Seed-Start Grant SA

Overview: Grant Funding for Early-Stage South Australian Startups

Facilitating the commercialisation of inventive startups in the early stages in South Australia, the Seed-Start initiative provides grant funding to support the development and launch of innovative products or services.

Eligible products or services should possess distinctiveness and showcase a sustainable competitive edge in both national and international markets.

Financial support is accessible through a competitive grants program tailored for businesses with high growth potential. This funding aids in covering the expenses associated with executing a well-defined project, contributing to substantial advantages such as increased revenue, export income, local job creation, or other social benefits in South Australia.

What do you get from Seed-Start?

Matching funds ranging from $50,000 to $500,000.

Who qualifies for Seed-Start?

South Australian businesses in the early stages with high growth potential.

Seed-Start provides two funding choices tailored to a company’s developmental stage.

There are 2 funding options, based on a business’ stage of development:

Seed Grants

• Matching funds ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 (2:1, $2 government to $1 applicant) are available for early-stage businesses.

• This funding supports specific projects aimed at overcoming initial challenges in entering national and international markets.

• The project should be achievable within a 2-year timeframe, resulting in a unique or sustainably competitive product or service.

Start Grants

• Matching funds ranging from $100,001 to $500,000 (1:1, $1 government to $1 applicant) are available for early-stage businesses.

• This funding is intended to facilitate the execution of a defined project that accelerates the development and commercialisation of their product or service in national and international markets.

• Geared towards businesses beyond the early-seed stage with a product or service ready (or nearly ready) for commercialisation, the project should be achievable within a 3-year timeframe, resulting in a unique or sustainably competitive product or service.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Prospective candidates must initiate the process by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) Application form. EOI Applications are open continuously unless otherwise specified. The Department for Innovation and Skills (DIS) will assess all received EOI Applications and respond within 10 business days, confirming acceptance, rejection, or requesting additional information for a decision.

Consultation with other government departments may occur for projects requiring specialized knowledge in areas such as health, defence, space, or agriculture. In case of an EOI Application rejection, a new submission is allowed at any time, provided all feedback is adequately addressed. Successful EOI applicants will receive an invitation to complete a Full Application.

Verify your eligibility for application

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be a company incorporated in Australia with an active Australian Business Number (ABN).

• Be a non-tax-exempt business.

• Be registered for goods and services tax (GST).

• Have an annual turnover of less than $1 million for each of the 3 financial years before submitting their application.

• Be located in or willing to relocate to South Australia before initiating the project.

Before initiating the application process, thoroughly review the complete Seed-Start Guidelines.

Examples of projects previously supported through Seed & Start – RIF include:

• Ping Services, now Eologix-Ping, successfully finalizing an optimized design for their wind turbines and commencing field trials with customers.

• Teamgage extending their local software platform, designed to foster continuous improvement in organizational culture, into global markets.

Apply for the Seed-Start Grant SA

Expressions of interest are currently being accepted if you meet the eligibility requirements and wish to apply.

Learn more here. You can also contact them via email: rcsfcontact@sa.gov.au

The Seed-Start Program operates under the South Australian Government’s Research and Innovation Fund (RIF), aimed at fostering increased collaboration between research and industry to generate significant economic advantages for the state.

Leveraging state, Australian Government, and private investments, our department, through the RIF, actively supports industry and research projects, events, and various initiatives geared towards enhancing South Australia’s research and innovation capabilities.