Grants
Explore government and private grants available to Australian startups.
The Social Shifter Global Innovation Challenge
This is for young founders already building something with measurable social or environmental impact. Your work also needs to contribute to at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal. That opens the door to businesses and projects working in areas like: 🌱 Climate 🏥 Health 💧 Water 🌾 Agriculture 📚 Education ♿ Accessibility 💼 Economic mobility 🏘️ Community development 🤖 Impact technology ♻️ Sustainability And this isn't grant money by itself. Founders also gain access to: 🧠 Application support 🎤 Pitch coaching 🌐 Global founder community 🤝 Networking 💼 Additional fellowships and paid opportunities
UNICEF Venture Fund
The UNICEF Venture Fund provides up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding to early-stage startups developing open-source frontier technologies that can improve the lives of children. Beyond funding, selected companies receive 12 months of mentorship from UNICEF specialists and access to a global innovation ecosystem. Unlike a traditional accelerator, the Venture Fund is mission-driven and supports technologies with measurable social impact. Eligible startups must be registered in a UNICEF Programme Country, have a working prototype, and be willing to open-source the funded solution.
Good fit: Startups building AI, blockchain, data or other frontier technologies with clear social impact.
DIV Fund Grant
The DIV Fund provides milestone-based grants for innovations that can cost-effectively improve the lives of people in low- and middle-income countries and ultimately reach more than one million people. Funding is structured across three stages: up to US$200,000 for pilots, up to US$500,000 for testing and positioning for scale, and up to US$1.5 million for scaling. It supports businesses, social enterprises, nonprofits, universities and other organisations across sectors. Innovations must already be post-prototype and tested with real users; idea-stage projects are not eligible.
Good fit: Post-prototype founders with real-world usage and evidence of initial demand.
Industry Growth Program
Industry Growth Program The Industry Growth Program provides substantial funding and support to help innovative startups and SMEs commercialise their projects and scale operations. What you get Funding of up to $5 million, which can be used for: -Commercialisation activities - Scaling operations - Market expansion efforts
Good fit: Australian SMEs with innovative IP ready to commercialise or scale in National Reconstruction Fund priority areas.
Seed-Start Grant SA
Seed-Start, delivered via SA’s Research and Innovation Fund (RIF), provides matched funding for early-stage startups. Funding amounts vary, supporting: - Commercialisation of research - Startup establishment and growth
Good fit: South Australian early-stage startups incorporated in Australia with innovative products/services.
CSIRO Kick-Start
CSIRO Kick-Start provides matched funding for start-ups and small to medium enterprises to help access CSIRO's research expertise and capabilities to help grow your business. CSIRO's Kick-Start program helps start-ups and small businesses overcome some of these barriers to pursue R&D activities, by providing an end-to-end facilitation service, including: - help with articulating your research question - connecting businesses with relevant CSIRO researcher expertise and capability - think of us as you in-house R&D division - matched funding support to improve the affordability or expand the scope of R&D services.
Good fit: Australian start-ups/SMEs with innovative tech needing R&D support and external expertise.