LaunchVic supports a globally recognised, thriving startup culture, and supports entrepreneurs to develop and grow businesses.
Growing Victoria’s Startup Community
Strategic Focus 2017-2019
LaunchVic has outlined their strategic focus for the future.
$60 million invested over 4 years into the development of Victoria’s startup ecosystem.
Our vision is for Victoria to be the number one destination for startups and entrepreneurs in Australia.
Our mission
Create tomorrow’s growth and prosperity, today, by accelerating connections between people and ideas across business and society, to create the innovations, technologies, goods, services and jobs of tomorrow.
What we do
LaunchVic works in partnership with entrepreneurs, industry, business, the community and our educational institutions to strengthen Victoria’s entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem.
Our focus is to invest in the infrastructure of Victoria’s startup ecosystem to:
Increase Scale
More people, firms and entrepreneurial activity.
Improve Capability
Better, more capable startups and entrepreneurs.
Over the next four years LaunchVic will focus on a comprehensive program, including:
Support
Expanding the capacity of accelerators and infrastructure in Victoria.
Mentoring
Entrepreneur mentoring, scholarships and corporate placement programs.
Access
Helping entrepreneurs find ways to better navigate the system.
Visibility
Events and marketing campaigns to profile Victoria’s startups locally, and ecosystem internationally.
Overseas Talent
Attracting high profile entrepreneurs and global thought leaders to Victoria.
Government Policy
Advocacy around Commonwealth legislation and regulation affecting startups and entrepreneurial enterprises.
Our key priorities
+ Working collaboratively with the startup community to ensure the ecosystem responds to what entrepreneurs, financiers and key players in the system actually need and want.
+ Funding grants to build the startup ecosystem’s infrastructure including a network of incubators and accelerators to help transform great ideas into viable startups.
+ Working with others to build momentum, connections, mentoring, and ambassadorial relationships in and beyond our startup community — showcasing Melbourne to the world, and bringing the best of the world to Melbourne.
+ Building entrepreneurial skills.
+ Pursuing and identifying immediate opportunities in Victoria’s high growth industry sectors.
Victoria — a global centre for startups
Victoria has all the ingredients to become a global centre for startups.
+ We have a dynamic and thriving startup ecosystem;
+ We are known for our creative excellence and high performing education system; and
+ Melbourne is the world’s most liveable city for five years running.
The Australian tech startup sector alone has the potential to contribute an estimated $109 billion, or 4% of GDP. [1]
[1] “The startup economy: How to support tech startups and accelerate Australian innovation” 2013 PwC.
Victoria’s strong track record
Victoria has a vibrant ecosystem for startups and has runs on the board in transforming startups into high growth firms — already three ‘unicorns’ have emerged (RealEstate.com.au, Seek.com.au, and CarSales.com.au), each valued at more than $1 billion — more than any other State in Australia.
About LaunchVic
The Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, Philip Dalidakis announced the creation of LaunchVic to be an independent company that will accelerate startups, drive new ideas and create jobs in Victoria.
Philip Dalidakis MP
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade
Elana Rubin
Deputy Chair LaunchVic
Dr. Kate Cornick
CEO LaunchVic
Government’s commitment
The Victorian Government made an election commitment to establish a new startup entity that would support entrepreneurs to develop and grow businesses.
Established as an independent company, LaunchVic will have access to $60 million over the next 4 years.
LaunchVic Round Three Funding Program is now closed.
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