2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016
Closed 2025
Startup Community Events EOI
Startup Community Events EOI
Expressions of Interest for this grant closed: Thursday 29 May 5PM (AEST)
Some of the world’s best startup ecosystems are built on strong communities, fostered by regular, inclusive events that bring together founders and talent.
LaunchVic is committed to supercharging a more connected and vibrant startup culture in Victoria by supporting grassroots initiatives where founders, talent, and the broader community can connect.
Overview
LaunchVic invited expressions of interest from groups interested in running a regular series of city events to help people access, navigate, and build new networks within our local startup ecosystem.
$200,000 funding was available over three years to support this activity.
| Organisation | Project type | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Aussie Founders Club | Community Events | $200,000 |
Grants for AgTech Startups
$50,000 grants for early-stage AgTech founders.
Timings for this grant round:
| Grant Program launched: | 21 February 2023 |
| Information Session: | Thursday 2 March 2023 View the info session webinar |
| Application Rounds close: | October 31 2024 February 28 2025 |
| Assessment begins: | May 2023 |
| Assessment timeline: | Approximately 3 weeks |
| Closed: | All funds fully allocated as of April 2025 |
| Announcement: | Via the LaunchVic website |
Overview
LaunchVic partnered with Agriculture Victoria to increase support for early-stage AgTech startups across Victoria by rapidly providing small amounts of working capital to help startups build capability and move to the next stage of growth.
As well as providing funding to cover operating costs that build startup capability and growth for early-stage AgTech startups, the grants provided access to business development services that enabled founders to access the best possible support and advice to build their businesses, grow jobs, and support Victoria’s economic growth.
A list of recipients can be viewed at launchvic.org/agtech.
Funding for New Venture Capital Funds
Grants of up to $300,000 were available to support VC funds to establish in Victoria
Timings for this grant round:
- Round launched: 29 January 2025
- Information Session: 12 February 2025 by webinar
- Round Closed: 31 March 2025
- Communications: to unsuccessful and shortlisted applicants by 24 April 2025
- Interviews: 28 April 2025
- Communications: to successful applicants by 15 May 2025
- Contracting: contract execution with recipients expected mid-late May.
Overview
Victoria is home to a growing number of high-quality early-stage venture capital (VC) funds but LaunchVic recognises there is more work to do to help grow Victoria’s early VC investor landscape.
By providing operational and establishment funding LaunchVic seeks to encourage the establishment of more, experienced VC funds in Victoria, providing avenues for investment for our growing early-stage startups.
Funding recipients
- Advance VC: Australia’s first VC fund of funds with a focus on secondaries.
- Boson Ventures: A DeepTech fund investing in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, cleantech, and agtech.
- FundBase: A platform making VC and startup investing accessible to retail and wholesale investors.
- Scale: A VC fund supporting women-led startups from pre-seed to Series A.
- Tidal Ventures: A Sydney-based VC expanding into Melbourne to back local B2B and B2B2C startups.
- Triple Bubble: A fintech-focused fund investing pre-product to IPO, led by Judy Anderson, Brian Collins and Up Bank Co-Founder Dom Pym.
- Unlock Capital: A specialist early-stage fund focused on AI-native startups.
Grants for Victorian Angel Networks
Grants of up to $300,000 to support angel networks to establish in Victoria
Timings for this grant round:
- Round launched: 29 January 2025
- Information Session: 12 February 2025 by webinar
- Round Closed: 31 March 2025
- Communications: to unsuccessful and shortlisted applicants by 24 April 2025
- Interviews: 28 April 2025
- Communications: to successful applicants by 15 May 2025
- Contracting: contract execution with recipients expected mid-late May.
- Announcement: an announcement will follow once contracts are executed.
Overview
Angel Networks play an important role in providing an avenue of early-stage funding for founders in a structured and purposeful way, as well as supporting aspiring VC Funds managers to hone their skills and build relationships with investors and a track record of success.
To date, LaunchVic has supported 10 Angel Networks and together these Angel Networks have recruited over 600 investors and activated more than $30 million into Victorian startups.
Four have now ‘flipped’ to become VC Funds in their own right, leaving a potential space for more angel networks to enter the market. By supporting operational funding for new Angel Networks, LaunchVic seeks to encourage a growth in early-stage investments in Victorian startups and an increase in the early-stage investor pool.
Grants for University Pre-accelerators
Grants of up to $400,000 were available to establish new pre-accelerators that help university students and research teams launch their startups, with a requirement for 1:1 matched cash contribution from applicants.
Timings for this Grant Round:
Stage 1
- Round launched: Wednesday 26 February 2025
- Information Session: Thursday 13 March 2025 11am (AEDT) by webinar
- Round Closed: Thursday 22 May 2025 10am (AEST)
- Communications: to unsuccessful and shortlisted applicants by 4 June 2025
Stage 2
- Interviews: Tuesday 10 or Wednesday 11 June 2025
- Communications: to unsuccessful and applicants expected late June
- Contracting: Contract execution with recipients expected in mid-late June
- Announcement: An announcement will follow once contracts are executed
Overview
LaunchVic was seeking to fund the establishment of high-quality Pre-Accelerator Programs delivered by Victorian-based Universities to support aspiring startup entrepreneurs.
- The successfully funded University Pre-Accelerator Programs will:
Support startup entrepreneurs by helping them bring their startup idea to life and create an MVP; and - Increase the pipeline of startups being created across Victoria.
Funding Recipients
| Organisation | Project type | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Catholic University (ACU) | Pre-accelerator | $252,000 |
| Deakin University | Pre-accelerator | $400,000 |
| Federation University | Pre-accelerator | $400,000 |
| La Trobe University | Pre-accelerator | $400,000 |
Closed 2024
Grants for Investor Education Programs
This grant round closed Tuesday 19 November 2024 10am (AEDT)
Increasing the early-stage startup investor pool.
Overview
Victoria’s startup ecosystem has undergone phenomenal growth in the past few years, and there are now over 3,500 startups in the State. However, LaunchVic’s data shows the amount of early-stage capital flowing to startups has not changed commensurately. and there is a continued lack of early-stage capital.
Investor Education programs play an important role in driving investment capital to startups by supporting new investors to understand the sector and build the confidence to invest. To date, Investor Education programs that have been supported by LaunchVic have educated over 200 investors and activated over $84 million in the startup ecosystem.
LaunchVic recognises there is more work to do to continue increasing access to early-stage capital for Victorian founders. By supporting operational funding for Investor Education programs, LaunchVic seeks to encourage an increase in the number of active early-stage investors and unlock more capital for early-stage Victorian startups.
Funding Recipient
Organisation Project type Funding
Wade Institute Investor Education $1,000,000
Grants for Victorian Accelerator Programs
This grant round closed Tuesday 19 November 2024 10am (AEDT)
Supporting Victoria’s best accelerators to fuel the growth of Victorian startups.
Overview
The Victorian startup ecosystem has undergone significant growth in recent years, with the number of startups increasing to over 3,500, and the value of the ecosystem increasing to over $129 billion. However, supporting more startups to scale and attract funding is a key driver of economic growth and job creation.
Accelerator programs play an important role supporting established early-stage startups to scale. To date, LaunchVic has funded 15 accelerator programs that have supported over 600 startups. The most successful programs have driven significant growth of Victorian startups, including supporting access to capital. In addition, the most successful accelerators have supported the Victorian startup ecosystem more broadly through additional offerings including events, founder office hours, the establishment of funds, and investor engagement.
LaunchVic is seeking to build on this success by funding high-performing accelerator programs that require external funding to continue operations in Victoria to the point of ongoing sustainability.
Funding Recipients
Organisation Project type Funding
Startmate Accelerator $1,073,000
ANDHealth Accelerator $978,170
MedTech Actuator Accelerator $1,114,000
Startupbootcamp Accelerator $500,000
The Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) Accelerator $500,000
Grants for AgTech pre-accelerator programs
Opened: 5 April 2024
Closed: 2 May 2024
Up to $500,000 was available to fund high-quality Pre-Accelerator Programming delivered by startup experts, specifically within the AgTech sector.
After a competitive process, a $500,000 grant was awarded to Farmers2Founders to deliver their GROW pre-accelerator program for Victorian founders.
Grants for specialised angel networks
Opened: 4 March 2024
Closed: Wednesday 1 May 2024
$300,000 to fund the establishment of specialised angel networks that will invest in pre-seed and seed rounds of Victorian startups.
The grant was awarded to Birchal, Australia’s largest crowdsourced funding platform, which will now launch its first angel syndicate.
“Birchal First” will activate more than $6 million for early-stage startups by combining lead investment from angels and crowdsourced funding from retail investors via the Birchal platform.
International Intern Grants
International Intern Grants
Opened: 30 October 2023
Closed: 30 April 2024
Grants of up to $20,000 were available to enable emerging VC Fund Managers working at Victorian early-stage VC funds to travel internationally to undertake internships at global VC funds.
The successful recipients were:
Scott Dommett, Investor, Rampersand
Sandra Suen, Invest Manager, Archangel
Claire Bristow, Senior Investment Associate, Skalata
Medtech Market Growth Program
Opened: 21 February 2024
Closed: 8 April 2024
The MedTech Market Growth Program offered $50,000 matched funding to up to 20 medtech startups and scaleups working on medical devices and diagnostic products.
The funding will help to equip startups with the skills, services and resources they need to push their life-saving products to market.
View the full list of recipients here.
Grants for Targeted Pre-accelerator Programs
Opened: 4 March 2024
Closed: 8 April 2024 10am (AEST)
Supporting early-stage startup entrepreneurs and the creation of new Victorian startups.
Grants of up to $400,000 were available to run programs that provide aspiring entrepreneurs with advice, support and networks to test out their startup ideas and find potential customers.
LaunchVic funded seven programs, with focus areas such as high-growth industries (AI, MedTech), underrepresented groups (First Nations founders, regional Victorians), and social impact (Circular Economy, DisabilityTech).
• Australian Medical Angels – Clinician Incubator and Clinician Accelerator Program
• Boab AI – Boab AI Pre-Accelerator
• Dr Kyle Turner – Ochre Indigenous Pre-Accelerator
• Remarkable – Launcher Pre-Accelerator
• RMIT Activator – [Re]Launch Pre-accelerator
Grants for new venture capital funds
Opened: 30 October 2023
Closed: Friday 29 March 2024 10am
$300,000 grants to support new VC funds to establish in Victoria
Victoria is home to a small number of high-quality early-stage venture capital (VC) funds, including some that have been established with the support from LaunchVic through accelerator grants (e.g Skalata Ventures) or angel network grants (e.g. Archangel). Together, Victoria’s VC funds play an important role in growing the Victorian startup ecosystem. However, the increase in number of quality startups, combined with the continued lack of early-stage capital, is exacerbated by the lack of Victorian-based VC funds.
