Funding fuels new LaunchPad for startups

La Trobe University has secured a $400,000 grant from LaunchVic, Victoria’s startup agency, to establish a program that supports early-stage entrepreneurs to turn bold ideas into business reality to drive Australia’s future growth and prosperity. 

The funding acknowledges the University’s success in running a range of entrepreneurship programs in recent years.  

Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said universities like La Trobe played a critical role in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.  

“Through initiatives like LaunchPad, we are equipping aspiring founders from our student, alumni and community networks with the tools, networks and confidence to turn innovative ideas into real-world success,” Professor Farrell said. 

“This strengthens our delivery of impactful research and innovation to address challenges to improve Australia’s productivity and drive future growth.” 

LaunchPad is a new 12-week Pre-Accelerator Program for emerging and aspiring founders with technology-led startup ideas and the ambition to turn them into scalable ventures.  

The Victorian government funding will be delivered via LaunchVic’s Grants for University Pre-Accelerators program, which will support La Trobe LaunchPad’s two program intakes per year in 2026 and 2027.  

This will follow a pilot program to be delivered in September this year. 

The University has partnered with Startmate, Australia’s oldest and biggest Accelerator to deliver LaunchPad’s initial eight-week course to help young entrepreneurs identify customers, develop and test a minimum viable product and kickstart their founder journey. 

LaunchPad Plus is a four-week extension, delivered by La Trobe University experts and academic leaders, that keeps momentum going towards business model testing, company and team formation and initial venture launch.  

For over ten years, La Trobe University has successfully delivered innovation and entrepreneurship programs to local businesses, students, community and to global partners in India. 

LaunchVic Chief Executive Officer Dr Kate Cornick said Victoria was home to more than 50 per cent of Australia’s startups across the Enterprise Software and Healthtech sectors, and a third of the nation’s Fintech startups. 

“With around 180 university spinouts contributing $2.9 billion in value, programs like the La Trobe LaunchPad will be critical for Victoria’s fast-growing startup ecosystem,” Dr Cornick said. 

Applications for La Trobe LaunchPad pilot program are now open until Monday 11 August for La Trobe undergraduate, graduate and post graduate students, academic and research staff, and alumni.  

Apply now at latrobe.edu.au/launchpad 

Media enquiries 

Debora McInnes – d.mcinnes@latrobe.edu.au, 0487 448 734 or [email protected]