WeWork** **120 Spencer Street, Melbourne** * **Quiet exclusive space** * **Wheelchair access** * **Accessible toilet** **This is a secure building so** **[registration via Humanitix](https://events.humanitix.com/a11y-allies-2026-09) is essential** **Building Entry** **Enter via the entrance on Spencer Street.** **Meet near the green couches in the lobby. Meet other attendees. You will be escorted to level 22 to sign in.** **Running late?** **Post a message to let us know you'll be late with an ETA. We will come get you when you arrive.** **Accessibility** **Please contact us if you have any accessibility needs or questions not covered in the FAQs on the event registration page. We will do what we can to help you feel comfortable attending.** **Please contact us if you have any accessibility needs or questions about this event.**

Melbourne Autistic Social Meetup

Find Your Personality Match - Make Friends

🌟 **A new one-on-one, personality-based connection experience** Many of you have been asking about structured events and if I’d ever bring them back. Well… here it is - a new version, more intentional, and built around something I care about : **matching people based on personality.** Over the years, I’ve seen how hard it can be to find people you truly click with as adults. Small talk goes nowhere, and most events don’t give you the space for real conversation. 💫 **What to Expect** This is not speed dating, and it’s not a big mixer. It’s a curated, one-on-one connection experience where you’ll meet a few people who’ve been matched to you based on personality and vibe. Expect: * A cosy, comfortable venue * A hosted structure so you’re never left awkwardly standing around * A series of guided one-on-one conversations * A relaxed atmosphere where you can genuinely be yourself * This is not dating focused event, there will be a seperate one for dating Each conversation is designed to feel natural — because the match is based on compatibility Get your tickets here - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1996364388627?aff=oddtdtcreator 🧭 **Before the Event** Once you get your Eventbrite ticket, you’ll receive a **short personality test (If you have already taken the test at a previous event you don't need to do it again)**. It takes only a few minutes but helps us understand your communication style, energy, and compatibility factors. This is how we curate meaningful one-on-one pairings for the event. 🌿 **Come Join Us** If you’re tired of small talk and ready to meet people who truly fit your personality, this is for you. A warm, intentional space created for deeper conversations and genuine chemistry - whether it becomes friendship, something romantic, or just a surprisingly great chat. RSVP now — spots are kept limited to ensure quality one-on-one time.

BeSocial. Brunch and New Friends

Meet new people over good food, easy conversation, and a relaxed weekend brunch. This event is designed for anyone who wants to make new friends in a warm, low-pressure setting. Instead of a loud or overwhelming social event, we’ll keep things simple: a small group, a welcoming table, and friendly conversations that help everyone feel included. You can come alone — most people will. We’ll use a few light BeSocial prompts to make introductions easier and help conversations move beyond the usual “what do you do?” small talk. Whether you’re new to the area, rebuilding your social circle, or just looking for more genuine connection in your week, this is a simple and enjoyable way to meet people who are also open to friendship. The goal is to leave feeling like you shared a good meal, had real conversations, and maybe found someone you’d like to catch up with again. Perfect for: brunch lovers, first-time attendees, people new to the area, young professionals, and anyone wanting an easy weekend way to meet new friends. To help you get the most out of the event, we ask that you download our app before you arrive (or upon arrival). The app will be used throughout the event for prompts, activities, and other interactive content so having it ready will ensure you can fully participate. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/besocial/id6759604739 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appetiser.besocial&hl=en Event photography and videography may take place at this event. Images and footage captured may be used in future BeSocial promotional materials. If you do not wish to appear in promotional materials, please notify Nexaro Group Pty Ltd before the event by emailing support@besocialapp.co, or let the event hosts know on the day.

Board Game Social Hangout - NeuroSparks x NeuroDisco Collab!

Hi all, us at NeuroSparks and our friends over at NeuroDisco are hosting another monthly board game event! Whether you're new to boardgames, or an experienced player, this could be a great way to meet like-minded people and have some fun too. **The venue:** Drop in at Gameology from 12PM onwards, there will be a wide range of board games for you to grab and play, but you can also bring a board game from home if you'd like. Gameology is also a games store, so feel free to browse what they have available or chat to the friendly staff for help or questions at any time. The board games room where we’ll be hanging out in is on the left as you enter the store. It also has a limited drink selection, however you’re free to bring food from outside to enjoy in between playing. The cafe across the road called Lux Foundry, or Ima Pantry around the corner are particularly good! But please be mindful of avoiding getting either the venue's or other attendee's games dirty. Each month Gameology collects donations for a different charity. Since they very kindly let us borrow their space, if you attend this event it would be appreciated if you could make a gold coin donation. While a donation is not compulsory, it is greatly appreciated in getting a little more community love and support. **Location:** There is very limited parking at the front of the store as well as in the surrounding area. However, the venue is close to public transport. The closest train station is Anstey station on the Upfield lane and the number 19 tram on Sydney road. There is also the number 508/509 bus line, with the closest stop being on the corner of Sydney road and Blyth street. The venue will also be closing at 5. We'd love to see you all there and if the event goes well this could possibly become a regular event! **PS:** If you have any questions about this event, feel free to message either myself or Ki. The event is open to all neurodivergent people and anyone who values a friendly, inclusive space. Many attendees come on their own, so if you’re feeling a bit hesitant, know you’ll be in good company and warmly welcomed. If at any point you have concerns or feel uncomfortable about any group member, please notify one of the organisers. **Disclaimer & Safety Notice** By attending this Meetup, you agree: • Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. • Organisers are community volunteers, not medical or professional providers. • You are responsible for your own safety, choices, and belongings. • Organisers are not liable for injury, loss, or damage at any time. • If you have health or access needs, please make your own arrangements. • In an emergency, call 000 immediately. By joining, you accept full responsibility for your actions and well-being.

