Grants for Australian Startups
Building a startup in Australia requires more than just resilience and a great idea. It also requires capital. Whether you're investing in R&D, launching a new product, or navigating a competitive market, financial support can be the key to accelerating your growth.
To support innovation and small business growth, the Australian government offers a range of grants tailored for startup businesses. We've compiled a comprehensive guide to the top funding opportunities available, focusing on tech startups across Australia.
What is a Startup Grant?
A startup grant is a sum of money for business support that is awarded to businesses that meet the eligibility criteria to support their idea or growth initiatives. These funds are not usually provided as a loan, and therefore repayment is not required. However, this is not free money in the sense that recipients of the funding opportunities are often required to detail in their submission how the funds will be spent and demonstrate the grant's impact on their business.
Nationwide Grants
Industry Growth Program
The Industry Growth Program provides substantial funding and support to help innovative startups and SMEs commercialise their projects and scale operations.
Application Criteria
To be eligible for the Industry Growth Program, applicants must:
- Have received an Industry Growth Program Advisory Service report
- Be a high-growth SME or innovative startup
- Have a project with strong commercial potential in a priority industry
What you get
Funding of up to $5 million, which can be used for:
- Commercialisation activities
- Scaling operations
- Market expansion efforts
Learn more about the Industry Growth Program
CSIRO Kick-Start Program
The CSIRO Kick-Start Program provides matched funding to help startups and small businesses access CSIRO's expertise and capabilities for R&D activities.
Application Criteria
To be eligible for the CSIRO Kick-Start Program, applicants must:
- Be an Australian startup or SME
- Less than $10M in annual turnover or operating expenditure or less than 3 years trading
What you get
Funding of $10,000 to $50,000 in matched support to access CSIRO expertise.
This funding can be applied towards:
- Collaborative R&D to develop new products, processes or services
- Eligible on-costs associated with the R&D engagement
Learn more about the CSIRO Kick-Start Program
R&D Tax Incentive
The R&D Tax Incentive provides tax offsets for eligible companies undertaking qualifying R&D in Australia.
Application Criteria
For eligibility of the R&D Tax Incentive, applicants must:
- Be an Australian R&D entity and register activities with AusIndustry each income year
- Spend at least $20,000 on eligible R&D (unless using an RSP)
- Conduct eligible core/supporting R&D activities
What you get
Tax offsets that reduce the net cost of eligible R&D:
- 43.5% refundable - aggregated turnover under $20m (company tax rate + 18.5 pp)
- 38.5% non-refundable - turnover $20m+ at 0–2% R&D intensity (company tax rate + 8.5 pp)
- 46.5% non-refundable - turnover $20m+ above 2% R&D intensity (company tax rate + 16.5 pp)
- Eligible spend: R&D wages, prototyping, experimental activities
Learn more about the R&D Tax Incentive
AgriFutures Australia RD&E
The AgriFutures Australia RD&E fund supports projects in the agriculture sector that aim to improve sustainability and innovation.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be involved in agriculture or agribusiness
- Focus on research, development, or extension activities
What you get
Funding that varies by project scope to deliver RD&E outcomes in agriculture.
This grant can be used for:
- Research to improve on-farm practices and productivity
- Development and extension of new technologies and approaches
Learn more about AgriFutures Australia RD&E
New South Wales Grants
MVP Ventures Program
Supports NSW startups and scaleups to develop and commercialise MVPs (minimum viable products). Round timing varies; check current status before applying.
Application Criteria
To be eligible for the MVP Ventures Program, applicants must:
- Be a NSW-based business
- Have a new product, service or technology with a clear path to market
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
Learn more about the MVP Ventures Program
Victoria Grants
Startup Grant – Illumina
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.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a startup based in Melbourne
- Focus on genomics or related areas
What you get
In-kind support for genomics innovation, including:
- Research and development in genomics
- Commercialisation of genomics-based solutions
- Mentorship and connections
Learn more about Illumiana’s Startup Grant
Victorian Production Fund – Games (VicScreen)
Supports Victorian studios to develop, produce and release games.
Application Criteria
- To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a Victorian studio or developer
- Have a project with a plan for production and release
What you get
- Funding of up to $500,000 to develop, produce and release games, including:
- Development and production activity
- Marketing and release support
Learn more about VicScreen’s Games funding
City of Melbourne – Business & Social Enterprise Grants
Supports businesses and social enterprises operating in the municipality.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Operate within City of Melbourne
- Meet stream-specific criteria (innovation, sustainability, impact)
What you get
Funding that varies by stream and round to support local businesses.