At the Victorian Startup Gala Thursday 8 August, Minister for Economic Growth Tim Pallas announced funding for eight recipients:
- Australian Medical Angels led by Dr Amandeep Hansra and Dr Bi Mian, will focus on investing in early-stage healthcare startups from pre-seed to Series A.
- Ecotone Partners led by Nicole Kleid-Small and Amanda Goodman, will launch a fund focusing on investing in early-stage climate tech startups via both equity and debt.
- Era Ventures Management will focus on investing in early-stage transformative startups in the consumer products and associated technology ecosystem.
- Flying Fox Ventures, led by Rachael Neumann and Kylie Frazer, has established a novel VC fund structure that will use Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to hold multiple startup investments across different stages and sectors.
- Mandalay Ventures will invest in high potential Australian agrifood technology ventures across Seed to Series A.
- Pacific Channel will create and invest into deep-tech pre-seed to early-stage companies within the future of food, health and the environment in Victoria.
- SBE Australia, led by Kerri Lee Sinclair and Nicole Cook, will focus on investing in women-led startups.
- Synthesis Capital Management, a spin out of the MedTech Actuator, will focus on investing in early-stage, deeptech medical, health and wellbeing-related ventures, from pre-seed to series A+.
Closed 2023
Victorian Agtech Angel Network Grant Program
Building a robust investor community and AgTech ecosystem
Up to $300,000 available to establish Victoria’s first dedicated angel network for AgTech startups.
Timings for this grant round:
Stage 1
Round launched: Tuesday 21 February 2023
Information Session: Tuesday 7 March 2023 Watch the recording
Round Closes: Friday 5 May 2023 10:00am (AEDT)
Communications: To applicants moving to Stage 2 by Friday 12 May 2023
Stage 2
Virtual Pitch Day: via Zoom Monday 29 May 2023
Due Diligence: Requested information due by Monday 29 May 2023
Communications: To applicants moving to Stage 3 by Friday 2 June 2023
Stage 3
Contracting: We expect to contract successful applicants in June
2023
Announcement: An announcement will follow once contracts executed
Overview
LaunchVic has again partnered with Agriculture Victoria to increase support for early-stage AgTech startups across Victoria by activating a dedicated Angel Network specialising in making seed investments in AgTech startups.
AgTech can have a significant impact on Australia’s agricultural sector’s growth. The total value of the global AgTech market is expected to reach $22.5 billion by 2025 (an estimated growth rate of 150% from 2020). Despite Victoria having all the elements to be a national leader in AgTech, support is needed to help AgTech startups further develop their capability and move to the next stage of growth quickly. Victoria’s AgTech sector has enormous potential and, with the right support, is predicted to achieve revenues of $350 million and employ 2500 FTEs by 2025.
LaunchVic has, to date, supported ten Angel Networks to help build a robust Victorian Investor Community and to unlock more capital for Victorian Startups. However, none of these networks focus solely on the AgTech sector. In his 2019 Angel Network report, Professor Josh Lerner recommended that LaunchVic establish sector specific Angel Networks to help drive success in industry verticals. LaunchVic and Agriculture Victoria believe the time is right to action this for the agriculture sector.
Grants for women's pre-accelerator programs
Opened: 1 March 2023
Closed: 20 April 2023
Up to $300,000 was available for Pre-Accelerator programs supporting women startup entrepreneurs.
LaunchVic funded two successful recipients:
- Jumpstart Studio, who have launched Press Play, a pre-accelerator program supporting women in the corporate sector to transition into startup entrepreneurship.
- Flying Fox Ventures, who will deliver their Female Founders program leveraging the experience and connections of the Flying Fox network.
The funding comes as research by LaunchVic reveals one-third of Victorian startups now have at least one woman founder, up from 20 per cent in 2020.
But the figure is still outpaced by the growth of male-only firms, suggesting further support is needed for women-led startups at those crucial early stages.
The successfully funded Pre-Accelerator Programs will:
- Support women startup entrepreneurs by helping them bring their technology focused startup idea to life and create an MVP;
- Increase the the pipeline of women-led startups being created across Victoria; and
- Increase the pipeline of quality women-led startups entering accelerator programs in Victoria.
Closed 2022
Grants for Regional Victorian Startup Entrepreneur Programs
Building a Vibrant Regional Victorian Startup Community
Opened: 16 June 2022
Closed: 21 July 2022
LaunchVic has proudly supported the development of regional startup ecosystems across Victoria. However, there is more work to do – only 3% of founders identify as regional despite 25% of Victoria’s population living outside Melbourne. LaunchVic wants to build a vibrant regional Victorian startup community by helping early-stage ecosystem development activities in regional centres.
LaunchVic invited Expressions of Interest from New and Existing organisations recommending the areas of programming required to grow their local startup ecosystem with the objectives of:
- Encourage startup ecosystem development activities in regional Victoria;
- Encourage people to consider a pathway into the startup ecosystem; and
- Increase the number of early-stage startups being created in regional Victoria.
Programs currently funded by LaunchVic that operate in regional Victoria and are seeking re-funding and consortia proposals were considered.
The successful EOI applicants were invited to submit a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP). Successful RFP applicants could receive funding of between $50,000 and $300,000 (exclusive of GST) over 1-2 years. Funds are to be used for Operating Costs.
Through this round, we sought ideas that would support startup entrepreneurship in regional Victoria and increase the number of early-stage startups.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Project type | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| GetUp StartUp Mildura | Mildura Regional Development | Workshops Events Mentoring | $100,000.00 |
| Great South Coast Startup Ecosystem | Warrnambool City Council | Pre-Accelerator Bootcamps Events | $250,000.00 |
| Startup Gippsland Ecosystem Activation Program | Latrobe City Council | Bootcamps Events Online community | $180,000.00 |
| Startup Central Victoria | Clear Dynamics | Pre-Accelerator Events | $260,000.00 |
Grants for World Class Accelerator Programs
Supporting Programs that Grow More Scaleups
Opened: 6 May 2022
Closed: 27 June 2022
Victoria’s startup ecosystem is on the move
Catalytic initiatives funded by LaunchVic have fuelled above-average growth in Victoria’s startup ecosystem over the last four years.
- Victoria’s early-stage startup sector value has doubled year on year for the past two years and is now worth more than $10.5billion.
- Victoria is home to more than 2,700 startups – companies that use innovative business models and technology to grow fast and service global markets.
- There was a 35% increase in total early-stage funding over the last year.
- Health, Enterprise, FinTech, Data & Analytics, and Commerce are growing strengths and account for 50% of all startups.
To date, LaunchVic has successfully invested in a number of accelerators that have helped established startups to scale. The most successful programs have driven the growth of Victorian startups, supported access to capital and created high-value jobs. In addition, the most successful accelerators have supported the ecosystem more broadly through additional offerings including events, founder office hours, the establishment of funds, investor engagement etc.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Project type | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Seed Accelerator Program | Antler | Accelerator | $360,000 |
| Climate Salad | Climate Salad | Accelerator | $600,000 |
| ANDHealth ADDEMT: Accelerating Digital & Digitally Enabled Medical Technologies | ANDHealth | Accelerator | $1,400,000 |
Grants for Growing Victorian Angel Networks
Catalysing Early-Stage Startup Investments
Opened: 2 May 2022
Closed: 15 June 2022
Between 2020-2022, LaunchVic provided funding to support the establishment of five successful new Angel Networks to help build a robust Victorian investor community and to unlock more capital for Victorian Startups.
These networks are already playing an important role in developing the Victorian startup ecosystem – providing an avenue of funding for founders, supporting startup investors to syndicate, and providing capital in a structured and purposeful way at the critical early stages of startups’ journey. To date over 200 new investors had been recruited by these networks investing more than $5m into Victorian startups.
Despite this growth in formal angel networks, LaunchVic recognised that this number of angel groups is lower than in peer ecosystems. With a rise in investor education programs, there was also a growing number of informal syndications.
By providing operational funding and support LaunchVic sought to encourage the formalisation of more angel networks, providing an opportunity for growth in early-stage investments in Victorian startups and an increase in the early-stage investor pool.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Angel Network | Ecotone Ventures | $300,000 | Ecotone Ventures’ Climate Angel Network will be a new climate-focused Angel Network based in Victoria that will connect the growing number of climate-conscious investors to early-stage ventures with climate solutions. The network aims to recruit at least 66 angel investors and support 16 investment deals into Victorian startups with a cumulative investment of $3 million over 2 years. |
| Cut Through Angels | Cut Through Ventures | $295,000 | The fund will be industry agnostic and technology-centric, and only startups with the potential to generate venture capital returns will be invested in. The network aims to recruit at least 100 angel investors, and support 16 investment deals into Victorian startups with a cumulative investment of $3 million over 2 years. |
| Playbook Angel Network | Playbook Ventures | $280,000 | The Playbook Angel Network investment thesis will be focused on founders and companies solving the following big questions of the future. The network aims to recruit at least 60 angel investors and support at least 11 investment deals into Victorian startups with a cumulative investment of $2.8 million over 2 years. |
Closed 2021
Grants for AgTech Pre Accelerator Programs
Supporting Early-Stage AgTech Startup Creation
Opened: 8 September 2021
Closed: 27 October 2021
Agriculture is a key sector of Victoria’s economy, employing 146,600 staff across 2020-21. The sector is vitally important to the Victorian economy and our future, however, changing conditions mean the sector needs to continually adapt. AgTech is a key driver to support adaptation of the agriculture sector, with the potential to provide farmers with the tools, data and knowledge to make more informed, timely on-farm decisions and improve productivity and sustainability.
AgTech can have a significant impact on Australia’s agricultural sector’s growth. The total value of the global AgTech market is expected to reach $22.5 billion by 2025 (an estimated growth rate of 150% from 2020). Despite Victoria having all the elements to be a national leader in AgTech, the sector is still small and immature, with AgTech startups accounting for less than 2% of total startups in Victoria.
