Grants
LaunchVic offers grants for program providers and investor groups to establish in Victoria and help Victorian founders and their teams start, grow and scale startups. We also partner with other departments and agencies to offer direct grants to founders in priority sectors.
If you have a question regarding LaunchVic funding, send us an enquiry.
Sign up for LaunchVic’s newsletter to be notified about future opportunities, and view a full list of programs that startups can apply to on our programs page.
Open Grants
FOR STARTUPS
No grants currently available, please sign up to our newsletter for updates.
Other grants for Startups
For Programs
Startup Community Events EOI
Some of the world’s best startup ecosystems are built on strong communities, fostered by regular, inclusive events that bring together founders and talent.
LaunchVic is committed to supercharging a more connected and vibrant startup culture in Victoria by supporting grassroots initiatives where founders, talent, and the broader community can connect.
Overview
LaunchVic is inviting expressions of interest from groups interested in running a regular series of city events to help people access, navigate, and build new networks within our local startup ecosystem.
$200,000 funding is available over three years to support this activity.
Timings:
Expressions of Interest Open: Thursday 15 May
Expressions of Interest Close: Thursday 29 May 5PM (AEST)
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in a closed Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
A single grant to the successful party will be awarded by the end of June, with events expected to commence from August 2025.
Grants for University Pre-accelerators
Grants of up to $400,000 to establish new pre-accelerators that help university students and research teams launch their startups, with a requirement for 1:1 matched cash contribution from applicants.
Timings for this Grant Round:
Stage 1
- Round launched: Wednesday 26 February 2025
- Information Session: Thursday 13 March 2025 11am (AEDT) by webinar
- Round Closes: Thursday 22 May 2025 10am (AEST)
- Communications: to unsuccessful and shortlisted applicants by 4 June 2025
Stage 2
- Interviews: Tuesday 10 or Wednesday 11 June 2025
- Communications: to unsuccessful and applicants expected late June
- Contracting: Contract execution with recipients expected in mid-late June
- Announcement: An announcement will follow once contracts are executed
Overview
LaunchVic is seeking to fund the establishment of high-quality Pre-Accelerator Programs delivered by Victorian-based Universities to support aspiring startup entrepreneurs.
- The successfully funded University Pre-Accelerator Programs will:
Support startup entrepreneurs by helping them bring their startup idea to life and create an MVP; and - Increase the pipeline of startups being created across Victoria.
This Project will give Victorian Universities the opportunity to apply for funding to develop a greater entrepreneurship focus within the university, and deliver a pre-accelerator program.
Applicants will need to demonstrate a clear need or gap within their university ecosystem, have demonstrable experience growing startups and startup communities (or commit to working with delivery partner/s who do), and request grant funding for a pre-accelerator program that can realistically help aspiring founders to start and grow startups.
For Investors
No grants currently available, please sign up to our newsletter for updates.
Grants for startups
LaunchVic partners with other government departments and agencies to offer equity-free grants in priority industries. We also offer investment through our targeted funds.
Types of grants for startups:
Startup business grants: Startup business grants help entrepreneurs access business mentoring services, fund trials of their product, or hire talent.
- LaunchVic offers up to $50,000 equity-free funding through our CivVic Labs program for aspiring founders. Sign up to our newsletter to be notified when new intakes go live.
Blended capital: Blended capital is an investment with an equity and grant component.
- LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson Fund and Hugh Victor McKay Fund take 85% of their investment as equity, and the remainder goes to the founder as a non-dilutive government startup grant.
- This allows founders to retain more ownership of their company and be less diluted in future raises.
Unsolicited Proposals
LaunchVic may in rare circumstances accept unsolicited proposals for grant funding outside of its published grant rounds or re-funding of high-performing programs. Please see here for programs previously funded.
We endeavour to review unsolicited proposals quarterly; however, LaunchVic is under no obligation to do so or provide feedback.
Proposal Assessment Criteria
All unsolicited proposals must demonstrate strong alignment with the following principles:
- Alignment with strategy – The proposal clearly aligns with LaunchVic’s strategy 2024-2028.
- Uniqueness – The applicant is uniquely positioned to deliver the program.
- Expertise – The applicant demonstrates the professional expertise and capability to deliver a successful outcome with minimal risk.
- Impact – The proposal responds to a genuine need and will deliver tangible benefits to the Victorian startup ecosystem.
- Need for funding – There is a credible and compelling case for LaunchVic investment.
- Value for money – The proposal represents a sound return on investment for the Victorian startup ecosystem.
- Sustainability – The program includes a clear pathway to sustainability—either by becoming self-sufficient or by strengthening ecosystem resilience.
Proposals that do not meet all of these criteria will not be reviewed.
If your proposal is deemed appropriate for funding, it will be subject to further assessment and due diligence in line with LaunchVic’s established grant processes.