This funding can be used for:
- New products or services
- Sustainability, impact and growth initiatives
- Activities that improve community wellbeing
Learn more about the Small Business & Social Enterprise Grants
Queensland Grants
Ignite Ideas Fund (QLD)
The Ignite Ideas Fund is designed to help Queensland-based businesses commercialise innovative products and services.
Application Criteria
To be eligible for the Ignite Ideas Fund, applicants must:
- Be a Queensland-based SME
- Be working on a project with strong commercial potential
What you get
Funding of up to $200,000.
This grant can be applied towards:
- Prototyping and product development
- Scaling innovative products for broader market entry
Learn more about the Ignite Ideas Fund
Female Founders Co-Investment Fund (QLD)
Matched co-investment for women-founded and led innovation-driven enterprises raising new capital in Queensland. Grants are provisionally approved and paid once the raise is secured.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be headquartered in Queensland, ABN active and GST-registered
- Be ≥51% female-owned and female-led in a primary executive role (≥6 months)
- Have ≤50 FTE (including related entities)
- Have raised ≤$500k to date and be seeking a new round from an eligible lead investor
What you get
Matched co-investment of $50,000–$200,000 to support a qualifying capital raise.
This grant can be applied towards:
- Closing a qualifying equity round (funds paid post-raise; 180 days from provisional approval)
- Growth and commercialisation activities in your investment plan
Learn more about the Female Founders Co-Investment Fund
Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships
These fellowships provide funding to researchers working with industry to tackle Queensland’s key challenges.
Application Criteria
- Be a Queensland-based researcher or industry partner
- Collaborate on innovative solutions in priority industries
What you get
Funding of up to $300,000 over three years for an industry-partnered research project.
This grant can be applied towards:
- Delivering a Queensland industry collaboration with a defined research plan
- Prototyping, testing and validation to translate outcomes into practice
Learn more about Advance Queensland Fellowships
Western Australia Grants
Innovation Booster Grant (IBG)
The Innovation Booster Grant helps WA-based startups and small businesses commercialise innovative ideas and projects.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a WA-based startup or small business
- Have an innovative project with commercial potential
What you get
Funding of up to $40,000, which can be used for:
- Research and product development
- Technology transfer and intellectual property
- Commercialisation support services
Learn more about the Innovation Booster Grant
Commercialisation Bridge Grant (CBG) – Biomedical
Matching grants to help WA biomedical innovators bridge from a commercialised innovation to a sustainable, scalable business. Categories include Product Readiness, Team Readiness, IP Readiness and Commercialisation Readiness.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a WA-based business in the biomedical sector
- Apply under a published category (Product, Team, IP or Commercialisation readiness)
- Provide a 50:50 cash co-contribution and deliver within 12 months
What you get
Matched funding of $50,000–$200,000 to bridge biomedical innovations toward scale, including:
- A 50:50 cash match and delivery within 12 months
- Staged payments (50% upfront, 25% mid-project, 25% on acquittal)
- Activity under Product, Team, IP or Commercialisation readiness categories (per round guide)
Learn more about the Commercialisation Bridge Grant
X-TEND WA Program
The X-TEND WA program supports projects that deliver education and capability-building programs for innovators and investors.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be capable of delivering educational programs in Western Australia
- Focus on supporting regional, indigenous, or female founders
What you get
Funding of up to $150,000 for developing and delivering educational programs.
This grant can be applied towards:
- Corporate or investor education
- Regional founder initiatives
Learn more about the X-TEND WA Program
Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants
The RED Grants program is designed to stimulate economic growth and job creation in regional WA.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Operate a business or project in regional Western Australia
- Propose a project that contributes to economic development and job creation
What you get
Up to $250,000 per project, which can be used for:
- Projects that increase or sustain jobs
- Industry expansion or diversification
- Skills development and capability building
Learn more about the RED Grants
South Australia Grants
Seed-Start Grant
Seed-Start, delivered via SA’s Research and Innovation Fund (RIF), provides matched funding for early-stage startups.
Application Criteria
To be eligible for the Seed-Start Grant, applicants must:
- Be an early-stage startup located in South Australia
- Demonstrate potential for significant economic impact
What you get
Matched funding of $50,000 to $500,000.
This grant can be used for:
- Scaling innovative business models
- Commercialising new products or services
Learn more about the Seed-Start Grant
Research, Commercialisation and Startup Fund (RCSF)
The RCSF supports South Australian entrepreneurs, researchers, and businesses to accelerate commercialisation and startup activity.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be based in South Australia
- Have a project that leads to research commercialisation or startup growth
What you get
Funding amounts vary, supporting:
- Commercialisation of research
- Startup establishment and growth
Australian Capital Territory Grants
Innovation Connect Grants (ICON)
The Innovation Connect Grants help Canberra-based startups commercialise innovative ideas.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a startup based in the ACT
- Demonstrate a strong commercialisation plan for their innovation
What you get
Funding of $10,000 to $30,000.