This grant program aimed to increase support for aspiring AgTech entrepreneurs by funding experts to deliver Pre-Accelerator programs. The Pre-Accelerator programs will play a pivotal role in growing the AgTech sector in Victoria, enabling new founders to access the best possible support, advice and networks to build new businesses that will help shape our future economy and grow jobs.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Recipient | Funding | Program Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Victoria’s AgTech startup sector | Farmers2founders | $600,000 | Farmers2Founders is a specialist agrifood tech service provider formed in 2018 to deliver pre-accelerator and accelerator programs specifically targeting agrifood tech and innovation startups across regional Australia. Farmers2Founders will utilise its proven innovation pathways model to deliver: an Online Journey Starter Program; Hatch Ideas Pre-accelerator Program; and Hone Venture Creation Pre-Accelerator Program. Additional activities to stimulate Victoria’s emerging AgTech ecosystem will include regional workshops to activate existing research and innovation facilities and extensive producer engagement. |
| AgTech Seeds Pre-Accelerator Program | Rocket Seeder | $600,000 | The AgTech Seeds Pre-accelerator Program supports creation of early-stage AgTech startups in Victoria by bringing together “hybrid” teams of aspiring AgTech entrepreneurs and researchers creating AgTech-applicable IP/know-how at Victorian universities/PFROs. It will facilitate entrepreneur-researcher matches to increase startup investability and value, and help teams validate the market for their idea and technology and engage with potential Victorian early-adopter customers (growers/producers). The Program will provide funding for teams who validate problem-solution fit and need financial support to build their MVP. |
| Technology for the Business of Agriculture | SproutX | $600,000 | SproutX in collaboration with The University of Melbourne and The Victorian Farmers Federation will deliver a hybrid program of mentorship and experiential learning over four cohorts, in two years. The Business of Agriculture Pre-Accelerator Program seeks to draw new entrants to the agtech startup ecosystem, by engaging tertiary research, academic, and corporate R&D participants to consider commercial opportunities through startup. By fostering collaboration between primary producers, accomplished agtech startups, and industry leaders, the Program seeks to create a pipeline for non-traditional entrepreneurs to consider venture scale startup in Agriculture 4.0 areas of need. |
Grants for Victorian HealthTech Angel Networks
Building a robust investor community
Opened: 9 February 2021
Closed: 19 April 2021 (changed from 15 April 2021)
In 2020, LaunchVic provided funding to support the establishment of four new Angel Networks to help build a robust Victorian Investor Community and to unlock more capital for Victorian Startups. The four new Angel Networks, along with the existing Angel Networks in Victoria, do not currently focus on any particular sector, and some networks explicitly do not invest in startups focused on solving challenges in health industries. However, 18% of Victorian Startups are focused on HealthTech in some form – more than any other sector in Victoria. In his 2019 Angel Network report, Professor Lerner recommended that LaunchVic establish sector-specific Angel Networks to help drive success in industry verticals. LaunchVic believes that the time is right to action this in health industries including biotech, medtech and pharmaceuticals (collectively, HealthTech).
The objectives of this funding were to:
- Increase access to early-stage capital by Victorian HealthTech Startups, by activating dedicated Angel Network(s) specialising in making seed investments in biotech, medtech and pharmaceuticals startups; and
- Increase the number of informed and active early-stage investors who want to invest in biotech, medtech and pharmaceuticals startups, by providing support for Angel Investors through formalised Angel Networks.
LaunchVic sought proposals from applicants to launch a HealthTech Angel Network in the State of Victoria, that will primarily focus on investing in Victorian biotech, medtech and pharmaceutical startups.
Funding Recipients
| Recipient | Funding | Network Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Medical Angels | $300,000 | Australian Medical Angels is an angel network with over 350 members predominantly drawn from the medical profession across the country. With a track record of investments into healthtech startups, Australian Medical Angels will expand the Network and set up a Victorian branch to focus investments on Victorian-based Startups. The network is predominately made up of practising clinicians that offers both clinical validation and invaluable links to the healthcare industry for Victorian-based HealthTech Startups. |
Closed 2020
Grants for Talent Programs
Growing the Pool of Talent for Victorian Startups and Scaleups
EOI Opened: 27 August 2020
EOI Closed: 10am 24 September 2020
Round Opened: 29 October 2020
Round Closed: 16 November 2020
The impact of COVID-19 on our economy is widespread, with many businesses having to stand down, lay off staff or close down altogether. Many talented Australians have found themselves unemployed or facing employment uncertainty. While we recognised the deep impacts on the economy, at LaunchVic we also recognised that startups and scaleups were key to economic recovery. And while not every startup and scaleup was succeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, many were growing and creating jobs of the future.
Startups and scaleups are still on the lookout for great talent. For those that are growing, there are job vacancies waiting to be filled. Others are keen to have conversations that ensure a strong candidate pipeline for when growth starts again.
LaunchVic issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) on 27 August 2020 seeking proposals for Talent Programs needed to support Victorians that don’t have experience working at startups or scaleups so they can successfully transition into jobs in Victorian startups and scaleups. Applications closed on the 24 September and were evaluated by LaunchVic. A shortlist of outstanding applications were selected and approved by the LaunchVic Board to proceed to the next stage – a closed grant round. Successful Recipients were announced in February 2021.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Recipient | Funding | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up-skilling Underutilised Talent for Junior Roles at Startups | INCO Academy | INCO Australia | $404,230 | This program will provide accelerated pathways to employment into Victoria’s startup sector and grow the pool of industry-grade talent for fast-growing startups. The program will target workers stood down during COVID-19, skilled migrants & refugees and women to help them transition into a career in the startup sector. INCO Academy will expand three of its bootcamps (courses) into the state of Victoria and develop a placement service to enable students who have completed an INCO course to land their first junior role in a Victorian Startup. The program will create 480 industry-ready startup workers and place at least 100 Victorian INCO graduates into roles |
| Pivott | Stone & Chalk | $488,750 | Career opportunities in emerging tech startups and scaleups The Pivott program will equip and empower Victorian job seekers with the knowledge, capability and tools necessary to succeed in the startup environment. Aiming to increase awareness and accessibility on both sides of the talent marketplace, it will provide a smarter way to build skills for a future-proof talent pool. The program consists of four elements including: 30 Events, Workshops and Talent Jams; an online Learning Academy that includes the Working in Startups course open to all Victorians seeking a startup role; Top-Talent Mentor Matching Program; and an online skills & experience assessment and Jobs Platform to connect talent to job opportunities into startups and scaleups. |
| Women-only Fellowship to drive Talent and Diversity in Victorian Startups | Startmate | $1,104,457 | The Women-Only Fellowship will create a pathway for 120 exceptional Victorian women into their dream startup job. The program will develop the female fellows through guided coaching by senior startup leaders, AMAs with Startup Founders and functional workshops to expedite a confident transition into startups and real progress towards gender parity in tech companies. |
| Student Fellowship to establish Startups as a Career Path | Startmate | The Student Fellowship creates a pathway for Victorian students into the startup sector. The program will provide support for 300 exceptional Victorian students and recent graduates through a 2-week intensive bootcamp to help students transition into a startup career with at least 100 graduates landing a full or part-time job in a Victorian startup or gaining practical experience via a paid internship. |
Grants for Pre-Accelerator Programs
Supporting Early Stage Startup Creation
Opened: 14 April 2020
Closed: 8 May 2020
This grant program was originally opened on the 11 March 2020 with the aim of increasing the pipeline of early-stage startups in Victoria. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LaunchVic made some changes to this grant round and alter its focus from increasing startup density to one where economic recovery was at the forefront and aspiring entrepreneurs with technology-based ideas are given every chance for success.
Evidence from previous economic downturns illustrate that entrepreneurship can play a vital role in helping to drive recovery. Now more than ever it will be important that entrepreneurs looking to start their own startup have access to the best possible support, advice and networks to help them on their journey as they build new companies that will help to sustain our future economy.
