Get to know Victoria

The Federal Government run a number of initiatives to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in Australia. The following programs are all viable ways to attain some extra support for your business or startup.

The Victorian State Government also runs a range of programs that offer support to local startups and provide assistance where needed. Below is a list of grant opportunities that we believe can be considerably valuable to new businesses.

Another option to receive additional support or funding for your startup is through your local council. Listed below is a number of council startup programs — if your local council is not listed here, head to their website to find out more details.

Meetup is an online space that believes in bringing people together and creating thriving communities. There’s an extensive list of Meetups in Victoria that promote networking and shared support, and below are a few you might want to join.

Victoria runs a number of leading creative business events where entrepreneurs from around the world come to share ideas and encourage innovation. We’d recommend attending some of the following events, as they are great opportunities to meet like-minded people and develop your own ideas.

There’s a range of forums that aim to bring like-minded innovators and entrepreneurs together in an online working environment. These platforms are a great opportunity to network and connect with others, and provide a constructive space to collaborate and develop your ideas.

There’s a range of forums that aim to bring like-minded innovators and entrepreneurs together in an online working environment. These platforms are a great opportunity to network and connect with others, and provide a constructive space to collaborate and develop your ideas.

Accelerator programs are often a great chance to build your startup knowledge and develop your own skillset. Incubators have a similar goal, although aim to help startups develop into sustainable projects that attract investment and growth. Incubators and accelerators come in different forms, values, and target audiences, such as finance, agriculture, food, and even the arts. Here are a list of startups and entrepreneurs to get to know your environment a little more.

Receiving support and funding from an Angel Investor can give your startup a powerful boost. Here’s a list of prominent and reputable Angel Investors based in Australia.

VC is a form of financing that is provided by firms to early-stage startups that are proven to have high growth potential. The typical venture capital investment occurs after an initial “seed funding” round, and will invest between 2 - 15 million tickets. Here is a list to get you started during the growth stage of your startup.

The following websites provide comprehensive databases of available Australian grants, as well as support to help with the application process. With access to thousands of programs with billions of dollars available, they are an important tool to help your startup receive funding.

Crowdfunding is a popular fundraising route for many aspiring startups, especially in the early stages of their startup journey.

When starting your business venture, there are various fair trading laws that you would need to take note of, depending on the product or service you offer. Fair trading laws ensure your business operates fairly and competitively and that you inform and protect your customers.

Not unlike our Playbook, the following resources are guides to help new entrepreneurs develop their startup and ensure the Australian startup industry can flourish as a mecca for innovation.

The following resources provide in-depth summaries of the local startup industry and the growing market.

The following list is a collection of tools that can help you throughout your startup journey, from creating a resume, to managing your team through to setting up your own website—and anything in between!

As Victoria’s startup community grows, there has also been a number of law and accounting firms popping up whose main service is to support new businesses. The following list highlights a number of local groups that offer professional services to support your startup.

Keep up to date with all the latest startup news from Victoria and Australia by subscribing to these newsletters.

If you’re looking for work experience, there are a couple of options you can consider. It’s highly advisable to do an internship to develop your skills before taking on the startup industry on your own.

If you’re switching careers or heading into a different field of the same one, it’s advisable to refresh your skills or look into creating some new ones. Have a look at this list of courses that include technical and skills-focused programs.

Also, for skills-focused programs, have a look at some of these programs (https://launchvic.org/programs/courses) funded by LaunchVic.