Purpose
The Seed-Start program equips innovative, early-stage South Australian startups with grant funding to support the commercialisation of an innovative product or service.
The product or service must be unique and demonstrate a sustainable competitive advantage in national and international markets.
Funding is available through a competitive grants program to high growth potential businesses, to assist with the costs of delivering a clearly defined project that will generate significant benefits such as revenue growth, export income, local employment or other social benefits to South Australia.
Overview
Eligible startups are invited to apply for funding through this competitive grant program to assist with the cost of commercialising a product or service that is unique and has a sustainable competitive advantage in national and international markets.
The applicant should demonstrate how this funding would support the costs of delivering a clearly defined project that will generate significant benefits, such as revenue growth, export income, local employment or other social benefits to South Australia.
It is split into two funding options, Seed and Start, based on a business’ stage of development;
Seed Grants
- Grant funding: $50,000 to $100,000
- At least a 2:1 basis ($2 Government to $1 Applicant)
- Up to 2-year funding period
Start Grants
- Grant funding: $100,001 to $500,000
- At least a 1:1 basis ($1 Government to $1 Applicant)
- Up to 3-year funding period
Eligible expenditure for grant funding and matched funding includes the following activities and/or items that are critical for the delivery of the proposed project:
- salaries and consumables directly attributed to, or critical for, the delivery of the project
- accessing specialist professional services
- accessing or protecting intellectual property rights
- product development
- scholarships, study tours, undertaking market research/testing and engaging with
- major customers and investors
- reasonable economy travel expenses for testing, market development of the
- product/service, capital raising and other partnership or investment opportunities
- data procurement and efforts to obtain regulatory approval.
Eligible applicants must first submit an EOI Application form.
Eligibility
To be eligible an applicant must:
- be based in South Australia
- 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 a combined annual turnover of less than $1 million for each of the three financial years prior to the lodgement of the application.
If based outside of South Australia, there may be special circumstances which merit consideration of an applicant however the State Government may impose a contractual obligation on the applicant (if successful) to relocate and maintain the relevant enterprise (in whole or part) in South Australia.
An applicant must consider the Assessment Criteria outlined in the section below before applying, including the requirement to provide a strong case for the need for grant funding. An application will not be considered where:
- retrospective grant funding is sought
- other funding sources are deemed better suited to the proposed project.
If an applicant has previously received a grant from the South Australian Government for the same project, or a stage of the project, then the applicant is not entitled to further funding from this program. An applicant is permitted to apply for a different or subsequent stage of the project having demonstrated progress and acquittal of previous funding from the South Australian Government.