Startup Grants | FAQs | LaunchVic
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Grant FAQs

Below are Frequently Asked Questions for our open grants.

If you have a question regarding LaunchVic funding, send us an enquiry using the form below.

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AgTech Grants Program

Can I apply for more than $50,000?
The maximum amount of funding awarded to a startup is $50,000.
Can I include costs relating to managing the grant such as report writing and financial tracking in the budget?
Costs relating to managing the grant are generally considered routine operational expenditure and are not intended to be supported by the grant.
How many times can I apply for grant funding?
Startups are only eligible to receive one $50,000 grant as part of this funding round. Unsuccessful companies will be permitted to reapply based on feedback from the assessment panel. This will not guarantee their success.
What can I use this grant funding for?
Business Capability and Growth Costs, which includes salaries for new positions and activities that support product and service development costs, business process and system improvement, marketing, communications and sales, customer growth and customer success initiatives, costs that support investment attraction, intellectual property costs, and product trial costs. Salaries for founders and pre-existing staff will not be supported.
The AgTech Grants Program is not intended to support routine operational expenditure, retrospective activities, and the purchase, lease or acquisition of land.
How do you define AgTech?
AgTech is the collection of technologies that provide the agricultural industry with the tools, data and knowledge to make more informed, timely on-farm decisions and improve productivity and sustainability. Applications of these technologies can include: plant or animal science, crop protection & input management, precision agriculture, indoor agriculture, sensors & smart farm equipment, imagery, animal technologies, processing & packaging, supply chain and hardware.
*FoodTech (food production) is generally not included in this definition, unless the business idea is technology based with high impact potential, using innovation and/or addressing scalable markets
Can I speak to someone at LaunchVic to discuss my proposal?
LaunchVic is not offering calls or meetings for applicants under this program based on our probity policy – operating under a fair and transparent process for all applicants. If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply or have any questions about the grant program, please contact us via email on grants@launchvic.org. We generally respond to emails within 48 hours during the working week.
What other support is available?
Startups will also meet with LaunchVic personnel and be able to access connections and networks through LaunchVic and Agriculture Victoria.
How many people will be applying under this grant round?
In May the Victorian Government announced an extra $1 million funding for the AgTech Grants Program. The program will remain open until 30 June 2025, or until the funding is fully expended. We expect to fund 20 early-stage agtech startups through this next phase.
If we have attended an accelerator program, will this work for or against us in the assessment process?
We love to see startups participating in accelerator programs and/or other startup programs, and you will see that educational and professional development activities are part of the assessment criteria. We know that through these programs, participants receive access to mentoring, education, advice and support which is crucial at an early-stage of development. If you are interested in viewing the list of startup programs LaunchVic has supported, visit our website here: launchvic.org/programs
Can marketing and wages be included in the costs, or would it be better to apply for funding for the tech component?
Absolutely, you can apply the funding to new salaries or new marketing efforts that are contributing to the growth of the business.
Do you need to have revenue to apply?
No, you are welcome to apply pre-revenue and/or prior to your product being in the market.
What is the timeline of grant assessment?
Applications are open now and will remain open until 30 June 2025 or until all funds are fully allocated. Our Assessment Committee will be assessing applications every second month from May. Interviews with the first round of shortlisted applicants will occur late May and we expect to announce the first recipients in June.
Could you tell us more about the mentoring process?
Of the $50,000, $1,500 is allocated to meeting with a LaunchVic appointed Startup Business Mentor over two 90-minute sessions. The LaunchVic Startup Business Mentor will be able to support you through the grant process and will give you tailored and structured advice to help you with the next steps for your business.
Can you use the funding on developing a prototype?
Yes, you are welcome to use the funding to support the costs of developing a prototype.
Would you be able to connect us with farmers who would like to work with startups for any potential pilots and product validation?
Yes, we are keen to connect startups and farmers as part of this grant round and beyond the grant round. We are working closely with Agriculture Victoria and can connect you with their five SmartFarms which are a great way to connect with farmers in the regions you are interested in. Please email us on grants@launchvic.org and we’ll connect you.
Can one founder with multiple projects apply for separate projects?
Yes, however, we would encourage you to consider your capacity to deliver on multiple projects at the same time before submitting your application/s. The Assessment Panel will be taking into consideration the number of projects being proposed and the capability of the team to deliver the project/s.
How important is new innovation in this grant round?
LaunchVic’s definition of a startup is a technology-based business with high impact potential, that uses innovation and/or addresses scalable markets. We know that there is some great innovation that can be applied to agtech in Victoria, and we want to see in your application that you and your team are capable of executing your proposal.
If I am working as a sole Founder, who do I list as secondary contact on the application form given this is a mandatory field?
Please add your details to both primary and secondary contact and you will be able to progress with the application.

