The University of South Australia's Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) is now accepting applications for its 2022 Venture Catalyst Space program.
As the first of its kind space accelerator and incubator, the program forms part of the State Government's $4 million Space Innovation Fund, which supports activities to grow the space industry in South Australia.
Now in its fourth year, the program supports space startups through a program of tailored support, mentoring and access to resources at the University of South Australia.
Complementing the thriving ecosystem of more than 60 existing space industry companies, the HQ of the Australian Space Agency, and the Smart Sat CRC in South Australia, the competitive and globally recognised Venture Catalyst Space program has nurtured companies from Canada, India, the Unites States and Australia.
Recent graduates of the 2021 program include 114ai, Astroport Space Technologies (United States), Digantara (India), Firefly Biotech (South Australia), Hex20 (South Australia), Locus Rose (South Australia), Moonlode (South Australia), satsearch (Netherlands) and SPACELIS (South Australia).
Each received funding, workshops, mentoring and introductions to key Australian space industry contacts as well as a world-class workspace with access to the resources of the University of South Australia for the duration of the program.
Working closely with the ICC's industry partners and a global pool of industry experts that includes our expert in residence, Kirk Drage, the companies were able to test and develop their products and services and build out their business.
Associate Director of the ICC Jasmine Vreugdenburg encourages local startups as well as companies from across the global space industry to apply.
"Since launching the program we have supported 19 companies to build, test and iterate their minimum viable product, raise funds and develop partnerships with both research and industry across Australia and abroad" Vreugdenburg says.
"Our latest cohort of companies has gained global media attention, connected with leading industry organisations including NASA and the Australia Space Agency and have rapidly integrated into the space community and industry".
"We're looking forward to opening up our Venture Catalyst Space program once again to innovative talent across the globe and I encourage founders to apply for our next intake".
Digantara Founder, Anirudh Sharma says that the Venture Catalyst Space program allowed his space company to gain access to Australia's space market and ecosystem far more quickly than they could have done on their own.
"It was a watershed moment in our company's development. Thanks to excellent mentors, speakers and the support from the ICC, we were able to develop a plan for running a business in this sector and gain new skills as young entrepreneurs. It was created particularly for startups in the space industry like us to have simple access to the market and hit milestones fast," Sharma says.
Applications are now open for the 2021 intake via icc.unisa.edu.au and will close on 28 November 2021.
The program will run from January to July.
About UniSA's Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC)
The Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) is the University of South Australia's startup accelerator and incubator.
The ICC engages with the community through the delivery of community events, workshops and programs which draw on the research and professional expertise of UniSA and our partners, to support the generation of new startups and the growth of existing companies.
Our flagship accelerator program, Venture Catalyst is a six-12 month tailored program of support to develop founders with innovative ideas. With three categories (hi-tech, space and social enterprise), the program offers workshops for the company's specific needs, mentoring, office space, a global pool of industry experts and a stipend.
