Airwallex

Founded in 2015 by four University of Melbourne alumni, Airwallex began with a clear ambition to build financial infrastructure better suited to a global, digital economy. Today, the company’s University roots continue to shape its commitment to supporting students and emerging entrepreneurs.

The traditional financial system was not built for the speed of the modern digital economy. For a scaling startup or an established enterprise, managing global finances often means grappling with legacy infrastructure that is slow, expensive, and operationally opaque. From the difficulty of issuing local cards to the friction of multi-currency reconciliation, the absence of a unified financial stack creates a ‘complexity tax’ that hinders innovation and prevents businesses from operating seamlessly across borders.

Airwallex’s founders drew on their backgrounds in engineering and commerce to create an end-to-end financial infrastructure platform that empowers modern businesses to scale globally, streamlining everything from borderless payments and card issuing to treasury management and embedded finance.

The Airwallex Excellence Scholarship gave me exposure I wouldn't havehad otherwise – extending a journey that started in South Asia and East Asian markets into APAC and Europe. That breadth sets me apart and is positioning me for a managerial role in tech.

What began as a Melbourne-founded startup has grown into one of Australia’s most globally recognised technology companies. With 26 offices worldwide and a team of over 2000 people serving more than 200,000 businesses ranging from SMEs to multinationals, the company has been valued at approximately US$8 billion, reflecting strong investor confidence in the platform as it continues to expand across new markets.

Now entering its second decade, Airwallex is increasingly focused on supporting the next generation of founders and entrepreneurs. The company maintains an active partnership with the University of Melbourne’s Entrepreneurial Centre (MEC) and Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. This includes a three-year $3 million partnership, recently extended with an additional $2 million commitment, to support scholarships, student initiatives, entrepreneurship programs and pathways into technology careers.

The partnership has delivered 43 scholarships valued at up to $30,000 each and supported 60 students through a financial hardship fund. It has sponsored awards in the Faculty's Endeavour program as well as MEC's Student Startup Competition, recognising student‑led teams developing innovative solutions to real‑world challenges.

In 2026, Airwallex also launched Latitude 37, a startup investment initiative focused on supporting and scaling emerging technology companies, reflecting the company’s continuing dedication to nurturing the next generation of Australian innovation.