Learn more about Victoria’s $123 billion startup sector.
Featured
In this section
Connect with a wide range of LaunchVic programs fuelling the startup state.
Discover grant opportunities to grow startup activity in Victoria.
Learn more about our work growing Victoria’s investor community.
Connect with startup founders and investors at our exciting events
The Hugh Victor McKay Fund is a $2 million co-investment fund for Victorian AgTech startups run by LaunchVic with funding from Agriculture Victoria.
The Fund invests up to $200,000 alongside individual investors, angel groups and early-stage VC’s.
Up to $30,000 of the investment is provided as a grant to the startup, the remainder is taken as equity. This means founders hold more stake in their company at the early stages.
Local and international investors working on active deals with Victorian AgTech startups can apply to the fund on behalf of their portfolio company.
That’s because as a co-investment fund, the Hugh Victor McKay Fund relies on the investor’s due diligence and expertise in making investment decisions, not a direct application from the startup.
For more information about how this works, read our application guidelines.
Our Investment Committee meets bi-monthly to assess applications.
The next cut off date for applications are:
Friday 20 September
Tuesday 19 November
Founding Chairman, Scale Investors
Susan Oliver AM (Chair)
Read More
Connect with me on LinkedIn
CEO & Co-Founder, shilo.people | CEO & Founder, pivotnow
Ilona Charles
– Ms Ilona Charles is an experienced executive with an extensive career in human resources, transformation and change across a range of industries.
Ilona has held executive roles with the CSIRO, Aconex, Telstra, Medibank and NAB and is currently the CEO and co-founder of ShiloPeople (shilo.), providing world-class on-demand HR talent and consulting solutions across Australia.
She also founded pivotnow, providing strategic people advice to Founders, CEO’s and Boards of organisations going through significant transition or scaling up.
Special Responsibilities
– Chair of the People Sub-Committee and Member of the Investment Review Sub-Committee and Member of the Hugh Victor McKay Fund Investment Committee
Connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter
ADVISOR, INVESTOR AND DIRECTOR, AULTMORE PTY LTD
Amanda Derham
Co-Founder, Tenacious Ventures and Partner, AgThentic
Matthew Pryor