LaunchVic sought to invest up to $250k per application for Pre-Accelerator programs to run for a minimum of 2 years. Applications had to have a delivery team that had strong startup education skills and must have had previous experience delivering pre-accelerator or accelerator programs. Applications from existing and new Pre-Accelerator programs were also accepted. Funds could be used for Operating Costs.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Business of Sport | Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) | $250,000 | The Australian Sports Technologies Network (ASTN) in partnership the Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) powered by Microsoft with deliver a sportstech Pre-Accelerator Program delivered over 10 weeks. It will support 60 Victorian Startup Entrepreneurs to validate their off-field sportstech business idea against competitors, vendors and VC. Specific industry experts including: GSIC, Pitcher Partners (Finance), Madgwicks (Lawyers), M&J Creative (Marketing), Sports Tech World Series (Market Research and Validation) and VARCIS Group Ltd (Investment and Asia Market Entry Partner) will support program delivery. This program will better prepare early-stage startups for SportsTech Accelerator programs. The program will be offered 4 times over 2 years and aim to strengthen the reach, international standing and reputation of the Australian sportstech startup ecosystem in Victoria. |
| Atto Pre-Accelerator Program | Atto Accelerator | $125,000 | Atto is an online-driven, Pre-Accelerator Program that helps female Startup Entrepreneurs launch tech companies in an independent, scalable and sustainable manner. Atto is designed to take a first-time Startup Entrepreneurs from idea to product to revenue in a methodological and focused way. The 12-week program will support 30 female Startup Entrepreneurs through 2 cohorts. The program will support Participants to go on to take part in an accelerator program and/or raise angel funding. The program will run through startup operations 101, profitable business models and unit economics, community building, mapping out MVPs, creating an MVP using no-code tools, customer acquisition, growth marketing, startup launch press, building teams, applying to top accelerators, and an intro to raising angel funding. The program will be taught by a network of global founders and operators. |
| Expanding the Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) Velocity Program | The University of Melbourne | $222,720 | The Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) Velocity Program helps Startup Entrepreneurs speed up their search for problem-solution fit and discovery of first customers. This grant will allow MAP to increase its frequency of cohorts each year to support technology-based Startup Entrepreneurs. The funding will also allow the adaption of the program to be delivered online so Startup Entrepreneurs from across Victoria can get connected to MAP and participate in the Velocity Program. This program will support 120 Startup Entrepreneurs through at least 4 cohorts over 2 years. There is no University of Melbourne affiliation required. Startup Entrepreneurs will receive skills to help them with: i) early validation of their market or first customer; ii) objective competitiveness to enter an accelerator program; iii) full-time commitment to their startup; and/or iv) a fine-tuned Startup. |
| Start, Now | Roshambo | $250,000 | This project will be a network of Pre-Accelerators delivered in partnership with local councils, with a focus on supporting Startup Entrepreneurs west of Melbourne. The councils supporting the project include Melton City Council, Brimbank City Council, Maribyrnong City Council, Wyndham City Council, Hume City Council, Hobsons Bay City Council, and Campaspe Shire. Roshambo will deliver a Pre-Accelerator program to 16 cohorts in partnership with local councils. The Program will accelerate Participants through the process of finding a business idea and then developing and scaling that idea into sustainable model. They will be introduced to the Startup mindset and methodologies, taught how to build and test an MVP solution, and then shown how to grow their MVP solution. The Project aims to support 320 Participants through the program in partnership with the councils. It will support a further 80 Participants from the broader Victorian community via a tailored low-cost online Pre-Accelerator program. |
| SBE Explore | SBE Australia | $250,000 | SBE Australia is a not-for-profit organisation who accelerates women entrepreneurs. SBE will develop and deliver a Pre-Accelerator Program to accelerate Victorian female founders with strong ideas to bring those ideas to market in a smart and sustainable way. SBE will deliver the Explore program over 8-weeks and offer the program four times. The Program will graduate 40 female Startup Entrepreneurs in total over 2 years. Graduates will be ready to build an MVP of their idea with a tested go to market plan and a network of entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem leaders. They will also be supported via a strong network of almost 200 alumnae post-program. |
| Startup Gippsland | Latrobe City Council | $249,925 | Startup Gippsland is a Gippsland-wide Pre-Accelerator program supported by Bass Coast Shire, Baw Baw Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Latrobe City Council, South Gippsland Shire and Wellington Shire Councils. The program focuses specifically on ideation-stage and innovative tech businesses with non-technical founders. It will support 40 Startup Entrepreneurs over 2 cohorts in 2021 and 2022. Startup Entrepreneurs will participate in weekend intensive training and receive wraparound support in the form of masterclasses and mentoring aimed at building their capability, networks and confidence to run a tech-based business as a non-technical founder. The program will support Founder capability-building that will include sessions on how to work with developers, product roadmaps, tech and consumer law and digital marketing strategy. The program will culminate in a pitch showcase where founders will launch their MVPs. |
| Startup Shakeup | Wangaratta Rural City Council | $246,000 | Startup Shakeup is a regional initiative that aims to expand the opportunities for startups to be created, and shakeups to survive and thrive, anywhere in Victoria with the right support and ecosystem. Supporting 40 Startup Entrepreneurs over 2021 and 2022, Startup Shakeup will also offer four Tech Taster workshops for 120 participants, and will collaborate with Runway Geelong to develop the local capability to support the program. GHD will also deliver four masterclasses through this program to help upskill and support the startup entrepreneurs particularly in the emerging tech market. |
| Runway Pre-Accelerator Program | Runway Geelong | $250,000 | Runway Geelong delivers entrepreneurial programs to assist people in developing and validating their business ideas – incubating and accelerating their startups, or scaling up their existing business. The program provides early-stage startups with a launch-pad to take their idea, build a business model and build and validate their minimum viable product. This pre-accelerator program focuses on supporting startups from Geelong and Western Victoria region. Runway will deliver the program at least 3 times over 2021 to 2022 and accept at least 30 technology-focused Startups in total |
Closed 2019
Grants to Support New and Existing Angel Networks
Opened: 24 September 2019
Closed: 12 November 2019
‘Building a robust Victorian Investor Community’ was a LaunchVic program based on research identifying that many early stage Victorian startups were unable to secure the capital they needed to grow. The program was designed to increase the number of Victorian based Angels by funding new Angel Networks and boosting existing Angel Networks.
The objectives of this funding were to:
- Increase startup’s access to early stage capital, by activating more formal Angel Networks; and
- Increase the number of informed and active early-stage investors, by providing support for Angel Investors through formalised Angel Networks.
To support this program LaunchVic commissioned Bella Private Markets to develop a Best Practise guide to Angel Networks. A high level summary is available here [URL missing]. For the full report that includes a comprehensive assessment of considerations when setting up an angel network, guidelines for establishing the investment process and much more please email hello@launchvic.org.
In 2019, LaunchVic released an Expressions of Interest (EOIs) seeking applications from suitable existing angel networks and applicants who would formalise new angel networks. The successful EOI applicants were invited to submit a detailed proposal under a Request for Further Information (RFI) issued in December 2019. Successful RFI applicants received funding of up to $300k (exclusive of GST) over 2 years. Funds were to be used for Operating Costs.
Funding Recipients
| Organisation | Funding | Network Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Angel Partners | $260,000 | Angel Partners will establish a new Angel Network in Victoria. Angel Partners will target emerging professionals and recently successful startup founders to collectively invest in early-stage technology companies within Victoria through a syndicated structure. Engaging this group unlocks more funding now, and establishes an ongoing culture of angel investing for the future. Angel Partners’ investment focus is Victorian Startups in consumer mobile and web, software as a service (SaaS), artificial intelligence, Fintech, online marketplaces, and IoT smart devices. As the network grows, the focus will expand to reflect the expertise of new network members. The network aims to reach 40 members, and support over 15 investment deals with a cumulative investment of $1.95m over 2.5 years. |
| Archangel Ventures | $300,000 | Archangel will formalise an existing group of angels to formally establish a new Angel Network in Victoria. The Angel Network will include High Net Worth individuals and Family Offices, and also attract new investors to access deal flow through a syndicated structure. While Archangel will not limit investments to specific industries, the collective experience and skills means that the Angel Network will focus on FinTech, HealthTech, EduTech, PropTech and LegalTech deals. The Angel Network aims to reach over 20 members, and support over 9 investment deals with a cumulative investment of $2.25m over 2.5 years. |
| Innovation Bay Angel Network | $300,000 | Innovation Bay will establish a new Angel Network in Victoria. The Angel Network will be a membership organisation with minimal membership fees, opt-in framework, that is sector agnostic, and focused on early-stage deal flow. It will be made up of over 100 members comprising experienced tech investors who are already actively investing in companies, as well as new investors attracted through partnerships with Macquarie Bank and KPMG’s wealth management teams. The angel club will be open and inclusive, with a founder-focused approach aimed at supporting investment in Victorian Startups. The Angel Network aims to reach over 100 members, and support over 11 investment deals with a cumulative investment of at least $4m over 2.5 years |
| Working Theory Angels | $300,000 | Working Theory Angels will establish a new angel network that provides its members with the competence and confidence to achieve best-in-class outcomes for themselves, the founders they back, and the ecosystem at large. While industry agnostic, Working Theory Angels aims to back teams solving big problems in large markets that are undergoing macro shifts, with a preference for solutions that bring people together, improve every day life, or address physical and environmental health. Working Theory Angels has support from major Australian VC firms to partner in solving some of their biggest issues, including line of sight to seed stage companies, and providing a way for them to invest early and anonymously to avoid negative signalling risk. The network aims to reach 25 members, and support over 8 investment deals with a cumulative investment of $2.15m over 2.5 years. |
Grants for Experts-in-Residence (EIRs) for Coworking Spaces
Opened: Thursday, 7 February 2019
Closed: Thursday, 21 March 2019
LaunchVic’s tenth funding grant round focused on capturing new ideas and initiatives to support the development of startup founders, entrepreneurs and investors in the Victorian startup ecosystem. Unlike LaunchVic’s recent grant rounds, this round was ‘open’ meaning there was no specific focus, however applications needed to align with LaunchVic’s strategy. We wanted to hear from you about what you thought the Victorian startup ecosystem needed to support further growth.
Applications seeking funding for meetups, events, hackathons, educational courses, mentoring, bootcamps, incubator programs, accelerator programs were accepted. Other eligible programs outside of this list were also considered.
Programs needed to focus on one or more of LaunchVic’s strategic focus area streams: Diversity and Inclusion; Capability and Excellence; Leveraging Key Strengths; and/or Channel Development.
LaunchVic requested applications up to $250,000 per application. Organisations needed to demonstrate experience working with and delivering similar programs for startups and/or startup entrepreneurs or investors.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Strategy Stream | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Angel Network | Impact Investment Group (IIG) | $250,000 | Capability & Excellence (Investors) | The Impact Angel Network will connect pre-seed and seed stage startups with impact angel investors through: 1) an online deal flow platform to connect investors with appropriate startup investment opportunities 2) networking events and founder pitch sessions to facilitate direct connections between angel investors and startup founders; and 3) Educational workshops for both investors and startups to support increased investment into Victorian startups. |
| Growth Club | Startup Victoria | $232,000 | Capability & Excellence | Startup Victoria will establish peer-to-peer mentoring groups for Victoria’s most promising Scaling Startup founders and CEOs to share learnings and challenges and accelerate growth. Through Growth Club, Startup Victoria will support 50 Participants, through a program of peer-to-peer mentoring groups and educational workshops. The program will also capture insights into the challenges facing Victoria’s Scaling Startups. |
| Increasing Investment in Diverse Victorian founders | Rampersand | $250,000 | Capability & Excellence and Diversity & Inclusion | Underfunding Diverse founders by VCs inhibits the success of the entire startup ecosystem. This program will identify, educate Diverse founders through events and a structured mentoring program. Where possible, Rampersand will bring these founders into their investment pipeline or other VCs with a view to securing investment. Through this program, Rampersand will also analyse and diagnose points where founders drop out of the process and publish and promote the findings to encourage greater investment into Diverse founders across the VC ecosystem. |
| ygap First Gens x Catalysr | ygap | $250,000 | Diversity & Inclusion | ygap will partner with Catalysr to run their pre-accelerator program in Victoria and deliver the ygap first gens accelerator program. ygap and Catalysr will leverage both organisations’ expertise and track-record to find the best migrant and refugee entrepreneurs and develop the skills they need and access capital to grow their startups. The program includes a pre-accelerator program that supports up to 60 migrant and refugee entrepreneurs and a full accelerator program supporting 12 early-stage startups from the pre-accelerator program. |
| StartNorth Migrant & Refugee Program | Hume City Council | $46,000 | Diversity & Inclusion | StartNorth, Hume City Council’s startup space in Broadmeadows, will manage an accelerator program that will support up to 15 startup entrepreneurs from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Housed in one of Melbourne’s most diverse suburbs, StartNorth will partner with ygap who will deliver an accelerator program tailored to the needs of this demographic. ygap’s First Gens accelerator program supports migrant and refugee-led social impact ventures that are improving the lives of people living in disadvantage in Australia. |
| MID Open Talent Pathways | RMIT | $150,000 | Leveraging Key Strengths | This project will increase the pipeline of startups and talent in HealthTech and SportsTech by targeting postgraduate students who are considering working in a startup or launching a startup. The curriculum will be codeveloped by the partners – RMIT, the University of Melbourne and the City of Melbourne. Participants will explore innovative deeptech solutions for real-world problems and market gaps within the health and sports domains and test their business ideas for IP and commercial viability. This Program will support up to 50 participants and will consist of an immersive bootcamp, educational program and mentoring. |
| Melbourne Sports Analytics Meetups | Vumero | $10,000 | Leveraging Key Strengths (Sports) | This program will include meetups to support the Victorian sports data & technology ecosystem by providing a platform for innovative, and cutting-edge companies to present their ideas, concepts and products. The meetups will also provide a networking opportunity to create a collaborative environment and a way for people to get involved and hear about the latest progress in the sportstech industry. |
Grants to Support Further Growth
Opened: Thursday, 7 February 2019
Closed: Thursday, 21 March 2019
LaunchVic’s tenth funding grant round focused on capturing new ideas and initiatives to support the development of startup founders, entrepreneurs and investors in the Victorian startup ecosystem. Unlike LaunchVic’s recent grant rounds, this round was ‘open’ meaning there was no specific focus, however applications needed to align with LaunchVic’s strategy. We wanted to hear from you about what you thought the Victorian startup ecosystem needed to support further growth.
