AgTech Grants Program

The below definitions apply to this Grant Round:

• AgTech is the collection of digital 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 

• Startups are technology-based businesses with high impact potential, that use innovation and/or address scalable markets. Their product / service / platform / hardware is driven by technology.    Examples of technology include software / applications, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, advanced manufacturing & robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, augmented / virtual reality, 3D printing, advanced materials, genomics & life sciences (including biotech & medtech) and autonomous vehicles.

• Business Capability and Growth Costs 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.

• A startup that is Early Stage must:

  • be testing or having a prototype or product in market;
  • be able to demonstrate valid customer insights; or
  • may not have a significant customer base or revenue but can demonstrate other signs of traction

The AgTech Grants Program is not intended to support routine operational expenditure, retrospective activities, and the purchase, lease or acquisition of land.

To apply, applicants must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

1. Meet LaunchVic’s definition of an AgTech Startup The startup must meet the definitions for AgTech and Startup as defined above.
2. Be a registered Business A registered business is defined as:
   • having an Australian Business Number (ABN)
   • if required, being registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
   • being one of the following entities:
     • an entity incorporated in Australia
     • an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
     • an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
     • a partnership
     • a sole trader.
3. Based in Victoria Applicants must have at least 50% of its assets and employees located in Victoria. The founder should be a person that has a primary residence in Victoria.
4. Stage Meet LaunchVic’s definition of an Early-Stage startup
5. Funds Raised to Date If a startup has raised more than $500,000 (ex GST) (including funding received from grants), it will not be eligible to receive funding under this grant round.
6. Adhere to Victorian Government Policy on ESG Prohibited Activities The startup must not be involved with:  
   • tobacco or tobacco-related products; 
   • Cluster munitions and other controversial weapons; 
   • Thermal coal; 
   • Gambling; 
   • Logging of old growth forests; 
   • Uranium; 
   • Unregulated animal testing; 
   • Live cattle and/or sheep exports; or 
7. Grant Amount Applications for $50,000 (ex GST) only are eligible. $48,500 (ex GST) will be a cash grant (equity free and non-dilutive) and $1,500 (ex GST) will fund business mentoring services.