Grants for Victorian Accelerator Programs

How many applications will be funded?
LaunchVic is under no obligation to award a grant, however we expect to award 2 to 4 grants under these Grant Round Guidelines. The number of applications that will be funded is dependent on the quality of applications received.
How many startups should the accelerator program support?
This is dependent on the applicant’s accelerator methodology and the proposed program, but the number of startups the program will be supported should be outlined in your application. The assessment committee will review how many startups are proposed to be accelerated against the funding requested and the quality of the program. LaunchVic understands success metrics can differ between sectors and technology verticals, we would expect this detail to be explained throughout the application submission.
Is there an advantage in providing matched funding?
Cash and/or in-kind contributions are required from the applicant organisation and must be included in your proposal. Contributions from partner organisations are encouraged, and letters of support must be provided for the contributions to be considered.
Are we eligible to apply if we have received a LaunchVic grant in the past?
Applications from existing Accelerators with whom LaunchVic already has a grant agreement in place with a start date prior to 1 January 2024 may apply for funding, however any new funding awarded through this grant round will be contracted via milestone payments dated after the end date of the existing grant and be conditional on the successful achievement of KPIs under the current grant agreement.
Can I have a chat to someone at LaunchVic to discuss my proposal?
LaunchVic cannot coach or guide you on your application. We are not offering calls or meetings for applicants under this grant program based on our probity policy – operating under a fair and transparent process for all applicants. However, if anything is unclear in the program guidelines or you are unsure if you are eligible to apply, please contact us via email at grants@launchvic.org. We generally respond to emails within 48 hours during the working week.
Is there an advantage in providing matched funding? Does the lead applicant need to have matched funding?
Cash and/or in-kind contributions must be included in your proposal. We would encourage you to include a letter of support for any cash or in-kind contributions committed from partner organisations.
Are there restrictions on what type of partner organisations can provide contributions?
Contributions are welcome from a variety of partners and institutions, which can include government, university and research organisations, commercial or other parties, who support the proposed project. If partner contributions are included, letters of support that commit funding must be provided to be considered.
Do the cash / in-kind contributions need to add up to a similar ‘value’ as being requested?
No, however, LaunchVic is very much in favour of higher levels of contributions.

Grants for Investor Education Programs

How many applications will be funded?
LaunchVic is under no obligation to award a grant, however we expect to award 1 to 2 grants under these Grant Round Guidelines. The number of applications that will be funded is dependent on the quality of applications received.
When will I know if my application is successful? What is the timeline for the funding round?
Please refer to www.launchvic.org/grants for the most up to date timings.
How many investors should the program support?
This is dependent on the applicant’s methodology and the proposed program, but the number of investors the program will support should be outlined in your application.
Is there an advantage in providing matched funding?
Cash and/or in-kind contributions from the applicant organisation and/or partner organisations will be viewed favourably. Letters of support must be provided for the contributions from partner organisations to be considered.
Can I have a chat to someone at LaunchVic to discuss my proposal?
LaunchVic cannot coach or guide you on your application. We are not offering calls or meetings for applicants under this grant program based on our probity policy – operating under a fair and transparent process for all applicants. However, if anything is unclear in the program guidelines or you are unsure if you are eligible to apply, please contact us via email at grants@launchvic.org. We generally respond to emails within 48 hours during the working week.
Do you have a template or preferred length for CVs submitted?
We don’t have a preferred template. Any attached CV should be of typical length. The application will also require capability statements, and we have specified word counts for these in our guidelines.
I am a current LaunchVic funding recipient, am I eligible to apply?
Current recipients of LaunchVic funding can apply in this round.
Over what time period should the Investor Education program run?
Applicants are required to propose a start and end date and upload a delivery timeline for the funded program in line with the request of funds as part of the application. Investor Education Programs would be expected to start in Q1 of 2025.
Who will be responsible for recruiting investors to join the program?
The successful recipient will be required to undertake recruitment. They will need to market, recruit, and manage all operations of the delivery of the program. LaunchVic will support the programs with cross-promotion; however, the ultimate responsibility is that of the service provider.
How do you define Early-Stage Startup Investor?
For the purposes of this grant program, an early-stage startup investor is an investor with a high-risk appetite who provides seed and Series A investments into early-stage startup ventures. Early-stage startup investors can include sophisticated investors, family office investment managers, corporate venturing team members, emerging and future venture fund managers, founders turned funders, and current and potential angel investors.
What is your definition of an Investor Education program?
For the purposes of this grant program, an Investor Education Program is a program that equips current and aspiring investors with the confidence and capabilities to increase their investments in early-stage startups. The program runs for a designated period, and participants are provided with a deep understanding of the Victorian startup sector, the key players, emerging technologies, trends, and potential investment opportunities.

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