Innovation Cluster

What Innovation Cluster does

Innovation Cluster is a Western Australian not-for-profit innovation ecosystem builder headquartered in Vasse (South West WA), operating since 2009 and structured around four sub-brands: AgriStart (the commercial agri-innovation division, co-founded 2016 by Dr Natasha Teakle), AgriSpace (an online subscription-based agtech investment platform using a syndicate structure), Connected Futures (a not-for-profit arm spun off in December 2025 for community-driven initiatives), and The SET (a co-working hub in Vasse offering hot desks, offices, training rooms, and podcast/filming equipment). The organization delivers a portfolio of cohort-based programs — HARVEST Agtech Accelerator (launched 2018, the flagship, having graduated 90+ businesses), CONNECT Sustainable Industries, Future Founders: Emerging Ag Industries (ages 18–25), Connected Futures Hub (regional women founders), LEEF (women's empowerment), and Farm Business Resilience — primarily free to selected participants with no fees or equity taken.

The technology underpinning the business is service- and platform-light. The proprietary surface consists of the AgriSpace online investment platform (subscription tiers $99 investor membership, $450/$720/$1,080 agtech venture listings at 3/6/12 months) plus standard program management, CRM tools, and co-working infrastructure. There is no disclosed core AI/ML technology; digital capabilities are conventional website, social media, and event-based engagement. Revenue mechanics are dominated by multi-year government grants and corporate sponsorships — notably from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, HARVEST anchor since 2018), Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI), Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED), AgriFutures Australia, and South West Development Commission — supplemented by AgriSpace subscription fees and The SET co-working rentals. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with reach extending to 1,000+ founders across 45+ programs and 80+ HARVEST alumni producing referral and partnership network effects within Western Australia's regional innovation economy.

Name

Innovation Cluster

Legal name

Innovation Cluster

Website

https://innovationcluster.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Innovation Cluster is a Western Australian not-for-profit innovation ecosystem builder, headquartered in Vasse, that delivers free accelerator and capability programs (HARVEST, CONNECT, Future Founders, LEEF, Connected Futures Hub) to agtech startups, regional entrepreneurs, women founders, and young innovators, funded by government grants and operating sub-brands AgriStart, AgriSpace, Connected Futures, and The SET co-working hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation and Startup Accelerator Services

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI)

Keywords

• Agtech accelerator programs
• Regional innovation support
• Startup mentoring services
• Agricultural commercialization programs
• Investment readiness training

Headquarters

HQ city

Vasse

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Sponsorship: Innovation Cluster operates primarily as a not-for-profit innovation accelerator funded through government grants, sponsorships, and partnership arrangements. Programs are delivered at no cost to participants with sponsorship model taking no fees or equity.
2. AgriSpace Platform Subscriptions: AgriSpace generates subscription revenue from both agtech ventures ($450-$1080 per year) and investor/grower members ($99 per year) for platform access, investor matching tools, and educational resources.
3. Co-working Space Rental: The SET in Vasse provides hot desks, individual offices, and training room facilities for rent to local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Innovation Cluster runs a portfolio of regional innovation accelerator and business development programs targeting agrifood startups, regional entrepreneurs, women founders, and young innovators in Western Australia. Core offerings include the HARVEST Agtech Accelerator, CONNECT regional innovation programs, Future Founders, Connected Futures Hub, LEEF Program, the AgriSpace online agtech investment platform, and The SET co-working hub in Vasse. Services are delivered through bootcamps, mentoring, investor matching, field trips, and structured cohort programs, primarily funded by government grants and sponsorships.

Product overview

Innovation Cluster is a network of innovation programs and businesses offering startup acceleration, business development, and regional innovation support across Western Australia. The portfolio consists of HARVEST (agtech accelerator), AgriStart (agrifood innovation division), AgriSpace (investment platform), CONNECT (regional innovation), Future Founders (youth entrepreneurship), Connected Futures Hub (women founder investment readiness), LEEF (women's empowerment), and The SET (coworking space). These programs collectively support innovators from vision to venture through training, mentoring, industry connections, and co-working facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AgriStart: The agri-innovation division of Innovation Cluster that enables businesses to innovate and grow faster through expert advice, industry connections, and specialised agrifood and agtech innovation programs including HARVEST and AgriSpace.
• AgriSpace
• Connected Futures
• The SET

