LaunchVic to create Victoria’s first angel group for AgTech

Last Updated: Wednesday 22 February, 2023

Victoria’s burgeoning AgTech sector is set for a $1.3 million boost through a suite of new initiatives from LaunchVic and Agriculture Victoria.

Grants of $50,000 are now available to 20 emerging AgTech entrepreneurs looking to take their ideas to the next level this year.

$45,000 will be provided as an equity-free grant, with the remaining $5,000 funding mentoring and business development advice from some of Victoria’s best startup advisors.

Consistent with LaunchVic’s strategy to catalyse more early-stage investment in the sector, $300,000 has been allocated for investors to establish a dedicated AgTech angel network – the first of its kind in Victoria.

The angel network will deploy crucial early capital to founders and provide a valuable network of early-stage investors for Victoria’s AgTech community.

A LaunchVic report that looked at Victoria’s investment landscape from December found that Victorian Angels are the second most active investors after VCs by number of rounds – a 2.3x increase since 2016 – of which during this time LaunchVic has funded the creation of nine new angel groups in Victoria.

LaunchVic CEO Dr Kate Cornick said the AgTech grants would put equity-free working capital in the hands of Victorian Ag innovators hungry for their next phase of growth.

“Then, once these founders are ready to close their first funding raise, we’ll make sure there’s a dedicated angel group invested in their success,” she said.

The grant rounds build on the Victorian AgTech Entrepreneurs’ Initiative, LaunchVic’s $2.2 million partnership with Agriculture Victoria announced in September 2021 to fund the delivery of AgTech pre-accelerator services for close to 500 aspiring entrepreneurs.

These latest initiatives provide post-accelerator support and are part of a $2.6 million commitment from Agriculture Victoria to 2024, with further initiatives to come later this year.

Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney said Victoria has all the elements to be a national leader in AgTech.

“With one of the world’s most exciting agricultural systems, Victoria is well placed to lead Australia as a powerhouse for AgTech innovation and entrepreneurship.” 

“AgTech startups are boosting efficiency and safety on farms while also helping the state better respond to a changing climate.” 

Investors and startups are invited to apply at https://staging.launchvic.org/grants/