LaunchVic

What LaunchVic does

LaunchVic is a statutory agency of the Victorian Government, established in March 2016 as Victoria's dedicated startup agency to grow the state's technology startup ecosystem. Headquartered in Melbourne with 11–50 employees, it is wholly government-funded and does not generate commercial revenue. Its core function is ecosystem coordination: it operates co-investment funds (the $10 million Alice Anderson Fund for women-led startups and the $2 million Hugh Victor McKay Fund for AgTech), distributes grants and program funding, funds angel networks and venture capital funds, and runs founder and investor education programs (Basecamp, 30X30, NOVA, VC Catalyst, CivVic Labs).

The agency does not build proprietary technology products; its platform is operational rather than technical. It maintains ecosystem infrastructure including the dealroom.launchvic.org startup database (a partnership with dealroom.co) and the annual Governor of Victoria Startup Awards. Program delivery occurs through third-party partners including universities (Monash, RMIT, University of Melbourne via the Wade Institute), accelerators, angel networks, and government departments (Agriculture Victoria, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action).

Under CEO Dr. Kate Cornick's decade of leadership, Victoria's startup ecosystem grew from approximately 1,000 to 4,400+ startups with a sector valuation of $139 billion, 66,900+ jobs created, and 18 unicorns. In December 2025 the Victorian Government announced the wind-down of LaunchVic and its merger with Breakthrough Victoria into a single new entity called Innovation Victoria, expected to be operational in the second half of 2026.

Name

LaunchVic

Legal name

LaunchVic (ACN 611 281 737)

Website

http://launchvic.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LaunchVic is a Victorian Government statutory agency, founded in 2016 in Melbourne, that funds and coordinates the state's startup ecosystem through co-investment funds (Alice Anderson Fund, Hugh Victor McKay Fund), angel-network and VC-fund sponsorship, founder/investor education programs, and ecosystem data infrastructure. It serves Victorian founders, investors, and accelerators on a non-commercial, government-funded basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Startup Ecosystem Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA), Impact Investment & Development Investment Funds (BPADACAO)

Keywords

• Startup ecosystem development
• Venture capital funding
• Government startup grants
• Angel network support
• Founder education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: LaunchVic is funded by the Victorian Government. As a government agency, it does not generate commercial revenue from products or services. It distributes grants, co-investment capital, and program support to the startup ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LaunchVic is Victoria's startup agency, delivering programs, grants, and co-investment funds to support founders, investors, and program operators across the Victorian startup ecosystem. It operates co-investment vehicles including the Alice Anderson Fund ($10M for women-led startups) and the Hugh Victor McKay Fund ($2M for AgTech), funds angel networks and VC funds, runs founder programs (Basecamp, 30X30, CivVic Labs), and delivers investor education (VC Catalyst, VC Fundamentals).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alice Anderson Fund: $10 million co-investment fund for women-led startups
• Hugh Victor McKay Fund
• CivVic Labs
• 30X30
• Basecamp
• NOVA
• VC Catalyst
• Innovation Victoria

Products and services

• Alice Anderson Fund $10 million co-investment fund that invests $50,000-$300,000 alongside private investors into women-led early-stage Victorian startups, addressing the capital gap for female founders.
• Hugh Victor McKay Fund $2 million co-investment fund for early-stage Victorian AgTech startups, investing up to $200,000 per startup with 85% as equity and 15% as a direct grant to founders, co-invested at a 2:1 ratio alongside private investors.
• CivVic Labs Innovation Challenge

Quantifiable outcome

• Victoria's startup ecosystem grew from 1,000 to 4,400+ startups (4.4X growth) with ecosystem value reaching $139 billion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CivVic Labs Experience Victoria ChallengeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Tourism innovation bootcamp delivering $25,000 equity-free grants to winners The Past Connection (heritage booking platform) and tRetail Labs' nrtureAI (AI analytics for airport retail).
• Agriculture VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2024Partnership with Agriculture Victoria to run the $2 million Hugh Victor McKay Fund for Victorian AgTech startups. Agriculture Victoria provides funding and sector expertise for the co-investment fund targeting early-stage agricultural technology companies.
• dealroom.cocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2023Global startup and VC data platform partnership providing real-time ecosystem intelligence for dealroom.launchvic.org. Powers the startup database used by founders, investors, and policymakers to track Victorian startup metrics, valuations, and investment trends.
• Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship (University of Melbourne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partner for VC Catalyst investor education program, providing immersive venture capital training. Program has unlocked $131.39 million in startup investment since 2019. Also delivers VC Fundamentals introductory program.
• Monash UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHugh Victor McKay Fund investment committee member Dr Charlie Day is CEO of Jupiter Ionics (Monash spinout). Funded startups like Alt. Leather operate in Monash labs. Partnership provides R&D infrastructure for portfolio companies.
• RMIT UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunchVic-funded startup Alt. Leather works with RMIT on standards testing for leather alternative materials. RMIT Activator runs [Re]Launch Pre-Accelerator for circular economy startups.
• CSIROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAS (Digital Agricultural Solutions) was founded in partnership with CSIRO in 2017. CSIRO kick-start funding available to startups. LaunchVic-funded companies collaborate with CSIRO on research and production trials.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Lot Fourteen (South Australia): South Australian Government innovation precinct and startup ecosystem hub in Adelaide. Comparable state-level innovation ecosystem platform operating in a different Australian state, focusing on space, defense, and tech startups.
• Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (Western Australia): Western Australian Government agency supporting innovation, science, and startup ecosystem development. Operates in a different Australian state with similar functions of funding and supporting startups, but geographically distinct from LaunchVic's Victorian focus.

Broad incumbents

• Tech Council of Australia: National industry body representing Australia's tech sector, including major tech employers, startups, and investors. National-level counterpart that engages with state agencies like LaunchVic; Kate Cornick joins as CEO in May 2026.
• British Business Bank: UK Government-backed economic development bank providing venture debt, growth capital, and startup ecosystem support. Comparable in being a state-backed capital and ecosystem institution operating at much larger scale internationally.
• Israel Innovation Authority: Israeli Government agency funding startup innovation through grants, incubators, and R&D programs. Globally recognized model of government-led startup ecosystem development; comparable to LaunchVic's accelerator and grant approach but at much larger scale.
• Bpifrance: French public investment bank supporting business creation, development, and innovation. Large-scale government-backed institution combining ecosystem development with capital deployment; comparable role model for what Innovation Victoria could become at scale.
• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore Government agency supporting business development and startup growth. Government statutory board that funds, develops, and accelerates startup ecosystems, serving as a global model that LaunchVic's structure emulates.

Direct peers

• Investment NSW: NSW Government agency driving investment, innovation, and startup ecosystem growth in New South Wales. Most direct state-level peer to LaunchVic, competing for the same founders, investors, and corporate partners across Australia's east coast.
• Breakthrough Victoria: Victorian Government-backed innovation investment fund focused on deep tech, climate tech, and health startups. Direct merger partner into Innovation Victoria; complementary to LaunchVic with capital deployment focus versus LaunchVic's ecosystem development focus.
• Advance Queensland: Queensland Government initiative funding startups, entrepreneurs, and innovation across Queensland. Comparable state-level government startup development agency operating in a similar mandate of grants, accelerators, and ecosystem building.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LaunchVIC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCB3dF7KQBRZIZvf5eWYuhmQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/LaunchVic
• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/launchvic
• Instagraminstagram.com/launchvic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments201 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LaunchVic