Products and services

• HARVEST Agtech Accelerator WA's leading business development program for startups and SMEs innovating in the agrifood and agtech industries, providing expert guidance, industry insights, tools, and strategic connections to accelerate commercialisation. The program is free for successful applicants, valued at over $10,000, with no fees or equity taken and $5,000 bursaries available for regional founders.
• AgriSpace An online investment platform bringing together investors with agtech ventures, operating a syndicate structure with pooled capital for lower minimum investment amounts. Provides investor matching, CRM tools, and educational resources, with agtech venture subscriptions ranging from $450 to $1,080 and investor/grower memberships at $99/year.
• CONNECT Regional innovation program that connects startups with mentors, experts, investors, networks, and community of like-minded businesses to help them think strategically about their business. Includes $5,000 equity-free grant at completion, 6 months free co-working space, and $10,000+ program value.
• Future Founders: Emerging Ag Industries A 12-week industry-led program designed to give young people aged 18-25 hands-on exposure, mentoring, and skills to kickstart a future-focused career in emerging agriculture industries. Free for participants, includes $1,000 completion scholarship and conference tickets.
• Connected Futures Hub A six-month program for regional WA women founders to master storytelling, sharpen strategy, and get investor ready through mentoring, workshops, and direct investor access. Includes $5,000 investment readiness bursary, free office space at The SET, and mentoring support.
• LEEF Program A six-month program empowering regional women with mentoring, workshops, and office space to build emotional and financial resilience, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills.
• CONNECT Sustainable Industries Business incubator supporting regional WA startups with mentoring, site visits, co-working space, and showcase at the Regional Innovation Summit to drive sustainable innovation. Includes $5,000 equity-free grant, 6 months free co-working, and $10,000+ program value.
• Farm Business Resilience Program Program offering tools, training, and resources to improve farm success for Western Australian broadacre grain growers through workshops and one-on-one advisory visits.
• The SET Coworking hub in Vasse with hot desks, individual offices, training room facilities, and podcast/filming equipment for hire to local businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Strategy & Commercialisation Strategic consulting and programs to facilitate innovation for businesses of all sizes, supporting broader sector collaboration and helping commercialise research outcomes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 businesses graduated from HARVEST programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• South West Angels/Regional Ventures WAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization that sources and screens innovative WA startups for regionally based investor members, offering education on angel investing.
• Australian Council of Deans of AgricultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to strengthen role of agriculture and food in higher education and research across Australia and New Zealand.
• South West Brewers AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective of independent brewers focused on excellence, collaboration, sustainability and transparency in South West WA.
• CBH GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Cluster workshop identified ideas generating millions in efficiencies for CBH's grain supply chain through design thinking approach.
• CSBPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time supporter of HARVEST program, building capability and discovering innovative new companies for potential partnership. CSBP team has participated in multiple HARVEST programs.
• WraysminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIntellectual property firm and proud partner of HARVEST program, providing IP expertise to accelerate agtech startup commercialization.
• AgworldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal agtech success story featured at HARVEST events, demonstrating pathway from Australian startup to globally successful business.
• Innovation Central PerthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Southern Ports Hackathon bringing together industry professionals, academic experts, programmers and students.
• Southern PortsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Innovation Cluster on Iron Ore Circuit Hackathon to develop data-driven recommendations for port efficiency improvements.
• Life Sciences WAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor and supporter of Down South adVentures Weekend showcasing biotech, agtech, and oceantech sectors.
• Rural Enterprises AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with AgriStart on Future Works program to tackle labour shortages in South West WA's primary industries.
• Inspire + CollaborateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation Cluster is sponsor, host and facilitation partner for professional and personal development series including workshops and networking for women in business.
• Beanstalk AgtechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Regional Ventures Showcase driving West Tech Fest innovation presentations.
• WA Agtech MeetupsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Regional Ventures Showcase as part of West Tech Fest.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SproutX: Australia's first dedicated agtech accelerator and venture fund, operating a cohort-based accelerator model and investor network directly comparable to HARVEST, though with national reach rather than WA-only.
• Beanstalk Agtech: Australian agtech ecosystem builder and venture studio that runs the Regional Ventures Showcase and West Tech Fest, closely aligned with Innovation Cluster's HARVEST and CONNECT programs in mission and target founders.
• evokeAG: Asia-Pacific agrifood innovation event and ecosystem platform run by AgriFutures, comparable to Innovation Cluster's Regional Innovation Summit and showcase events in the agtech community-building space.
• Cicada Innovations: Australia's deep tech incubator running multi-year programs with mentor and investor networks; comparable in mission to Innovation Cluster's HARVEST/CONNECT but focused on deep tech rather than agtech specifically.

Regional players

• Curtin Ignition: Perth-based university-linked startup accelerator that supports WA founders across sectors; comparable to HARVEST/CONNECT but located in metro Perth and not agtech-focused.

Others

• South West Angels / Regional Ventures WA: Affiliated WA angel network and Innovation Cluster partner; comparable in regional investor matching but focused purely on capital deployment rather than program delivery.

Emerging players

• AgriTech New Zealand: Ecosystem organization supporting NZ agtech founders through events, programs, and policy advocacy; mission-aligned with Innovation Cluster but operating in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• AgriFutures Australia: Statutory R&D corporation funding emerging agricultural industries and supporting programs like Future Founders; a major sponsor and policy counterpart for Innovation Cluster's agtech programs.
• Hatch (UQ) / ilab: University-linked accelerators and incubators (including ilab at UQ and UniQuest) that provide similar programs, mentoring, and investor introductions to early-stage founders.
• Stone & Chalk: National innovation hub operator providing co-working, programs, and corporate connections; comparable to Innovation Cluster's The SET and broader community-building role but at significantly larger scale across multiple cities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1xewDMZg8EMdSED6hPhmdA
• Facebookfacebook.com/InnovationClusterAus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/innovation-cluster
• Instagraminstagram.com/innovation_cluster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Innovation Cluster