Grants - LaunchVic

Grants

Funding the startup infrastructure

LaunchVic drives the startup ecosystem by investing in organisations (service providers) that will deliver quality programs to support Victorian startups and investors.

We also partner with other departments and agencies to offer direct grants to founders in priority sectors.

If you have a question regarding LaunchVic funding, send us an enquiry using the form below.

Grants for Startups

MedTech Market Growth Program

Supporting Scaling Medtech startups to accelerate their pathways to market 

Overview

The MedTech Market Growth Program will provide $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. 

Delivered through a collaboration between the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre and LaunchVic, the new program will support Victorian medtech scaleups and startups to turn innovative ideas into real-life healthcare solutions. 

Timings for this grant round:

Round 1

  • Round launched: Wednesday 21 February 2024
  • Information Session: Thursday 7 March 2024 2pm – 3pm via Zoom webinar. Watch the recording.
  • Round Closes: Monday 8 April 5pm (AEDT)
  • Communications: To unsuccessful and applicants recommended for funding early May 2024
  • Contracting: contract execution with recipients expected early May 2024
  • Announcement: an announcement will follow once contracts are executed

Round 2

  • Round launched: Tuesday 9 April 2024
  • Round Closes: Monday 6 May 2024 5pm (AEDT)
  • Communications: To unsuccessful and applicants recommended for funding early June 2024
  • Contracting: contract execution with recipients expected early June 2024
  • Announcement: an announcement will follow once contracts are executed

View the Program Guidelines

Read the FAQs

Watch the Information Session

Apply Online

AGTECH GRANTS PROGRAM

Supporting Early-Stage AgTech Startups 

$50,000 grants for AgTech founders.

Timings for this grant round:

Grant Program launched:21 February 2023
Information Session:Thursday 2 March 2023 View the info session webinar
Committee review dates:From May 1 2023
From July 1 2023
From September 1 2023
From November 1 2023
From January 1 2024
From March 1 2024
From May 1 2024
Assessment begins:        May 2023
Assessment timeline:Approximately 3 weeks
Closes:When all funds are fully allocated, or by June 30 2024
Announcement:Via the LaunchVic website

Overview

LaunchVic has again 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 grant will provide access to business development services that will enable founders to access the best possible support and advice to build their businesses, grow jobs and support Victoria’s economic growth.    

View the Program Guidelines (v2.3 reissued 6 Dec 2023)

Watch the Information Session

Read our FAQs

Apply Online 

 

View A Sample Contract

Grants for Program Providers

Grants for Targeted Pre-accelerator Programs

Supporting early-stage startup entrepreneurs and the creation of new Victorian startups. 

Overview

LaunchVic’s support for early-stage startup founders continues with a new grants round for pre-accelerator programs that are sector specific or for underrepresented groups.

Grants of up to $400,000 are available to run programs that provide aspiring entrepreneurs with advice, support and networks to test out their startup ideas and find potential customers.

Focus areas for the programs may include a specific industry (eg. MedTech, ClimateTech), technology (eg. AI) or social demographic (eg. Under-represented founders).

Timings for this grant round:

Stage 1

  • Round launched: 4 March 2024
  • Information Session: Tuesday 19 March 2024 by Zoom webinar
  • Round Closes:  Monday 8 April 2024 10am (AEST)
  • Communications: to unsuccessful and applicants moving to Stage 2 by 17 April 2024

Stage 2

  • Q&A Session:  Monday 29 or Tuesday 30 April 2024
  • Communications: to unsuccessful and applicants moving to the next stage mid May
  • Contracting: Contract execution with recipients expected in May 2024
  • Announcement: An announcement will follow once contracts are executed

View the Program Guidelines

Register for the Information Session

Media Release

Apply Online

Grants for Investors

Grants for Specialised Angel Networks

Catalysing early-stage startup investment

Overview

LaunchVic has announced new grants of up to $300,000 to fund the establishment of specialised angel networks that will invest in pre-seed and seed rounds of Victorian startups.

The new angel groups must demonstrate a specific investment focus that could be by way of an industry vertical or type of technology.

Timing

Stage 1

  • Round launched: 4 March 2024
  • Information Session: Wednesday 27 March 2024 by Zoom webinar
  • Round Closes:  Thursday 11 April 2024 10am (AEST)
  • Communications: to unsuccessful and applicants moving to Stage 2 by 22 April 2024

Stage 2

  • Q&A Session: Wednesday 1 May 2024
  • Communications: to unsuccessful and applicants moving to the next stage mid May
  • Contracting: Contract execution with recipients expected in May 2024
  • Announcement: An announcement will follow once contracts are executed

View the Program Guidelines

Register for the Information Session

Apply Online

VC SUPPORT PROGRAM

Funding for new venture capital funds

$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.

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.

Timings for this grant round:

Round 1

  • Round launched: 30 October 2023
  • Information Session: Wednesday 15 November 2023 12pm – 1pm. Watch the recording.
  • Round Closes: Monday 27 November 10am (AEDT)
  • Communications: to unsuccessful and applicants recommended for funding 11 December 2023.
  • Contracting: contract execution with recipients expected December 2023/January 2024.
  • Announcement: an announcement will follow once contracts are executed.

Round 2

  • Round opened: 28 November 2023
  • Round Closes: Friday 29 March 2024 10am (AEDT)
  • Communications: to unsuccessful and applicants recommended for funding by 13 May 2024.
  • Contracting: contract execution with recipients expected May/June 2024.
  • Announcement: an announcement will follow once contracts are executed.

View the Program Guidelines (v1.2 reissued 16 February)

Read our FAQs

Watch the Information Session

Apply Online 

International Intern Grants

Supporting emerging VC fund managers 

Grants of up to $20,000 to enable emerging VC Fund Managers working at Victorian early-stage VC funds to travel internationally to undertake internships at global VC funds.

Overview

The internships will support emerging VC Fund Managers to develop their fund management skills and networks, and to build connections between local VC and global VC funds. This will help build the capabilities and ensure the competitiveness of the Victorian early-stage VC sector.

LaunchVic is committed to ensuring that the Victorian startup ecosystem reflects the rich diversity of the Victorian community. We encourage applications from emerging managers from diverse backgrounds.

View the Program Guidelines

Read our FAQs

Watch the Information Session

Apply Online 

Unsolicited Proposals

In special circumstances, LaunchVic may accept unsolicited proposals for grants outside of its communicated grant rounds or its refunding of high-performing programs.

While we do not fund startups directly via unsolicited proposals, the programs we fund aim to provide the services needed to assist early-stage and scaling startups through their journey.

Any proposal received must meet the following principles:

  • Alignment with strategy: The proposal is strongly aligned with the LaunchVic Strategy.
  • Uniqueness: The applicant is uniquely placed to deliver the proposal.
  • Expertise: The applicant possesses the level of professional expertise required to deliver a successful outcome with minimal risk of failure.
  • Impact: The applicant has described an excellent program that has a genuine need by the target audience and will impact and benefit the Victorian startup ecosystem.
  • Need for funding: There is a credible need for LaunchVic funding.
  • Value for money: The program must be value for money.
  • Sustainability: The program has a pathway to sustainability, either by creating self-sufficiency or through supporting the startup ecosystem to be more sustainable.

Any proposal that does not meet all of these criteria will not be reviewed.

LaunchVic will endeavour to review all unsolicited proposals, and provide feedback, but is under no obligation to do so.

Any proposal considered appropriate for funding will undergo further assessment and due diligence in accordance with the process for all grants awarded by LaunchVic.

Any approved applicants must also undergo due diligence by LaunchVic.

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