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Government of South Australia - Department of State Development

    Seed-Start

    Supporting commercialisation of innovative, early-stage SA startups

    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.

    Seed-Start offers two funding options based on a business’s stage of development.

    Seed Grants

    Level TypeSeed Grants
    Grant funding:Minimum grant: $50,000
    Maximum grant: $100,000
    Matched funding:At least a 2:1 basis
    ($2 Government to $1 Applicant)
    Funding period:Up to 2 years maximum

    An applicant must commit the required matched funding as a cash contribution towards the costs of the proposed project.

    Start Grants

    Level TypeStart Grants
    Grant funding:Minimum grant: $100,001
    Maximum grant: $500,000
    Matched funding:At least a 1:1 basis
    ($1 Government to $1 Applicant)
    Funding period:
    		Up to 3 years maximum

    An applicant must commit the required matched funding as a cash contribution towards the costs of the proposed project.

    Seed-Start eligibility criteria

    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.

    Read the Seed-Start Guidelines in full before proceeding with the application process.

    Examples of projects previously funded under Seed & Start – RIF include:

    • Ping Services, now Eologix-Ping, completing an optimised design of their device for monitoring wind turbines to detect potential failure and embarking on field trials with customers
    • Teamgage expanding their local software platform, which aims to drive continuous improvement in organisational culture, into global markets

    If you meet the eligibility criteria and want to apply, expressions of interest are now open.

    Read the guidelines
    Apply now
    Foil Drive Team Pic S23 Small

    Foil Drive leveraging Seed-Start for success

    South Australian startup Foil Drive is capitalising on the growing popularity of ‘foil surfing’, manufacturing the world's only retrofit battery-powered motor system.

    A $100,000 Seed-Start grant is helping this business develop a new and improved version of their Foil Drive Assist Kit – accelerating their progress from product prototype to market.

    Foil Drive CEO Paul Martin said Seed-Start allowed us to invest in more manufacturing hardware, additive manufacturing and specialised staff within SA.

    “This allowed Foil Drive to bring more processes and manufacturing in house and become more vertically integrated. This has allowed us to be more self sufficient in an uncertain world where relying on overseas manufacturing for everything isn’t wise,” Mr Martin said.

    “Foil Drive is proud to be a local manufacture and employer that sells its product globally.”

    Research and Innovation Fund

    The Seed-Start Program is part of the South Australian Government’s Research and Innovation Fund (RIF), which exists to enable greater collaboration between research and industry to deliver widespread economic benefit for our state.

    Through the RIF, our department can leverage state, Australian Government and private investment to support industry and research projects, events, and other initiatives designed to increase South Australia’s research and innovation capabilities.

    Learn about RIF

    Get help navigating opportunities

    There are experienced DSD team members available to support your growth ambitions – whether that be help with workforce development, navigating government and other support programs, connecting with peers and industry leaders, or the adoption of new technologies.

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