Learn more about Victoria’s $91 billion startup sector.
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Connect with a wide range of LaunchVic programs fuelling the startup state.
Discover grant opportunities to grow startup activity in Victoria.
LaunchVic’s investments are set to unlock up to $280 million for the Victorian early-stage capital market by 2024. Learn more about our work growing Victoria’s investor community.
Victoria is Australia’s largest agricultural producer, but despite our reputation as the nation’s food bowl, our AgTech sector remains small and underdeveloped.
To help more Ag entrepreneurs to start up, LaunchVic announced a partnership with Agriculture Victoria in September 2021 to boost the number of Victorian AgTech startups and build entrepreneurial culture and capability in this crucial sector.
In February 2022, we funded three world-class programs Farmers2Founders, Rocket Seeder and SproutX to run pre-accelerator programs, set to equip close to 500 aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills to turn an idea into a business.
In early 2023 we also announced two grant rounds to further develop the sector.
Now, we’re announcing the Hugh Victor McKay Fund, a new sidecar fund for Victorian AgTech startups.
With every dollar of funding to be matched by two dollars of private investment, the Hugh Victor McKay Fund will activate more than $3 million in total capital for founders building the future of on-farm productivity and sustainability.
Looking to grow your AgTech startup this year? Connect with a wide range of funded activity below.
Farmers2Founders
Founder
Rocket Seeder
SproutX
$50,000 grants are also available 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 covers 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.
The Hugh Victor McKay Fund is a new sidecar fund for Victorian AgTech startups run by LaunchVic with funding from Agriculture Victoria.
The fund will co-invest between $100,000-$200,000 into at least five early-stage AgTech startups over the next 12 months.