Applications seeking funding for meetups, events, hackathons, educational courses, mentoring, bootcamps, incubator programs, accelerator programs were accepted. Other eligible programs outside of this list were also considered.
Programs needed to focus on one or more of LaunchVic’s strategic focus area streams: Diversity and Inclusion; Capability and Excellence; Leveraging Key Strengths; and/or Channel Development.
LaunchVic requested applications up to $250,000 per application. Organisations needed to demonstrate experience working with and delivering similar programs for startups and/or startup entrepreneurs or investors.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Strategy Stream | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Angel Network | Impact Investment Group (IIG) | $250,000 | Capability & Excellence (Investors) | The Impact Angel Network will connect pre-seed and seed stage startups with impact angel investors through: 1) an online deal flow platform to connect investors with appropriate startup investment opportunities 2) networking events and founder pitch sessions to facilitate direct connections between angel investors and startup founders; and 3) Educational workshops for both investors and startups to support increased investment into Victorian startups. |
| Growth Club | Startup Victoria | $232,000 | Capability & Excellence | Startup Victoria will establish peer-to-peer mentoring groups for Victoria’s most promising Scaling Startup founders and CEOs to share learnings and challenges and accelerate growth. Through Growth Club, Startup Victoria will support 50 Participants, through a program of peer-to-peer mentoring groups and educational workshops. The program will also capture insights into the challenges facing Victoria’s Scaling Startups. |
| Increasing Investment in Diverse Victorian founders | Rampersand | $250,000 | Capability & Excellence and Diversity & Inclusion | Underfunding Diverse founders by VCs inhibits the success of the entire startup ecosystem. This program will identify, educate Diverse founders through events and a structured mentoring program. Where possible, Rampersand will bring these founders into their investment pipeline or other VCs with a view to securing investment. Through this program, Rampersand will also analyse and diagnose points where founders drop out of the process and publish and promote the findings to encourage greater investment into Diverse founders across the VC ecosystem. |
| ygap First Gens x Catalysr | ygap | $250,000 | Diversity & Inclusion | ygap will partner with Catalysr to run their pre-accelerator program in Victoria and deliver the ygap first gens accelerator program. ygap and Catalysr will leverage both organisations’ expertise and track-record to find the best migrant and refugee entrepreneurs and develop the skills they need and access capital to grow their startups. The program includes a pre-accelerator program that supports up to 60 migrant and refugee entrepreneurs and a full accelerator program supporting 12 early-stage startups from the pre-accelerator program. |
| StartNorth Migrant & Refugee Program | Hume City Council | $46,000 | Diversity & Inclusion | StartNorth, Hume City Council’s startup space in Broadmeadows, will manage an accelerator program that will support up to 15 startup entrepreneurs from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Housed in one of Melbourne’s most diverse suburbs, StartNorth will partner with ygap who will deliver an accelerator program tailored to the needs of this demographic. ygap’s First Gens accelerator program supports migrant and refugee-led social impact ventures that are improving the lives of people living in disadvantage in Australia. |
| MID Open Talent Pathways | RMIT | $150,000 | Leveraging Key Strengths | This project will increase the pipeline of startups and talent in HealthTech and SportsTech by targeting postgraduate students who are considering working in a startup or launching a startup. The curriculum will be codeveloped by the partners – RMIT, the University of Melbourne and the City of Melbourne. Participants will explore innovative deeptech solutions for real-world problems and market gaps within the health and sports domains and test their business ideas for IP and commercial viability. This Program will support up to 50 participants and will consist of an immersive bootcamp, educational program and mentoring. |
| Melbourne Sports Analytics Meetups | Vumero | $10,000 | Leveraging Key Strengths (Sports) | This program will include meetups to support the Victorian sports data & technology ecosystem by providing a platform for innovative, and cutting-edge companies to present their ideas, concepts and products. The meetups will also provide a networking opportunity to create a collaborative environment and a way for people to get involved and hear about the latest progress in the sportstech industry. |
Closed 2018
Grants for the Health Startup Sector
Opened: Thursday, 10 May 2018
Closed: Thursday, 5 July 2018
LaunchVic’s eighth funding grant round focused on leveraging Victoria’s key strengths in the health startup sector – including in medtech, biotech, pharma, health & ageing services and disability services (together, the ‘Health Startup Sector’).
Through this round, LaunchVic funded organisations to deliver accelerator and education programs that will further drive Victoria’s strengths and help position the State as a leading health startup hub in the Asia-Pacific region.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Victorian Medical Device Partnering Program | Flinders University | $2,005,100 | The Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) fuels the medical device innovation pipeline. As an ideas incubator, it delivers product prototypes aligned to identified global markets. It takes ideas from companies at all stages of their life cycle and turns them into investable technologies. MDPP has operated for 10 years in the South Australian medical device sector, this funding will allow the expansion of the current program to Victoria. In partnership with Swinburne University of Technology, CSIRO, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT, Australian National Fabrication Facility and Biomedical Research Victoria, the Victorian program will support up to: 200 new ideas evaluated by the program leading to fast fail or rapid progress; 120 collaborative workshops that connect entrepreneurs and leverage expertise; 40 proof of concept, prototype or clinical/market validation projects completed with detailed market research reports; 20 new companies established; and 100 jobs created. |
| The Victorian Health Network Accelerator (VHNx) | The Royal Melbourne Hospital | $995,120 | The Victorian Health Network Accelerator (VHNx) project is led by Melbourne Health, Potential(x) and the Health Round Table in partnership with Bendigo Health. The project consists of two centrally coordinated hospital accelerator programs: The Melbourne Health Accelerator (MHx) program delivered at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2019; and the new Bendigo Health Accelerator (BHx) program, delivered at Bendigo Hospital in 2020. VHNx will provide a clear path for early-stage startups to access hospitals and engage with clinicians where both sectors will thrive in a shared and facilitated platform of networking and collaboration. 20 startups, who aim to solve identified healthtech problems, will be supported through the programs. |
| Scaling Medtech innovation from Victorian hospitals | The Actuator | $950,000 | The Melbourne-based Actuator is one of Australia’s premier MedTech commercialisation initiatives. the Actuator partner with hospitals across Victoria to drive clinically-led innovations and provide a pathway for hospital entrepreneurs and startups to access the Actuator accelerator and MedTech’s Got Talent programs. The project consists of three programs: educational workshops, commercialisation bootcamps and hackathons for up to 450 hospital students, clinicians and staff; a pre-seed accelerator program for up-to 35 entrepreneurs; and the Actuator accelerator program for up to 40 startups. The Actuator will also provide a gateway for clinical professionals to become integrated into a healthcare-focused angel network. |
| Victorian Angel Investor Education Project | Artesian Venture Partners | $250,000 | Artesian Venture Partners in collaboration with Decode System, The Actuator, Peak15 HealthTech and VentureCrowd will develop and deliver a range of targeted investor education workshops, webinars and community events focused on investing in Victorian healthtech startups within medtech, biotech, pharma, health & ageing services and disability services. Events and online sessions will target 500 potential and active angel investors, particularly clinicians, over 2 years. Through project partnerships, angels will be exposed to a pipeline of investible Victorian healthtech startups. The project will build a sustainable investor education platform which will continue to educate angels beyond the project. |
| HealthTech Export Strategies for Asia markets | Australia China Health Accelerator (ACHA) | $250,000 | Australia China Health Accelerator (ACHA) will provide a direct pathway to Asia for Victorian Health Startup founders and senior executives. This program is designed to build solid and real understanding of Asian market opportunities, risks and pathways. The 6 week program will be delivered 4 times and support 32 health startup founders/senior executives. The program focuses on healthtech export opportunities and challenges in Asia and will include: lectures, seminars, discussion groups; interactive sessions in areas such as IP protection strategy development; live webinars for regional participants; and mentoring. |
| HealthTech Reimbursement: Getting Paid in the USA | BioMelbourne Network | $114,000 | Healthcare in the US is complex. This project brings US reimbursement experts to Melbourne to deliver masterclass modules to startup founders on US reimbursement strategy. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the critical topics of coding, coverage and payment, and the clinical and health economic data needed to demonstrate value in the US healthcare market. The program includes 3 masterclass modules and seminars. Selected participants will have a unique in-market experiential education opportunity to connect with providers, payors and partners in Medical Alley, a leading healthtech cluster in Minneapolis, USA. |
| B.R.I.G.H.T Future for Digital Health Innovators | ANDHealth | $250,000 | This 2 year project utilises Planet Innovation’s proven BRIGHT Process framework alongside the digital health expertise of ANDHealth. This framework is taught through interactive workshops, including immersion with frontline clinicians, pharmaceutical companies and industry leaders, and transfers practical skills and re-usable models to help founders solve many commercial issues faced by early-stage digital health companies. The Project will combine ANDHealth’s network of digital health expertise with Planet Innovation’s unique innovation framework to provide tailored advice and thinking models to digital health startup founders and companies to reach successful commercialisation. |
Grants for Entrepreneurial Programs for Aboriginal Victorians
Opened: Friday, 23 March 2018
Closed: Thursday, 24 May 2018
LaunchVic’s seventh grant round focused on increasing diversity and inclusion by investing in organisations to deliver new and existing entrepreneurial programs that improve access and participation in the Victorian startup ecosystem for Aboriginal Victorians.
