Launchpad Program

Funding for early stage startups aligned with strategic priorities

Closes 28 Oct 20265 days leftLate applications are rarely accepted. Most applications take 2 to 4 weeks to prepare properly, so start now.

ARENA's Launchpad funds early-stage clean-energy startups and the partners that support them.

Who can apply

Early-stage startups working on technology that fits ARENA's renewable energy priorities, plus ecosystem organisations (such as accelerators) that help those startups grow.

Program
Launchpad Program
Provider
Australian Government
Level
Australian Government
Type
Grant or funding
Amount
Funding varies.
Closing date
Closes 28 Oct 2026
Region
Australia-wide
Industries
Energy & sustainability, Technology & innovation
Last checked
22 Oct 2026

Read the official page Apply (official portal)

We can apply for this for you

Tell us about your business and we'll check it against every criterion for Launchpad Program. If it's a fit, we write the application, build the budget, prepare the attachments and lodge it with your written authority where the funder allows. You approve it and sign the declarations. Nothing to pay unless you win.

Eligibility quick-check

  • Business structure: a company (Pty Ltd, with an ACN) or other incorporated entity. Sole traders and most partnerships can't apply.
  • Location: open Australia-wide, including Victoria.
  • Industry: aimed at renewable tech.

A quick guide from our reading of the official criteria, not a decision. The funder's guidelines are what count.

Check if I qualify

How to apply for Launchpad Program

  1. Check every eligibility criterion in the official guidelines, not just the summary. One missed criterion usually means rejection.
  2. Confirm your ABN details (legal name, entity type, GST status) match the ABN Register exactly. Mismatches are a common reason applications fail.
  3. Gather evidence: quotes for the project, recent financials, and proof of any co-contribution or lease, depending on what the guidelines ask for.
  4. Write the answers to each assessment criterion with specific numbers (costs, jobs, sales, timelines), and build the budget in the funder's format.
  5. Lodge it through the official portal before 28 Oct 2026. Keep a copy of the submitted application and the receipt.
  6. If you're successful, read the funding agreement before signing, keep every receipt, and diarise the report and acquittal dates.

Launchpad Program: common questions

Who can apply for Launchpad Program?

Early-stage startups working on technology that fits ARENA's renewable energy priorities, plus ecosystem organisations (such as accelerators) that help those startups grow.

How much is Launchpad Program worth?

Funding varies.

When does Launchpad Program close?

Closes 28 Oct 2026. Late applications are rarely accepted.

Can sole traders apply for Launchpad Program?

No. Launchpad Program needs a company or other incorporated entity, so sole traders can't apply as they are. Incorporating changes your tax and legal position, so talk to your accountant first.

Can someone apply for Launchpad Program on my behalf?

Often, yes. Many funders let an authorised contact or adviser prepare and lodge an application for a business, but the business is the applicant and must sign the declarations. We prepare the whole application and lodge it with your written authority where the funder allows. Where it doesn't, you submit the finished application yourself.

How much does it cost to get help applying?

Freelance grant writers in Australia typically charge by the hour or a fixed fee per application, whether you win or not. With Vic Grants Weekly, there's nothing to pay unless you win: a success fee as a percentage of the grant, or a flat win-only fee (founding price from A$99) where the grant's rules don't allow percentage fees.

This is an independent plain-English summary, not official advice. Dates, amounts and eligibility can change. Check the official source and guidelines before you apply.

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