CUREator + delivering up to $5M per Project Available for BioMedTech Startups Tackling Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Brandon Capital

22 May 2025: The CUREator+ Dementia and Cognitive Decline Incubator Program, a partnership between Brandon BioCatalyst, ANDHealth, and Dementia Australia, has opened its second funding round.

Designed to support innovative solutions with the potential to improve the lives of Australians impacted by dementia, the program is seeking startups and companies focused on expanding treatment and wellbeing options for the 433,300 Australians living with dementia and the 1.7 million carers who support them.

Eligible biotech, medical device and digital health startups and companies can access up to $5 million per project in non-dilutive funding, which is delivered in tranches upon reaching agreed milestones.

The tranche-based funding model simultaneously equips innovators with access to commercialisation skills that prepare them for the discipline demanded by private investors, whilst providing them with the money they need to create the compelling data sets that crowd-in private investors.

Bronwyn Le Grice, ANDHealth CEO and Managing Director, said: “By tying public investment to key commercial milestones and connecting companies with the networks and guidance they need, CUREator+ empowers Australia’s most promising innovators to deliver therapies, devices and connected health solutions which can fundamentally change the lives of Australians living with dementia and cognitive decline.”

Funded by the Federal Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund MRFF, the program directly addresses two of the key barriers to commercialisation and growth for digital health companies in Australia by providing access to both capital and digital health expertise.

Professor Tanya Buchanan, Dementia Australia CEO said “We are pleased to see the second funding round of CUREator+ enhancing innovation to improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers. We are honoured to support consultation with people with a living experience of dementia, ensuring their voices are heard.”

Dr. Chris Nave, Brandon BioCatalyst Founder and CEO, adds: "In the fight against dementia, brilliant science alone won’t win the battle—it takes vision, funding, and relentless execution. The CUREator+ program exists to fast-track Australia’s world-class research into real-world solutions, because a day without progress is too many for the patients and caregivers impacted by dementia."

CUREator + is designed to accelerate the translation of Australia’s cutting-edge research into real-world solutions by harnessing our home-grown deep science and technology resources and integrating lived experience insights via Dementia Australia’s involvement in the CUREator Investment Review Committee.

Companies and startups interested in applying are encouraged to attend the webinar on 29 May at 12 p.m. and book a one-on-one consultation here https://events.humanitix.com/cureatorplus-dcd-r2-is?c=bbc

Visit https://cureatorplus.grantplatform.com/ to apply, and applications close on 10 July 2025.

About us:

Descriptor for CUREator +

CUREator+ is a partnership between Brandon BioCatalyst and ANDHealth. The incubator program funded by the MRFF is designed to deliver non-dilutive funding and support to assist the maturation of Australian health and medical innovation towards patient impact and commercialisation.

About CUREator

CUREator is a national biotechnology incubator by Brandon BioCatalyst that supports Australian biomedical research and innovation development. Funded by the Medical Research Future Fund and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, CUREator provides grant funding programs for opportunities spanning from discovery research to clinical development.

Funding is provided like an investor with clear milestone-driven tranches to achieve key value-adding and de-risking development milestones. CUREator works closely with project teams to guide them through the early development phases, offering scientific and commercial expertise and networks to support projects meeting key outcomes. https://brandonbiocatalyst.com/cureator/

About ANDHealth

ANDHealth is Australia’s only organisation that specialises in commercialising evidence-based digital health technologies. We work with Australian digital health companies to commercialise and scale their clinical-grade technologies through the entire commercialisation pathway, from idea to exit.

ANDHealth’s investment readiness program suite and non-dilutive investment programs prepare companies for institutional investment and global enterprise customers and have been proven to positively impact both the number and maturity of companies in the Australian evidence-based digital and connected health sector. Since 2018, ANDHealth has supported over 900 high-growth-potential digital health companies across Australia and delivered over 2,400 hours of direct programming to over 1,680 participants. www.andhealth.com.au

About Brandon BioCatalyst and Brandon Capital

Brandon Capital is Australasia’s leading life science venture capital firm. It has a solid global presence supported by key partnerships and team members across the US and UK. Brandon Capital supports life science companies from early-stage seed investment to expansion capital from proof-of-concept to commercialisation.

Managed by Brandon Capital, Brandon BioCatalyst is a unique collaboration of over 50 leading medical research institutes, investors, and government, united by a single purpose: progressing the next generation of medical therapies and technology that improve health and save lives.

https://brandonbiocatalyst.com/ and https://brandoncapital.vc/

Dementia Australia

Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 433,300 Australians living with dementia, and the more than 1.7 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.

https://www.dementia.org.au/

Contact details:

Media contacts – Australia

Brandon Capital

ICON agency: [email protected]

Brandon BioCatalyst CUREator

Kirrily Davis

Head of Brand, Communications and Engagement

+61 401 220 228

[email protected]

ANDHealth

James Howe