This funding program was an initiative of Tharamba Bugheen, the Victorian Aboriginal Business Strategy 2017-2021 released by the Victorian Government in March 2017. Tharamba Bugheen recognises that economic advancement of Aboriginal Victorians is critical for self-determination and is making significant investments to support this agenda.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria’s Indigenous Business Accelerator Program | Barayamal | $500,000 | As Australia’s first Indigenous focused startup accelerator, Barayamal will deliver a world-class accelerator program for innovative Aboriginal startups from Victoria. Underpinned by a deep understanding of the factors for successful global entrepreneurship, this program will provide effective and culturally appropriate support, at each stage, from concept development to standalone businesses. The project will support Aboriginal startups and entrepreneurs through a pre-accelerator and a full accelerator program. Over the full program, the startups will rapidly develop their businesses and showcase their success at a national pitch night event in Melbourne. |
| Startup Thinking and Incubation for Regional Victorian Aboriginal Women | Global Sisters | $268,000 | Global Sisters provides women with the tools, networks and resources to accelerate an idea into a thriving business. In collaboration with Aboriginal community partners, the Global Sisters program will grow the pipeline of Aboriginal entrepreneurs in regional Victoria. Global Sisters’ Aboriginal women in regional Victorian locations will be introduced to startup thinking and have the opportunity to progress through to a tailored and responsive business incubation program that focuses on accessing disruptive online markets. |
| Project Ngarrimili: Igniting and Nurturing Aboriginal Excellence | Ngarrimili | $694,250 | Project Ngarrimili is a partnership between Strong Brother Strong Sister and Impact Co and represents the bringing together of Aboriginal leadership and industry experts. Meaning ‘to dance’ in Wadawurrung, Ngarrimili will inspire and nurture entrepreneurial excellence amongst Aboriginal communities across Victoria via three programs. |
| Ngamai Moorroop Wilin: Ngamai Meetups – Building the Community | RMIT University | $110,000 | The aim of this project is to establish a cohort of entrepreneurs who will engage Aboriginal enterprises within an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business ecosystem through regular meetups in Melbourne and regional Victoria. The Ngamai Meetups have been co-created with Elder Aunty Carolyn Briggs who named the Project using Boon Wurrung language, Ngamai Moorroop Wilin (light the spirit of the fire). They will target diverse members of the Victorian Aboriginal community and are designed to retain a cohort of highly engaged Aboriginal entrepreneurs. |
Grants to Support Local Council Startup Communities
Opened: Friday, 8 December 2017
Closed: Thursday, 22 March 2018
LaunchVic’s sixth funding round helped local councils improve access and participation in the startup ecosystem in Victoria.
LaunchVic invested in Victorian Local Councils, especially in regional and outer metro areas, to deliver programs and activities that address stages 1 and 2 of the Startup Framework for Local Governments.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Ballarat | City of Ballarat | $100,000 | City of Ballarat to run STARTUP BALLARAT! a program of meetups, hackathons, masterclasses and coworking trials. The program will address gaps for early-stage startups in the local community and aims to create a stronger startup brand for Ballarat to attract more founders, talent and investment. |
| Startup Shakeup – Innovate North East Vic Startups | Benalla Rural City Council | $400,000 | Benalla Rural City Council with Rural City of Wangaratta, Mansfield Shire Council and Indigo Shire Council as a consortium, will run Startup Shakeup – Innovate North East Vic Startups, a program of events to build startup capacity in North East Victoria. The program includes four Hyper-local Ideas Fests, one in each municipality, to solve the region’s problems and create momentum for the bootcamps, mentoring, and meetups. The program will culminate in an annual Pitchfest and an annual North East Innovation Conference. |
| iHarvest Program | Brimbank City Council | $100,000 | The iHarvest program will support the establishment of iHarvest Coworking Sunshine within the Brimbank Community and Civic Centre and deliver a program of meetups, mentoring and masterclasses for startups and entrepreneurs along with facilitating coworking placements. |
| The INNovation Crowd | City of Casey | $198,250 | City of Casey in partnership with Cardinia Shire Council will run The INNovation Crowd, a program that will deliver events including meetups, hackathons, masterclasses, workshops, a bootcamp and a major Business Expo and Pitchfest. The program will also offer mentoring via an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Casey Cardinia Business Hub and online mentoring sessions. Five local founders will also have an opportunity to be selected for kick-starter funding. |
| Greater Dandenong Startup Hub | City of Greater Dandenong | $100,000 | City of Greater Dandenong will activate the Greater Dandenong Startup Hub through workshops, hackathons, coworking memberships, mentoring and masterclasses to accelerate local entrepreneurship skill sets. The program will provide opportunities for the next generation of local entrepreneurs in this culturally diverse business minded municipality. |
| Creating a startup ecosystem in Hume | Hume City Council | $86,500 | Hume City Council will run Creating a startup ecosystem in Hume to support new startups through meetups, mentoring and hackathons. Transport & Logistics and Warehousing & Manufacturing are two of the largest industries in the municipality with local startups strongly encouraged to help drive startup entrepreneurship for these industries. |
| Startup Gippsland | Latrobe City Council | $400,000 | Latrobe City Council with Bass Coast Shire Council, Wellington Shire Council and Baw Baw Shire Council as a consortium, will run Startup Gippsland, a cohesive array of programs aiming to grow the Gippsland startup ecosystem. The program includes meetups, masterclasses, a comprehensive mentoring program and major events to help Gippsland startups become accelerator-ready. |
| CoConnected | Maribyrnong City Council | $100,000 | Maribyrnong City Council will run CoConnected – a program connecting startups in the West; a series of events designed to meet the challenges of Maribyrnong’s culturally diverse communities, and young people. The project will link the City’s CALD communities to opportunities in Melbourne’s west creating an avenue to market for inner west startups. |
| The Hot House Project | Melton City Council | $88,960 | Melton City Council will run The Hot House Project, a three-phase program featuring workshops, networking events, mentoring, masterclasses, coworking space access and hackathons. The program will support local startup talent to take their ideas to the next level. |
| ‘Magnify’ Mildura – creating jobs for the future | Mildura Rural City Council | $50,000 | Mildura Rural City Council will run ‘Magnify’ Mildura – creating jobs for the future, a series of events including workshops, masterclasses and a hackathon to help the local startup ecosystem grow as a vibrant hub of regional startup activity. |
| Moreland Converger Program | Moreland City Council | $100,000 | Moreland City Council to run the Moreland Converger Program that consists of a series of mentorship, masterclasses, workshops and meetups to increase the connectivity and growth of the local startup community which is attracting a growing enclave of creative and tech startups and multi-disciplinary entrepreneurs. |
| Think-Start-Grow | Towong Shire Council | $100,000 | Towong Shire Council will run Think-Start-Grow, a program that will focus on building knowledge and awareness of startup entrepreneurship through a series of workshops, networking forums, events and mentoring support. Participants will gain an understanding of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, rural entrepreneurship models and links to local resources. |
| UNEARTHED | Warrnambool City Council | $284,420 | Warrnambool City Council in partnership with Moyne Shire Counciland Corangamite Shire Council, will run UNEARTHED, a regional program that includes: events, meetups, a bootcamp of focused workshops, masterclasses and mentoring. The program aims to create awareness, accelerate the local ecosystem and unearth startup and scaleup potential especially in the food and fibre area. |
| Ignite…igniting north metro startups | City of Whittlesea | $89,710 | City of Whittlesea will run Ignite…igniting north metro startups, a series of events ranging from short workshops to full day hackathons to engage local startups. The project will address the need to create more employment opportunities for a growing population. |
| #StartWest | Wyndham City Council | $270,000 | Wyndham City Council with Hobsons Bay City Council, Maribyrnong City Business, and Moonee Valley City as a consortium, will run #StartWest; a program designed to educate and encourage people in Melbourne’s west to participate in the startup ecosystem. The program includes mentoring, meetups, and capacity building masterclasses culminating with the #StartWest Festival, which will celebrate startups in Melbourne’s west and inspire potential founders. |
Closed 2017
Grants for world-class accelerator program
Opened: Monday, 28 August 2017
Closed: Tuesday, 10 October 2017
Funding Round Period: 28 August – 10 October 2017Our fourth round of funding focused on organisation/s that could deliver world-class accelerator program/s to Victorian startup founders and executives.
While LaunchVic has invested in a number of accelerators to date, we sought truly world-class programs to support global connectivity and help the very best startups achieve growth on an international scale. The program/s were to be delivered in Melbourne, and help contribute to the growth of the local ecosystem.
LaunchVic’s Round 4 grant funding program was open to Australian accelerators, international accelerators and teams with proven track records of success.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBE Australia | SBE Melbourne Female Life Sciences Accelerator Program & Evolve | $1,500,000 | Springboard Enterprises (SBE) Australia will expand their world-class Springboard Enterprises Accelerator program to Melbourne through the launch of a female-focused Life Sciences accelerator benefitting at least 20 startups over three years. SBE will also deliver the E3 business accelerator program twice a year benefiting at least 60 early-stage startups. |
| Skalata Ventures | Skalata Ventures Scaleup Accelerator | $3,000,000 | Skalata Ventures will open a new accelerator program to support Victoria’s most promising scaleups. Founded by the former leadership of University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP), the program will support 60 scaleups over three years. |
| Techstars | Techstars Melbourne SportsTech accelerator program | $2,500,000 | Techstars, the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, has received LaunchVic funds to support the establishment of a Melbourne SportsTech accelerator program for 20 startups over a 2-year time period. Techstars is looking for partners in support to run a series of startup community events including Techstars Startup Weekend and Techstars Startup Week as well as the establishment of an accelerator to connect founders and their teams with other entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, alumni, investors, community leaders, and corporate partners. |
Grants for Founder Education
Opened: Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Closed: Thursday 21 September 2017
Our fourth round of funding was designed to help position Victoria as an internationally recognised startup ecosystem, by educating the Victorian founder community in the areas they need it the most.