🍜Asian Background Social: Lounge Asia Melbourne (Easy English) 6pm

Why People Love Lounge Asia 🍜 Asian-focused event 🤝 Many guests come alone 💬 No need for perfect English 🌏 No games or forced introductions — just enjoy the conversation Lounge Asia began within the Asian community, so people from Asia often feel comfortable and at home here. At the same time, everyone is welcome — locals, expats, travellers, students, returnees, digital nomads, and globally minded people. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Join 1️⃣ Tap "RSVP" on this page 2️⃣ Show your Meetup QR code at reception 3️⃣ Collect your name tag and start meeting people ✅ Early RSVP is free ✅ RSVPs made within 24 hours of the event start time are $5 ✅ Limited capacity — please RSVP early Many people attend alone, so don't worry if it's your first time. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Find Us 📍 Venue La Di Da 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 ⏰ Start Time — Melbourne Local Time 6:00 pm ⚠️ Important: This is the local time in Melbourne. Meetup may display Brisbane time or another time zone, so please follow the local time shown above. ━━━━━━━━━━ 🍺 Please Support the Venue This event is free or low-cost because the venue supports our community. Please purchase at least one drink during the event. Your support helps us keep organising events at great venues. ━━━━━━━━━━ 💚 Please Be Respectful Lounge Asia is a friendly social event where everyone should feel comfortable and welcome. 🚫 This is NOT a pickup or dating event. Anyone who makes others uncomfortable may be removed immediately. Not allowed: harassment, unwanted attention, MLM / crypto / religious recruitment, or anything that makes others uncomfortable. Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry or ask anyone to leave. 🪪 A valid government-issued photo ID is strictly required for entry. No photo ID, no entry. Driver's licences must be issued by the government of the country where the event is held. 📸 Photos and short videos may be taken for community and promotional purposes. If you prefer not to appear, please let an organiser know when you arrive. ━━━━━━━━━━ Lounge Asia is already growing in Australia and is now expanding across Asia — Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Our goal is simple: More friendship, more understanding, and more genuine connections across cultures. 📱 Join the Lounge Asia Australia WhatsApp Group Stay connected with the Lounge Asia community after the event. ✅ Hear about upcoming Lounge Asia events ✅ Meet local and international people ✅ Stay connected with people you meet ✅ Receive community news and event updates [👉 Join the WhatsApp group:](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EgS1bseR5Lq4eykvjMsEIS) 📱 Instagram: @_lounge_asia [🎥 Watch Event Video:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNak_cu9CXw) [👉 GET VIP ACCESS:](https://forms.gle/t6GXAjTNFECetVuZ8) ━━━━━━━━━━ 🌏 Come say hi! Hey, come hang out! 来一起玩吧！ 一起來聊天吧！ 気軽に遊びに来てね！ 편하게 놀러 와요! มาเจอกันนะ! Tới chơi nha! Tara, sali ka na! Yuk, gabung! လာပြီး အတူပျော်ကြရအောင်! មកលេងជាមួយគ្នាណា! ມາພົບກັນເດີ້! Хамтдаа цуглацгаая! Komm einfach vorbei! Jom join kita! See you at Lounge Asia!

Network Walk 2.0 Melbourne #6

After a break, We are back! Excited to meet new faces and kick-start more conversations. The objective of this event is to get comfortable with the idea of talking to strangers. You are free to talk, or just observe. Networking is critical for success here in Australia, and if not now - when? There is no agenda to this and anyone is welcome. Just come along and join a random bunch of strangers for a walk in the city. As this is a test run, we'll go by the flow after meeting at 300 Flinders St. Please arrive on time at the location as we may move from the start. As it's a short event, latecomers are not entertained. I will update the live location in the comments at 12.20 pm We may move/walk 10 mins after the beginning of the event. Follow us with the live location that I share in the comments Note : Please update your RSVP if you are unable to make it. We are all taking time of our busy schedule to make this happen.

Group Chat #1: Me, Myself & AI

**Group Chat #1: Me, Myself & AI** 🫖 Saturday brunch, one long table, twelve women from everywhere and one question: *what is AI actually doing to us?* What's one thing you've stopped doing since AI started doing it for you? Do you trust your own taste more or less than a year ago? What are we handing over without noticing and what should we absolutely keep? No pitches, no panels, no tech knowledge required — if you've ever used ChatGPT (or refused to), you're qualified. **You'll leave with:** a new community, a short list of reads, films and resources to keep pulling the thread and a say in what we talk about next. Every session ends with the table proposing the next topic and swapping recommendations, so this becomes *our* reading list, not a syllabus. **Format:** we go around with a question, then we talk. That's it. **Bring:** yourself. Order whatever you like (everyone covers their own). **Only 12 seats.** Small on purpose, so everyone actually gets to talk. Come as you are. Leave with better questions. 📍 Higher Ground, 650 Little Bourke St · 🗓 Sun 22 Aug · ⏰ 11:30am–1:20 pm