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Australia: what a solo founder can apply for

4 places and 12 programs so far. Each place has its own page with the programs we have listed, the eligibility conditions and the source.

12programs listed

PlacesOpen a place to see the programs we have listed

Australia-wide (federal)5 programs · Open for applications

New South Wales2 programs · This round is closed

Victoria1 program · This round is closed

Queensland4 programs · This round is closed

Comparison

Headline maximum versus what a solo founder can apply for4 places. Select a row to expand it.

Place	Headline maximum	Open to a solo founder	Type of support	Example	Application window
Australia-wide (federal)Checked against the source	A$5 millionIndustry Growth Program, commercialisation and growth grant	5 programs		Self-Employment AssistanceFree accredited Small Business Training, business plan help, advice sessions and Small Business Coaching	Open for applications
What a solo founder can apply for in these programs Self-Employment AssistanceFree accredited Small Business Training, business plan help, advice sessions and Small Business Coaching Aged 15 or over (18 for coaching); an Australian citizen, permanent visa holder or nominated visa holder; not an undischarged bankrupt. For a new business or a micro-business with up to 4 employees, assessed as viable by your provider. The page says you may also be eligible for financial support during coaching and gives no amount. Source Instant asset write-offImmediate deduction for an asset that costs less than A$20,000 For a small business with an aggregated turnover of less than A$10 million that uses the simplified depreciation rules. Only the business portion of the cost is deductible. The ATO page gives A$20,000 as the limit from 1 July 2023. Source CSIRO Kick-StartA$20,000 to A$60,000, dollar-matched You must hold an ACN or ICN, so a sole trader has to incorporate first. Annual turnover and operating expenditure under A$10 million, or trading for less than three years. You must be able to provide matched funding, and the money supports a project carried out with CSIRO researchers. Source R&D Tax IncentiveRefundable tax offset: your company tax rate plus 18.5% Incorporated companies only, with an aggregated turnover of less than A$20 million for the refundable offset. You must apply within 10 months of the end of the income year in which the R&D took place. Source Export Market Development GrantsNo round is open Round 4 has closed. Austrade says there are currently no grant rounds open and that its website will be updated when the timing of the next round is confirmed. Source Why the headline figure is out of reach: The applicant must be a company incorporated in Australia (or an incorporated trustee), so a sole trader cannot apply. The grant is matched funding, you can only apply after receiving the program's Advisory Service report, and the official page says not every business that sees an adviser will be eligible for a grant. Eligibility conditions Business structure decides most of it. CSIRO Kick-Start needs an ACN or ICN; the R&D Tax Incentive and the Industry Growth Program are for incorporated companies. The Self-Employment Assistance and instant asset write-off pages list no company requirement. Turnover limits: under A$10 million for the instant asset write-off and for Kick-Start (or trading for less than three years); under A$20 million for the refundable R&D offset and for the Industry Growth Program. Matched funding: Kick-Start and Industry Growth Program grants require your own money alongside the grant. The Industry Growth Program also requires an Australian business number (ABN) and a project within the priority areas of the National Reconstruction Fund. Application window The Industry Growth Program Advisory Service accepts applications at any time. Self-Employment Assistance is arranged through a local provider. No Export Market Development Grants round is open. Handled by: the agency that runs each program (see the source link on each one). Source: Australian Government (official websites). Last checked on 2026-10-04.
New South WalesChecked against the source	A$75,000 MVP Ventures grant, Stream 2 maximum	2 programs		MVP Ventures, Stream 1A$20,000 to A$50,000, up to 50% of eligible project costs	This round is closed