This was a competitive grant round for shortlisted organisations who can deliver education programs on investment support and pitching to Victoria’s community of startup founders.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Going Global: Growth and Export Strategies for Healthtech | BioMelbourne Network | $97,000 | Export & Growth | BioMelbourne Network will support HealthTech founders of companies who have strategic intent to expand into global markets. The program will bring international experts to Melbourne, to deliver skills-based workshops on global regulatory, reimbursement, market access and commercialisation strategies, with a focus on key export markets in US, UK, EU, China and India. |
| Legal and Business Agreement Basics | Burch + Co | $219,700 | Corporate Governance | Burch + Co Lawyers will educate founders on the basic legal considerations through the lifecycle of a startup, including the responsibilities of being a founder and director and how to develop internal and shareholder agreements. |
| The 7 Secrets To Success With Investors | Catapult Business Accelerator | $228,625 | Investment Support | Catapult Business Accelerator will deliver an investor education program, providing deep insights into what gets investors on the founder’s side: the right time to connect with investors; building relationships and communicating with investors; financial forecasts; equity; pitching and networking. |
| How To Tell The Story of Your Startup | Character | $140,000 | Marketing Support | Character will provide founders with practical, hands-on advice on how to tell the story of their startup. The program will equip them with the tools and templates they need to generate meaningful public relations and marketing results with a focus on brand story, stakeholder engagement and key communication messages. |
| Lean Products, Sustainable Businesses | Cogent.Co | $250,000 | Product Development | Cogent will help founders build sustainable businesses through learning practical product design, development, and management taught by leading expert practitioners. |
| In Common: A program for people building companies around products and technology. | Common Code | $154,440 | Product Development | Common Code will educate technical and non-technical founders on how to align their business goals to their technology asset, how to effectively communicate with a design and development teams and how to make informed technical decisions. |
| Execution = People + Culture + Leadership | DifferenThinking | $185,000 | Personal Leadership & Development | DifferenThinking will provide founders with the tools needed to develop their people, leadership and culture skills through all stages of the startup life cycle. |
| Creating Investment Ready Startups | EM Advisory | $240,000 | Investment Support | EM Advisory uses tried and tested tools to help founders and their teams to create and test their thinking, so they become investment ready. Startups will finish the program ready to present to investors and clearly articulate a simple coherent investment thesis and go to market strategy. |
| Founder Pathway to Investment | Innovation Bay | $110,000 | Investment Support | Innovation Bay will equip early stage founders with the knowledge and tools to effectively craft an investment pitch, engage investors and understand the investment process. Founders will receive expert mentoring and an opportunity to present to Innovation Bay’s network of investors. |
| Customer Driven Innovation Program | Inventium | $100,000 | Personal Leadership and Development | Inventium will teach founders online a best-practice approach to innovation, based on science. It will help founders identify customer driven opportunities, learn tools to generate breakthrough solutions and make effective decisions and how to quickly and cheaply prototype ideas. |
| Start Leading | Leadership Victoria | $175,000 | Personal Leadership and Development | Leadership Victoria has expertise in leadership development that will shape participating founders into leaders for the long haul – for themselves, their current and future projects and for the whole community. |
| The Startup Marketing Program | Marketing Entourage | $208,300 | Marketing Support | Marketing Entourage is aimed at providing founders with the essential marketing tools to build effective strategies to successfully go to market, stimulate growth, attract investment, scale or expand globally. |
| Export & Growth Workshops | Onestack | $234,600 | Export & Growth | Onestack will help founders strategise and execute for growth and export, with experts challenging startups’ strategic and tactical plans to identify gaps and priorities. |
| Startup B2B Sales Masterclass | Slingshot Accelerator | $150,000 | Engaging Corporates | Slingshot Accelerator will run startup B2B sales masterclasses, educating founders on processes, disciplines, and techniques required to facilitate sales discussions with business customers, then execute the sales. |
| Bench to Business – A Product Development Training program for Hardware Startup Founders | Space Tank Studio | $250,000 | Product Development | Space Tank Studio will educate founders in design for manufacturing, IP protection, business and financial development and in Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) manufacturing technology for prototyping. |
| Governance and Board Advisory for Founders | Startup Boardroom | $220,000 | Corporate Governance | Start-up Boards will educate founders on compliance, governance, organisation policy and process and bring a capacity building mindset to help them be more resilient and realise their potential through considering an advisory board. |
Grants to increase participation for migrants and refugees
Opened: Thursday, 1 June 2017
Closed: Wednesday, 5 July 2017
LaunchVic’s third funding round invited proposals for programs that improve access and participation in the Victorian startup ecosystem for first generation migrants and refugees.
Migrants and refugees are recognised as important contributors to successful startup ecosystems. They are known to have high risk appetites, having started a new life in a new country – often with no capital, no credit history, no assets, and no security. The risk-taking that defines a migrant’s experience often continues as they embark on entrepreneurial journeys to establish themselves.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Playbook and Meetups | Hatch Quarter | $71,500 | Hatch Quarter is a vibrant innovation hub and co-working space for entrepreneurs, startups and professionals. With LaunchVic funding, Hatch Quarter will create a playbook to help first generation migrants and refugees who seek to launch a startup and successfully integrate themselves into the Victorian startup ecosystem. The Hatch Quarter will also deliver a number of meetups to build a supportive community for international startup entrepreneurs. |
| The Generation Launch | Unbound (formerly Laika Academy) | $322,500 | Unbound is a Victorian educational social enterprise that is passionate about creating a diverse startup sector through cross-cultural and engaging learning experiences. LaunchVic’s funding will enable Unbound to create The Generation Launch, an innovative program to support migrants, refugees and new Australians to actively join the Victorian startup ecosystem, and support them to create the next generation of successful high-growth ventures. The program will include: knowledge-building workshops that will support startups to launch; startup intensives to build practical skills; educational programs in collaboration with institutions to embed startup skills; and networking events to encourage and connect startup entrepreneurs into the community. |
| Cultov8 | Enterprising Partnerships | $452,000 | Enterprising Partnerships has over 20 years of experience supporting innovative programs in diverse communities. In 2016, they piloted Cultov8, a pre-accelerator program for young migrants and refugees. LaunchVic funding will enable Cultov8 to run 10 hackathons across the Victoria including Geelong, Shepparton, Ballarat, Broadmeadows and Dandenong. 300 first generation migrants, refugees and asylum seekers aged between 18-30 years will benefit from this program. Cultov8 will also include a 12 week pre-accelerator that will benefit 80 startup entrepreneurs with support on consolidating their startup ideas and teams and learning startup skills. They will also be provided mentoring, business coaching, peer learning and online learning tools. |
| YGAP First Gens | YGAP | $304,000 | YGAP is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to use entrepreneurship to help improve the lives of people living in disadvantage in a significant and measurable way. They have successfully run a world class accelerator program that has backed over 300 early stage impact ventures founded by locals in Africa, Asia and Australia. LaunchVic funding will allow YGAP to expand their program to create YGAP First Gens to support 36 startups led by new migrants or refugees. This program includes a series of workshops in Melbourne and rural centres to help build startups around problems affecting at risk or disadvantaged refugees and or migrants; an intensive early stage accelerator program; and incubator to provide additional support for ventures. |
| Now to Launch | Free to Feed | $245,770 | Free to Feed is a not-for-profit social enterprise that engages refugees and new migrants in a range of innovative food based enterprises. LaunchVic funding will enable Free to Feed to establish Now to Launch a food enterprise hub and startup incubator dedicated to nurturing and showcasing the diverse food entrepreneurialism of Victoria’s refugees and new migrants. The program will offer 60 startup entrepreneurs from Melbourne and regional Victoria the chance to take their dynamic, high growth food startup concepts from now to launch. |
Closed 2016
Grants for scale, accessibility and diversity
Opened: Friday, 30 September 2016
Closed: Friday, 11 November 2016
Our second round of funding invited both large and small initiatives that increased the scale, accessibility and diversity of Victoria’s startup sector across a number of industries including health, education and technology.
LaunchVic encouraged applications from high-quality programs that would position Victoria as a leader in collaboration and diversity.
Large ideas were expected to engage locally, nationally and internationally to enhance and forge new collaborations, drive services across the ecosystem and create new and robust networks.
We encouraged applications for smaller initiatives or projects that build startup infrastructure in underdeveloped areas like, regional locations, social entrepreneurs and diversity.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Frankston Foundry | The Frankston Foundry | $154,500 | The Frankston Foundry was launched in 2016 to provide a co-working space and startup incubator for entrepreneurs and technical professionals across the bayside and Mornington Peninsula region. It is committed to actively connect within Victoria’s startup ecosystem by facilitating networks between its regional entrepreneurs and the Melbourne sector. In 2017, the Frankston Foundry will hire a dedicated community manager role, and develop a program of events, including an annual hackathon, to turbo charge innovation on the Peninsula. |
| #SheHacks Victoria | Girl Geek Academy | $300,000 | Girl Geek Academy is a global movement encouraging women to learn technology and create startups. Currently operating in Australia and the United States, Girl Geek Academy is committed to increase inclusion and greater representation of women and female founders in the startup ecosystem. In 2017, Girl Geek Academy will present #SheHacks Victoria – a high profile hackathon event and startup competition for over 200 women. With a focus on University students, the first Victorian statewide program will offer participants the opportunity to attend bootcamps in Melbourne, Warrnambool, Warragul and Bendigo, join a startup team, build an MVP and receive ongoing mentoring. Finalists will showcase their startups at the #SheHacks Victoria Demo Day. |
| Startmate Melbourne | Startmate | $384,000 | Startmate is one of Australia’s most successful startup accelerator programs with a deep, experienced technology mentor network, and a proven track record in connecting Australian founders to global knowledge and capital. Startmate has chosen to open its program and establish its operations in Melbourne, and will accelerate 16 local tech companies over 2 years including a regional roadshow program that will connect with tech entrepreneurs in Geelong, Shepparton, Albury/Wodonga, Ballarat and the La Trobe Valley. They will create a Melbourne Startmate mentor network of 50+ of the most successful technology founders and executives who will invest in Victorian Startmate companies. |
| ACMI X CreativeTech Laboratory | ACMI | $398,000 | ACMI is the world’s busiest museum of the moving image and is highly regarded as an industry leader in the development and promotion of creative industries. In 2016, ACMI opened ACMI X – a co-working space for local digital creative professionals – and a world first for a major cultural institution. ACMI will now extend its co-working space to include a CreativeTech Laboratory to incubate and grow creative startups. The laboratory will support 8 new creative companies through mentoring and facilitating connections with industry and universities. The ACMI X CreativeTech Lab will give both ACMI X participants and the wider creative tech startups access to the Museum’s huge public audience to test, refine and promote projects, as well as showcase outcomes to the industry, investor and international audiences that visit ACMI. |
| Disability and Health Care Innovation Hub and Incubator | Impact Co | $500,000 | Impact Co is a Melbourne based social enterprise committed to innovation in the disability and health care sectors. It actively supports cultivating creative and disruptive solutions, and aims to drive greater diversity within the startup ecosystem including entrepreneurs with a disability. Impact Co will establish an incubation program, The Good Incubator, and launch an innovation hub that supports startups and entrepreneurs to drive change within the disability sector. The hub will bring together community, consumers, businesses, entrepreneurs and startups to work collaboratively while offering a place for people with a disability, chronic health condition and older people to cultivate their own business ideas. |
| Edupreneur 2017 | Education Changemakers | $87,000 | Melbourne-based Education Changemakers is behind Australia’s growing movement of educational entrepreneurship through teacher led innovation. It has gained international recognition for its Educhange Festival and thought leadership through its book Edupreneur – an examination of change and opportunity at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship. In 2017 Education Changemakers will present the inaugural nation-wide industry event, Edupreneur 2017, in Melbourne as part of the annual Educhange Festival. The three-day major industry event aims to inspire innovation in education and facilitate clustering of education startups. It will also run a regional roadshow of the event in Geelong, Shepparton, Warrnambool and Mildura. |
| Outcome-Hub | Outcome.Life | $94,510 | Outcome.life is a Melbourne based organisation focused on assisting Internationals transitioning from study to the professional workforce in Victoria. Outcome.life has established a co-working space, Outcome-Hub and in 2017 it will expand this hub to include an incubator that will support international student entrepreneurs. The hub will also match students interested in working in startups in internships at Victorian based startups through an online portal. A comprehensive events program will support the hub and inspire more internationals to get involved in the startup ecosystem. |
Grants for scale, reach and impact
Opened: Monday, 11 April 2016
Closed: Friday, 6 May 2016
Victoria’s startup community received a $6.5 million boost, with the first round of LaunchVic grants supporting 18 projects across the state.
