Investor Support | Learn how to invest in startups | LaunchVic

Investors

Grants, education programs and networks to help you back the next big thing in tech.

In 2018, Startup Genome estimated a $96 million shortfall per annum in early-stage funding in Victoria alone, and LaunchVic’s data confirms that this shortfall continues today.

Our research has informed a range of landmark interventions to deepen the funding pool for Victorian founders.

Discover all the latest opportunities to join the Victorian investment community.

Building your confidence and capability to back Victorian startups.

Open Grants

VC Support Program

LAUNCHVIC IS SET TO ENTICE NEW VENTURE CAPITAL (VC) FUNDS TO VICTORIA THROUGH A NEW VC SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT WILL INVEST UP TO $300,000 FOR INDIVIDUAL FUNDS LOOKING TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN VICTORIA.

Eligible funds can either be “brand new funds” or those “new to Victoria,” allowing existing fund managers with operations elsewhere to set up local offices in Victoria, provided they are aiming to raise a minimum of $10 million.

This financial support can be allocated for various purposes, including covering establishment costs such as legal fees and company registration, supporting new staff salaries, and to facilitate capital raising.

Apply here. 

GRANTS FOR SPECIALISED ANGEL NETWORKS

LAUNCHVIC HAS ANNOUNCED NEW GRANTS OF UP TO $300,000 TO FUND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIALISED ANGEL NETWORKS THAT WILL INVEST IN PRE-SEED AND SEED ROUNDS OF VICTORIAN STARTUPS.

The new angel groups must demonstrate a specific investment focus that could be by way of an industry vertical or type of technology. Apply here. 

INTERNATIONAL INTERN GRANTS

Grants of up to $20,000 to enable emerging VC Fund Managers working at Victorian early-stage VC funds to travel internationally to undertake internships at global VC funds.

The internships will support emerging VC Fund Managers to develop their fund management skills and networks, and to build connections between local VC and global VC funds. This will help build the capabilities and ensure the competitiveness of the Victorian early-stage VC sector.

Apply here. 

LaunchVic Funds

The Alice Anderson Fund

Between 2018-2021 only 4% of Australian VC funding went to women-founded startups. LaunchVic is working to change things with the $10 million Alice Anderson Fund, a sidecar fund that co-invests in women-led startups with private sector investors.

Learn more. 

The Hugh Victor McKay Fund

The Hugh Victor McKay Fund is a new sidecar fund for Victorian AgTech startups run by LaunchVic with funding from Agriculture Victoria.

The fund will co-invest between $100,000-$200,000 into at least five early-stage AgTech startups over the next 12 months.

Apply here. 

LaunchVic Funded Angel Groups

The Playbook Angel Network is a syndicate of experienced founders and operators who want to lean in and support the next generation of founders.

Ecotone Ventures is a new climate-focused Angel Network based in Victoria connecting the growing number of climate-conscious investors to early-stage ventures with climate solutions.

Cut Through Angels is a new angel group from the makers of the hit startup newsletter Cut Through Venture. The fund is industry agnostic and technology-centric.

Australian Medical Angels is predominately made up of practising clinicians that offers both clinical validation and invaluable links to the healthcare industry for Victorian-based HealthTech Startups.

Flying Fox aims to back teams solving big problems in large markets that are undergoing macro shifts, with a preference for solutions that bring people together, improve everyday life, or address physical and environmental health.

Scale Investors is Australia’s first and only network of angel investors committed to investing in and empowering exceptional women entrepreneurs.

Innovation Bay brings together a group of passionate investors to meaningfully connect and fuel the future of startups.

Archangel is an early stage venture capital fund investing in Australian startups. They work with great technology founders and investors to build game changing companies together.

Angel Partners targets emerging professionals and recently successful startup founders to collectively invest in early-stage technology companies within Victoria through a syndicated structure.

VC Catalyst

Delivered by the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship at the University of Melbourne, the immersive VC Catalyst course focuses on providing the next wave of venture investors with the knowledge, skills, confidence and networks to invest in early-stage startups.

With LaunchVic’s funding the program has supported more than 60 investors to unlock a collective $72.64 million in startup investment since 2019.

VC Catalyst

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