CivVic Labs

How can we use technology to accelerate the transition to renewable energy?

In this challenge, LaunchVic and DEECA are on the lookout for innovative EnergyTech solutions that can help overcome critical barriers to Victoria’s energy transition while developing scalable business models with global potential.

The energy transition encompasses far more than technological shifts. It requires mass adoption of new technologies by everyday consumers and innovation in how we produce and distribute energy.

Therefore, this challenge will be split across two streams:

• Empowering People and Communities – encouraging households, small businesses and communities to adopt and manage renewable energy technologies by overcoming financial, technical, and behavioural barriers; and
• Powering the Grid of the Future – transforming how energy is produced, managed, stored and moved by rethinking systems, workforce, infrastructure, logistics, and coordination across the grid.

There are many unique challenges and opportunities associated with both streams. LaunchVic and DEECA acknowledge, however, that some solutions may fit under both headings – startups are encouraged to identify the stream with the closest alignment. Some potential solutions include:

Empowering People and Communities

• Simplifying electrification journeys;
• Bridging the knowledge gap between consumers and available energy technologies;
• Helping manage energy demand through energy efficiency, smart technologies and behavioural change;
• Ensuring vulnerable and underserved communities can participate in and benefit from the energy transition; and
• Improve the payback period for consumers for electrification and energy efficient appliances as well as using behind-the-meter assets like solar, batteries, EVs, and smart appliances.

Powering the Grid of the Future

• Improving the way grid supply and demand is balanced using better optimisation and forecasting of demand, supply and prices;
• Applications of artificial intelligence e.g. digital twin to simulate real world assets;
• Digitising and streamlining regulatory processes for large projects;
• Decreasing production costs and increasing the use of alternative energy carriers (bioenergy, green hydrogen);
• Increasing social licence for the energy transition, particularly for large-scale infrastructure projects;
• Workforce platforms that make it easier to employ, train and match workers with energy jobs; and
• New long-duration storage technologies (>8 hours).

The CivVic Labs EnergyTech Challenge welcomes solutions addressing any of these key opportunity areas or any other technology or solution that could accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

Read more in the Program Guidelines.

LaunchVic is seeking to admit 16 startups or startup entrepreneurs to the program across the two challenge streams (Empowering People and Communities & Powering the Grid of the Future). There is no fee for participation. Rather, participant teams will receive $10,000 equity-free funding on completion of the program.

The program is structured to cover topics such as lean startup, co-design, and hypothesis testing, delivered by startup experts. The program is designed to assist innovators in their solution design in the following ways:

• Access to world-class mentors and a cohort of top innovators to build a solution alongside;
• Access to community and stakeholder experts, with specific knowledge of energy industry, policy, and customer base; and
• The potential of promotional support from DEECA and LaunchVic highlighting innovative startup solutions.

At the conclusion of the program, a judging panel will select four startups to receive $35,000 in equity-free seed funding to further develop their solution.

Successful applicants are expected to attend the program in person for seven days of programming over 12 weeks and the Showcase Event (see Program Guidelines for full schedule) as well as commit to additional work outside of sessions to progress their ideas.

CivVic Labs is the perfect sandbox for aspiring or early-stage founders to build and test new solutions. All participants will be either idea stage or early-stage to ensure their journey is with like-minded entrepreneurs. We’re looking for ambitious founders who recognise the value of CivVic Labs to help accelerate their startup journey.

All CivVic Labs related enquiries can be directed to civvic@launchvic.org 

LaunchVic does not provide specific direction on how funding should be allocated. However, there will reporting requirements for the startups to demonstrate how funding is being allocated. All expectations surrounding the funding will be articulated in a contract between LaunchVic and the startup (separate from the contract signed for participating in the program).

Subject matter experts will cover a range of topics across both startup-building knowledge (such as pitching, customer insights, and business structures) and industry/policy knowledge.

Up to 10 Startups will be accepted into the program, each receiving $10,000 in seed funding per startup to develop their idea after the program is completed. 4 Startups will receive a further $35,000 in seed funding to build out their solution.

Startups participating in CivVic Labs will need to allocate time outside of the 12 weeks for orientation prior to the program starting, and in between sessions to iterate based on feedback they receive during sessions. You may also have the opportunity to participate in office hours outside the program days. The minimum suggested additional time to allocate is three hours per week.

We recommend that teams limit the number of attendees to 3, to maximise the learning opportunity for all participants.

CivVic Labs helps founders launch their idea, or go full time on their idea by providing seed-funding whilst building alongside subject matter experts, to fast track your problem solution fit. At the conclusion of the program 2 teams are awarded further seed funding. The ideal founder profile is someone who has an idea, all the way through to someone with a very early product in market. If that is you, and you have a strong interest in the challenge statement, then you are absolutely the right stage to apply and you will benefit from CivVic Labs.

CivVic Labs is designed to help passionate founders apply innovative thinking to some of the state’s most pressing challenges. There are 3 reasons you should launch your startup within the CivVic program:

Fast-track problem solution fit: CivVic brings together a network of both subject matter experts related to the challenge and startup experts;

Seed-funding: The program is completely free, and you will receive seed-funding to participate in the program. Multiple teams will receive further seed funding at the end of the program.

A proven model: Alumni startups like InternMatch and HAL Systems were developed within CivVic Labs, going on to to become thriving startups.

Each Challenge is held at a different venue, but generally they are in the Melbourne CBD or inner suburbs.

The exact application process may vary depending on the challenge requirements. Generally though the process has four stages that run over a two month period:

Expression of interest: Submit your details to register your interest in the program

Application stage: Complete an application form and short video

Interview stage: Submission is reviewed and an online interview is conducted to select the successful applicants

Contracting stage: Successful applicants are required to enter a contract with LaunchVic

You will need to attend all sessions including the final showcase event. You will also need to send an invoice at the conclusion of the program.

Each startup selected for CivVic Labs will receive a $10,000 grant. 4 Startups will receive a further $35,000 in seed funding to build out their solution.

No, the funding provided in CivVic Labs is equity-free. The money will be processed as a grant, with required milestones needing to be met to receive the funding.