Projects funded in this round range from large ideas for startup hubs, incubators and accelerators, to smaller ideas that would enable established organisations to increase their scale, reach and impact.
The large ideas were designed for a small number of sizable proposals from both new and existing organisations that significantly enhance Victoria’s startup ecosystem (rather than startups themselves).
We encouraged applications for smaller initiatives or projects that build startup infrastructure in underdeveloped areas like, regional locations, social entrepreneurs and diversity.
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Funding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Sparks | RMIT University | $100,000 | Bright Sparks is a leadership program to inspire, connect and prepare the next generation of female entrepreneurs in Victoria. Female students, alumni and staff at RMIT will be given a head start in business through a network of Australian and international mentors and an intensive leadership program in San Francisco. |
| Digital Marketing Makerspace | Western BACE | $50,000 | The only combined co-working space and business accelerator in Western Melbourne’s Growth Corridor will receive funding to create the “Digital BACE marketing makerspace”. Local startups will be given expert support to use 3D printing, virtual reality software, computers and video cameras for marketing activities. |
| Employment based social enterprise pipeline | Social Traders | $100,000 | Focusing on jobs for people facing barriers to work – in Melbourne, Traralgon and Wangaratta – this program will strengthen the pipeline of accelerator-ready social enterprise ideas through workshops, networking events, clinics and pitch fests targeting women, youth and multi-cultural groups. |
| Fintech Melbourne | Fintech Melbourne | $30,000 | Fintech Melbourne is a community run organisation for the benefit of the Victorian fintech community. It is Australia’s largest fintech community with 1800 members and provides tremendous value and support to the local ecosystem. This has all been accomplished through volunteer efforts but due to the scale of events, support is required to make Fintech Melbourne sustainable in the long term. |
| Launch Clubs | The Foundation for Young Australians | $75,000 | Launch Clubs aims to harness the energy and passion of young Victorians and build a network of local hubs, based in regional communities, where young people develop the skills and capabilities to test and launch their own enterprises. There is an urgent and vital need to support young people in regional Victoria to develop entrepreneurial skills that can open pathways to self-employment, job creation and the revitalisation of regional economies. Launch Clubs will be trialed in Bendigo and Traralgon and is designed so the model can be scaled State-wide. |
| Lemonade Stand: startups for kids | Collective Campus | $100,000 | Lemonade Stand is a two-day business building and entrepreneur program for 9-12 year olds, currently run during school holidays. LaunchVic funding will help expand the program into schools and online, significantly increasing the scale and reach of the program and inspiring a new generation of young entrepreneurs. |
| Young Entrepreneurs Mentoring Scheme | iGen Foundation | $70,000 | Your Mentor pilot provides 15-30 year olds with entrepreneurial skills and knowledge as well as the networks to help them unlock doors to new business opportunities. |
| A world class tech and startup destination | Convenory Campus | $200,000 | Convenory Campus aims to build a world class tech and startup destination featuring share-laboratories, conference facilities, hardware assembly, on-demand childcare and co-working zones. LaunchVic funding will lay the foundation for the Convenory team to bring their vision to reality. |
| Australian Sports Technologies Network | Australian Sports Technologies Network Ltd | $280,000 | Melbourne is a world leader in sport – now the aim is to make Melbourne the world leader in sports technology. LaunchVic funding will enable an entrepreneur-in-residence – supporting 15-20 sports tech startups over a two year period – as well as development of a best practice playbook and hosting of a World Championships for Sports Analytics. |
| CyRise Cyber Security Accelerator | Dimension Data & Deakin University | $450,000 | Dimension Data and Deakin University will set up a cyber security accelerator to boost the development of unique cyber security solutions and intellectual property. The program will offer unique connections to corporate Australia for cyber security startups and have links to Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus. |
| FAB9 Makerspace | FAB9 | $1,000,000 | FAB9 is a makerspace purpose-built so founders can access the training, tools and prototyping equipment needed to turn ideas into physical realities. FAB9 is made up of five distinct labs under one roof, including a Timber shop, a Digital Fabrication lab, a CNC lab, an Electronics lab and a Metal shop. Each lab is designed for working with different materials and making processes. |
| Harnessing the experienced economy | Fifth Institute | $200,000 | Startups aren’t just for the young. The Fifth Institute aims to lift the number and success rate of startups emerging from the experienced economy. This will tap into the emergence of ‘seniorpreneurs” as the fastest growing segment of new business owners in Australia. |
| Launching agtech startups | Rocket Seeder | $675,000 | A startup accelerator program focusing on supporting innovation in agricultural technology, Rocket Seeder will support motivated agtech entrepreneurs with a comprehensive coaching program and will connect them with mentors, industry partners, and investors. Linking city and country, there will be a Melbourne-based hub with programs initially in Shepparton, Sale, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Colac, Horsham, Wodonga, Mildura and Warrnambool. |
| Regional Accelerator Program | La Trobe University | $1,000,000 | A regional accelerator program, led by La Trobe University and including Federation and Deakin Universities, will harness the best and brightest minds of regional Victoria to boost the economy and agricultural jobs. Participants will have access to funding, office space, structured mentoring programs, networking and local, national and international pitching opportunities. |
| Runway | Runway | $1,250,000 | This major startup initiative in Geelong will act as a catalyst for innovation in the region, creating new businesses and jobs through the provision of mentoring, networks, training and access to venture capital. Its objective is to launch a startup culture in Geelong that will establish the city as a global centre for innovation and entrepreneurship. |
| Startupbootcamp Energy Australia | Startupbootcamp | $600,000 | Startupbootcamp, the world-renowned accelerator network has received LaunchVic funding to develop and scale startups innovating and disrupting the Energy sector. Startupbootcamp accelerator programs offer startups access to a global investor and mentor network, which will encourage companies to look to Melbourne for solving problems in Energy Efficiency, Energy Independence, Digitisation and Analytics. |
| Fintech Ecosystem | Fintech | $300,000 | LaunchVic has entered into an exclusive partner arrangement with FinTech Australia to host the inaugural FinTech Australia conference in Melbourne in November this year. This will be the largest gathering of domestic and international FinTech players in the country and will be a major boost for the local community. In addition, LaunchVic in partnership with the Victorian Government and the FinTech community, will soon be developing a FinTech strategy to guide the development of, and investment in, the FinTech ecosystem in Victoria. |
| Startup Victoria | Startup Victoria | $300,000 | LaunchVic has partnered with Startup Victoria to deliver two key projects for the Victorian startup community. The first involves developing a digital platform that will be a single source for the Victorian startup ecosystem to find information about events, jobs and funding opportunities. Startup Victoria will also undertake extensive mapping of the ecosystem providing deeper insights into the current state of the ecosystem and how we should direct our efforts to stimulate growth. |
Refunding
Grants for Refunding High-Performing Recipients
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Project type | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| InternMatch – Marketing program to reach more Victorian Startups | Outcome.Life | Mentoring | $40,000 |
| Elevate Ð Taking Hardware from Concept to Commercialisation | Western BACE | Masterclasses Workshops | $100,000 |
| #SheHacks Ð Building Community Statewide | Girl Geek Academy | Events | $250,000 |
| Supporting the Peninsula Startup Community | Frankston Foundry | Events | $100,000 |
| Startmate Melbourne Accelerator Pitch Coaching | Startmate | Accelerator Pitch Coaching Australia’s Biggest Office Hours | $640,000 |
| ASTN SportsTech Accelerator | ASTN | Accelerator | $350,000 |
| Startupbootcamp Sports & EventTech Accelerator | Startupbootcamp | Accelerator | $1,500,000 |
| Backing more Victorian female founders | Springboard Enterprises Australia (SBE) | (Business) Accelerator | $300,000 |
| ASTN SportsTech Accelerator | ASTN | Accelerator | $414,000 |
| Startmate Victorian Accelerator | Startmate | Accelerator | $583,635 |
| Australian Medical Angels (Victorian Branch) | Australian Medical Angels | Angel Network | $300,000 |
| MedTech Actuator – Scale-up and expansion | MedTech Actuator | Accelerator Other | $2,400,000 |
| VC Catalyst (VCC) | Ormond College (Wade Institute) | Other | $1,600,000 |
Grants for Refunding Accelerators
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Project type | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backing more Victorian female founders | Springboard Enterprises Australia (SBE) | Accelerator | $300,000 |
| ASTN SportsTech Accelerator | ASTN | Accelerator | $414,000 |
| Startmate Victorian Accelerator | Startmate | Accelerator | $583,635 |
Other Grants
Other Grants Recipients
Funding Recipients
| Project | Organisation | Project type | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| JobHack | JobHack | Online Education Online Platform | $50,000 |
| Founder Education: Pitch Workshops | Startmate | Workshops | $109,640 |
| Online Investor Education Program | Scale Investors | Other | $250,000 |
| That Startup Show Seasons & That Startup Show Studio | That Startup Show | Other | $1,100,000 |
| StartupVic Startup Success Series | Startup Victoria | Online Webinars | $225,000 |
| Growing the Scale Investors Angel Network | Scale Investors | Other | $300,000 |
| Wade Institute Investor Education | Ormond College (Wade Institute) | Other | $2,100,000 |
| Boab AI Scaleup Accelerator | Boab AI | Accelerator | $1,500,000 |
| Startupbootcamp EnergyNext Program | Startupbootcamp | Pre-Accelerator Accelerator Hub (Scaling Startups) | $250,000 |
| Australia’s first VC Fund of Funds with a focus on secondaries | Advance VC | Other | $300,000 |