Investment platform supports formation of venture capital funds and startup ventures with $3.75 million enhancement
Victoria's Startup Ecosystem Boosted by $3.75 Million Investment
The Victorian startup ecosystem is set to receive a significant boost with the announcement of a $3.75 million investment by LaunchVic, the Victorian Government's initiative to support the state's startup sector. The investment will be distributed among seven new venture capital (VC) funds, each receiving $300,000 to establish operations in Victoria.
The newly funded VC funds have distinct focuses and investment strategies:
- Advance VC: Australia's first fund of funds with a focus on secondary investments, meaning it invests in existing venture capital funds or portfolios rather than directly in startups.
- Boson Ventures: A DeepTech fund investing in sectors such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, cleantech, and agtech, targeting deep technology innovation areas.
- FundBase: A platform designed to democratize venture capital and startup investing by making it accessible to both retail and wholesale investors.
- Scale: A VC fund that specifically supports women-led startups, investing from pre-seed to Series A stages to promote diversity and inclusion in the startup ecosystem.
- Tidal Ventures: Originally Sydney-based, Tidal Ventures is expanding into Melbourne to invest in local B2B and B2B2C startups, focusing on business-to-business models and hybrid models involving consumers.
- Triple Bubble: A fintech-focused fund investing across stages from pre-product development through to IPO, specifically targeting financial technology companies.
- Unlock Capital: A specialist early-stage fund dedicated to AI-native startups, focusing on companies whose technology and products are deeply rooted in artificial intelligence.
These funds are expected to collectively raise over $275 million in early-stage capital for Victorian startups from seed to Series A.
In addition to the VC funds, LaunchVic's investments also include grants to universities to foster entrepreneurship and community events to further build the innovation ecosystem in Victoria. Australian Catholic University, Deakin University, Federation University, and La Trobe University will each receive grants, while Aussie Founders Club will receive a $200,000 grant to deliver more than 60 community events over three years.
The report from LaunchVic and dealroom.co reveals that Victoria's startup ecosystem is growing rapidly and is on track to be one of the world's leading startup hubs within the next five years. The announcement comes as the website opened a new grant round for pre-accelerator programs at Victorian universities on 26th February 2025, and the $5.1 million investment into six of Australia's leading entrepreneurship programs was announced on 11th March 2025.
These investments are a testament to the potential of Victoria's startup ecosystem and the government's commitment to supporting its growth and development. With the injection of capital and the establishment of these new VC funds, Victoria's startups are poised to make a significant impact on the global stage.
[1] LaunchVic (2025). Press Release: LaunchVic Announces $3.75 Million Investment into Victoria's Startup Ecosystem
[2] Dealroom.co (2025). Victoria's Startup Ecosystem on Track to be a Global Hub
[3] Australian Government (2025). Government Invests $3.75 Million into Victoria's Startup Ecosystem
- The $3.75 million investment by LaunchVic into Victoria's startup ecosystem will help establish new venture capital (VC) funds, boosting growth for local startups.
- Distinct focuses and investment strategies of these VC funds include secondary investments, deep technology innovation, democratizing venture capital, women-led startups, B2B/B2B2C, fintech, and AI-native startups.
- The new funds are expected to collectively raise over $275 million in early-stage capital for Victorian startups, from seed to Series A.
- LaunchVic's investments also include grants to universities for fostering entrepreneurship and community events, aiming to build a strong innovation ecosystem in Victoria.
- Educational institutions such as Australian Catholic University, Deakin University, Federation University, and La Trobe University will receive grants, while Aussie Founders Club will host more than 60 community events over three years.
- The startup ecosystem in Victoria is growing rapidly, and it is on track to become one of the world's leading startup hubs within the next five years.
- To further support the ecosystem, LaunchVic opened a new grant round for pre-accelerator programs at Victorian universities on 26th February 2025.
- Australian entrepreneurs will also benefit from the $5.1 million investment into six leading entrepreneurship programs, as announced on 11th March 2025.
- These investments demonstrate the government's continued support for startup founders, venture capital, innovation, and education-and-self-development programs, ultimately aiming to create a thriving and robust technology community in Victoria.
