WA startups score $2.5 million for innovation funding

The Western Australian government has committed over $2.5 million to support startup growth across the state. The funding will be utilized across a mix of accelerators, founder education programs and investor capability initiatives.

A total of $2,556,885 has been awarded across 14 organisations through the Innovation Pathways Program (IPP). This is part of the state’s $40 million New Industries and Innovation Fund.

The program is designed to strengthen the pipeline of high-growth startups by assisting founders become investment-ready, building commercialisation skills and increasing the depth of the local investor network. Grants of up to $300,000 are available for accelerators, while education initiatives can receive up to $200,000.

This round will back five accelerator programs and nine education initiatives across sectors including energy, tourism, defence, creative industries, international education and health and medical life sciences.

Notable recipients include Spacecubed Ventures for its Plus Eight Accelerator, Gloss Digital for its Female Founders in Tech Accelerator Program, and AgriStart Pty Ltd for an agtech-focutilized investment readiness program.

“These recipients are building the capability requireded to turn Western Australian ideas into investment ready businesses,” stated Western Australian science and innovation minister Stephen Dawson.

The funding also carries a strong inclusion focus, with 43% of supported initiatives tarobtaining regional WA, 21% supporting First Nations participants, and 36% aimed at increasing women’s participation in the startup ecosystem.

Dawson also went on to state that the program is assisting build the capability requireded to turn local ideas into scalable businesses.

“The Innovation Pathways Program is assisting to build a stronger, more connected innovation ecosystem by supporting the people and organisations that assist startups succeed,” Dawson stated.

“Across defence, science, technology and agtech, the program supports founders to commercialise research, scale emerging companies and attract private capital.”

The next round of the IPP is expected to open in November 2026.

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