This funding can be used for:
- Prototyping and product development
- Taking innovations to market
Learn more about the Innovation Connect Grants
Social Enterprise Grant Program
The Social Enterprise Grant Program supports social enterprises in the ACT to expand their operations and enhance their impact.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a social enterprise based in the ACT
- Demonstrate a commitment to addressing social, cultural, or environmental challenges
- Have a clear plan for scaling their impact
What you get
Funding of up to $15,000 to support:
- Business planning and operational development
- Marketing, promotion, and community outreach
- Activities to increase the enterprise's capacity and impact
Learn more about the Social Enterprise Grant Program
Northern Territory Grants
Business Innovation Program (BIP)
The Business Innovation Program supports NT-based startups and entrepreneurs in developing and commercialising innovative concepts.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a startup or entrepreneur based in the Northern Territory
- Have an innovative idea with commercial potential
What you get
The program offers:
- Access to mentoring support to evaluate the potential of your innovation
- Financial assistance to develop a viable prototype
- Support in determining the market value of your product
Learn more about the Business Innovation Program
Aboriginal Business Development Program
This program supports First Nations-owned businesses in the Northern Territory to grow and create sustainable employment opportunities.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be an Aboriginal-owned business based in the Northern Territory
- Have a clear business plan and demonstrate growth potential
What you get
Funding of up to $30,000.
This funding can be used for:
- Business planning and development
- Marketing and operational improvements
Learn more about the Aboriginal Business Development Program
Business Growth Program
The Business Growth Program provides funding for NT businesses to access professional advice and services aimed at improving performance, sustainability, and profitability.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Operate a small to medium-sized business in the Northern Territory
- Have an annual turnover of more than $75,000 but less than $10 million
What you get
Funding of up to $10,000 (50/50 co-contribution).
This funding can be used for:
- Business planning and strategy development
- Financial management and operational improvements
Learn more about the Business Growth Program
Pros & Cons of Startup Grants
Startup grants offer valuable financial support to emerging businesses, but they come with advantages and challenges, like any funding option. Understanding these can help you navigate the decision-making process more effectively.
Other Government Support for Startups
Australia's government agencies support startups beyond growth grant opportunities, offering programs like the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) from Austrade. This program helps businesses expand into international markets by reimbursing export-related expenses. Keep an eye out for its next grant funding round to take advantage of this opportunity.
These programs collectively aim to enhance Australian startups' digital capabilities, international reach, and environmental sustainability, offering a holistic support system for business growth and innovation. There is no precise template for which funding avenues are right for your business, and it is important to explore many options to find the right fit.
Landing Pads Program
The Landing Pads Program helps Australian startups expand globally by providing access to coworking spaces, mentors, and networking opportunities in five international ecosystems: San Francisco, Shanghai, Tel Aviv, Berlin, and Singapore. It supports startups in connecting with potential customers and investors to scale internationally.
Learn more about the Landing Pads Program
Digital Solutions – Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS)
Run by the Australian Government, ASBAS provides low-cost, high-quality advice to small businesses on a range of digital topics, including website development, social media marketing, and cybersecurity.
General Australian Business Advice
Business.gov.au offers a range of tools and expert advice for startups and small businesses, including registering trademarks, understanding tax obligations, and identifying funding opportunities.
Additional Funding Options
While Australia's government grants offer a solid foundation for funding assistance programs across many types of businesses, most startups will also need to explore additional financial avenues at some point in their journey.
Equity Financing
For startups ready to scale, equity financing presents a path to secure significant investment in exchange for a share of ownership. Not just funds essential for growth, equity financing often also comes with expertise, mentorship, and networks that can propel a business forward.
If you’re considering equity financing for your startup, take a look at these resources:
- Investor Directory: Explore leading investment groups fuelling Australia's tech startups with Edition's Investor Directory.
- Venture Capital Guide: Navigate venture capital with our comprehensive guide, from angel investors and accelerators to venture capital funds.
- Top Venture Capital Firms: Identify potential partners among Australia's leading VC firms.
- Venture Studios: Discover how venture studios reinvent startup development by reading Edition's guide.
Debt Financing
Debt financing offers an alternative that can be less dilutive than equity options. Providers like Prospa and Mighty Partners offer small business loans tailored to startups' unique needs, enabling them to grow without giving up equity.
At Edition, we specialise in bringing visionary ideas to life. Whether you're a business owner navigating technology startup grants and small business grants or a co-founder seeking venture capital, our strategic design and development expertise is tailored for companies eager to make a difference, let’s talk.
