Grants
Explore government and private grants available to Australian startups.
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.
MVP Ventures Program
Supports NSW startups and scaleups to develop and commercialise MVPs (minimum viable products). Round timing varies; check current status before applying. What you get - $25,000–$50,000 in matched funding for eligible project costs. This funding can be used for: - Building and testing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) - Conducting market validation, testing and developing go-to-market strategies and scaling efforts
Good fit: NSW-headquartered startups/SMSMEs with innovative products progressing along TRL 3–9 needing prototyping/piloting support.
Illumina For Startups Grant
This is a private innovation programme (not a Victorian Government grant). Illumina’s Melbourne initiative offers grant resources and in-kind sequencing/lab support for genomics startups via its Illumina for Startups program. What you get In-kind support for genomics innovation, including: - Research and development in genomics - Commercialisation of genomics-based solutions - Mentorship and connections
Good fit: Early genomics/NGS tech founders needing sequencing access or proof-of-concept support.