What a solo founder can apply for in these programs MVP Ventures, Stream 1A$20,000 to A$50,000, up to 50% of eligible project costs Closed. You must contribute at least 50% yourself. The business must be a company incorporated in Australia, headquartered in NSW, with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent staff including founders and an aggregated turnover of A$400,000 or less in each of the last three financial years. Source MVP Ventures, Stream 2A$20,000 to A$75,000, up to 75% of eligible project costs Closed. Same business rules as Stream 1, with a co-contribution of at least 25%. Only for businesses that are majority women-owned and managed, regionally headquartered and operated, or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander majority-owned and managed. Source Why the headline figure is out of reach: The A$75,000 maximum is for Stream 2 only: businesses that are majority women-owned and managed, regionally headquartered and operated, or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander majority-owned and managed. Everyone else is in Stream 1, capped at A$50,000. Either way the applicant must be an incorporated company, so a sole trader cannot apply, and all three 2025-26 rounds have closed. Eligibility conditions An active Australian Business Number (ABN) and headquarters in NSW. A company incorporated in Australia, or an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation. Sole traders are not eligible. You must hold the intellectual property or the rights to commercialise it. Aggregated turnover of A$400,000 or less in each of the three financial years before applying, and 10 or fewer full-time equivalent staff including founders. The project must move a product along Technology Readiness Levels 3 to 9, run for 3 to 12 months, and be carried out mostly in NSW. Application window Round 3 opened on 9 March 2026 and closed on 10 April 2026. The program page lists no later round. Handled by: the NSW Premier's Department. Source: NSW Government (official websites). Last checked on 2026-10-04.
VictoriaChecked against the source	NoneNo cash grant among the programs we checked	1 program		Business Skills Mentoring programThree one-hour mentoring sessions, to be used within 3 months	This round is closed
What a solo founder can apply for in these programs Business Skills Mentoring programThree one-hour mentoring sessions, to be used within 3 months Closed. Expressions of interest ended at 5pm on 31 August 2026. Up to 1,000 small business owners in 7 priority sectors: advanced manufacturing and defence, health technologies and medical research, circular economy, digital technologies, agribusiness, regional tourism, and distilleries. Source Note: The one current program we found gives mentoring, not money. The cash program we also checked, the Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program (A$2,000), closed in an earlier year and was only for businesses with employees. Eligibility conditions You must be a small business owner in one of the 7 priority sectors named on the program page. Eligibility is assessed against the program guidelines after you submit an expression of interest. You complete a pre-mentoring stage before being paired with a mentor. Application window Expressions of interest opened on 6 November 2025 and closed on 31 August 2026. Handled by: Business Victoria. Source: Business Victoria (official websites). Last checked on 2026-10-04.
QueenslandChecked against the source	A$75,000 Business Growth Fund grant	4 programs		Business BasicsA$7,500, paid upfront, with no co-contribution	This round is closed
What a solo founder can apply for in these programs Business BasicsA$7,500, paid upfront, with no co-contribution No round is open: recipients of the latest round have been announced. It funds professional business advice, strategic marketing services, and website builds or upgrades. Source Business BoostA$10,000 to A$20,000, paid in 2 milestone payments No round is open: Round 4 is at the acquittal stage. It funds staff planning systems, specialised and automated software, and future planning. Source Business Growth FundA$50,000 to A$75,000, paid over 3 milestone payments No round is open: Round 7 projects are underway. For high-growth small and family businesses buying specialised equipment. You must co-invest at least 50% of total project costs. Source Mentoring for GrowthA free session with experienced volunteer mentors Listed on the grants schedule as a way to prepare for future rounds. You register through Business Queensland. Source Why the headline figure is out of reach: Round 7 recipients have already been chosen. The grant is for buying specialised equipment, and applicants must co-invest at least 50% of total project costs. Eligibility conditions These programs are for Queensland small and family businesses. Each round publishes its own guidelines, and eligibility is set there. We have not listed those rules because no round is open. The Business Growth Fund requires a co-investment of at least 50% of total project costs. Application window No small business grant round is open. Two programs are marked as opening soon, with dates to be confirmed: Secure Communities Partnership Program Round 3 (small business) and the Construction Business Advancement Grant. Handled by: the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business. Source: Business Queensland (official websites). Last checked on 2026-10-04.

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