Venture Catalyst Space

Supporting founders to start and lead space ventures

Venture Catalyst Space is a globally recognised program dedicated to supporting startup founders to develop innovative, disruptive businesses in the international space sector.

Delivered by the University of South Australia’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC), and supported by the State Government, the program has a strong history of connecting founders with a global pool of industry experts, including stakeholders from NASA, the Australian Space Agency, the South Australian Space Industry Centre (SASIC), Defence SA, Airbus and the SmartSat Collaborative Research Centre (SmartSat CRC).

Since its inception in 2018, Venture Catalyst Space has supported 40+ space startups. The program has helped fast-track the cohort’s market entry, accelerate their commercialisation journeys, and strengthen their connections to investors and researchers.

The program is delivered in Adelaide, South Australia. The state is well established as Australia’s space capital, home to the above stakeholders as well as the Australian Space Discovery Centre and key commercial entities like Fleet Space Technologies, Southern Launch, and Myriota. In this thriving space ecosystem, there is huge commercial benefit to establishing space ventures in South Australia.

Venture Catalyst features to grow your space ventures

Venture Catalyst Space, supported by the State Government's Space Innovation Fund, is the state's first acceleration program designed specifically for startups who are developing new services or products for the space industry.

Workshops

Engage in a series of tailored capability workshops and pitch and feedback sessions designed for founders to accelerate growth

Mentoring

Grow from one-on-one mentoring sessions to support implementation of new knowledge

University resources

Access a custom-built co-working space in Adelaide CBD and benefit from UniSA’s resources and facilities like research, internship placements, Industry TestLab 4.0, marketing, legal and tax clinics, and much more

Industry experts

Connect with a pool of global industry experts who deliver specialised advice for startup founders in areas like tax law, product development, IP-related commercialisation, enterprise architecture and digital strategy

ICC community

Join a like-minded startup community and grow through peer learning, networking, and regular formal and informal events

Funding

Get ahead with an equity-free stipend of $10,000 AUD and retain your IP. Stipends are paid incrementally according to contract terms

Key dates

This year’s Venture Catalyst Space program is underway with a new cohort of innovative startups. Application dates change slightly each year. Typically, those wishing to apply may expect applications to open for a six-week period in Q1, with programs currently running May-November. Dates will be published to this page when available.

To stay up to date with program information, join the ICC mailing list or follow the ICC on LinkedIn, Facebook or X.

Growth Ramp space scale up pathway

Are you ready to scale?

Graduates of the Venture Catalyst Space program are eligible to apply for a fully-funded place in the Australian Centre for Business Growth's scale up program, Growth Ramp.

Aimed at companies with between five to 11 employees, Growth Ramp helps refine product/market fit, determine an optimal customer base, identify best strategies and tactics for growth and hire executive teams.

Take your company to the next level.

Learn more

Venture Catalyst Space supported companies

What our startups are saying about the program

“Since the start of the program, we’ve been introduced to nearly the entire space community in Australia which is fantastic. I’ve been able to meet with some of the people I’ve looked up to most of my life. This program turns what you have as an idea, into something tangible and real. It is novel and different, providing the support and clear steps needed to have something tangible for investors with an unbelievable support network.”

Harrison Box
Venture Catalyst Space participant, Paladin Space

Paladin Space is working to revolutionise the In-Orbit Servicing industry by creating the world’s first reusable space debris removal satellite.

“The Venture Catalyst Space program has connected us to world-class mentors and subject matter experts to rapidly develop our proof of concept.”

Tiffanwy Klippel-Cooper
Venture Catalyst Space participant, OmnigenIQ

OmnigenIQ are developing a zero-gravity protein purification and bioreactor system.

“I have been dragged kicking and screaming through a bunch of incubators, but I must say the ICC program is way above the others we have been involved in.”

Ian Dewey
Venture Catalyst Space participant, ESpy Ocean

ESpy Ocean provides intelligence to predict shark behaviour, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, anti-poaching, and transport vessel compliance.

“My favourite parts of the program have been the one-on-one coaching and the group setting. Having other companies around discussing their business or hearing about what they're facing with their current customers or their go-to-market strategy. The group setting is also helpful in terms of hearing what challenges and solutions the other companies are going through.”

Tony Scoleri
Venture Catalyst Space participant, AICRAFT

AICRAFT designs and manufactures smart sensors, tailored systems and electronic boards powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

“Being a part of Venture Catalyst Space has allowed Digantara to gain access to Australia's space market and ecosystem far more quickly than we could have done on our 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.”

Anirudh N Sharma
Venture Catalyst Space participant, Digantara

Digantara is the first Indian space company to develop a space-based surveillance platform to track space objects.

“The ICC program has been instrumental for us to build connections within the Australian ecosystem. There are active conversations which have been enabled by the ICC program. They deserve full credit to be able to run an international program with startups represented from multiple countries. I would recommend the program for startups wanting to enter the Australian market.”

Vinayak Dalmia
Venture Catalyst Space participant, 114ai

114ai build data fusion software platforms for space domain awareness.

“Venture Catalyst Space has assisted SPACELIS to climb the ladder in our space venture with precise, unique guidance to launch our business. Our innovative ideas have been reinforced to fit the emerging space and clean energy markets and our company has gained valuable knowledge to assist in exploring significant business and technology opportunities. Our team strongly recommends the program to those following their entrepreneurial passions for being part of the SA space industry and connecting with the global space community!”

Guler Kocak
Venture Catalyst Space participant, SPACELIS

SPACELIS develop solar energy solutions for space manufacturing.

“As a US based company having been selected for the ICC’s Venture Catalyst Space Startups program, it has been an enormous help in establishing our foothold in the growing space industry in Australia. Their substantial networking resources and ecosystem helped us to identify and connect with industry and university collaborating partners. With ICC’s help these partnerships rapidly evolved into space projects we are jointly developing with potential for creating jobs and hiring local talent for our Australian operations.”

Sam Ximenes
Venture Catalyst Space participant, Astroport

Astroport Space Technologies are a space construction and materials maufacturing company turning moon dust into durable feedstock for autonomous 3D construction printing of lunar surface infrastructure.

“Since the start of the program, we’ve been introduced to nearly the entire space community in Australia which is fantastic. I’ve been able to meet with some of the people I’ve looked up to most of my life. This program turns what you have as an idea, into something tangible and real. It is novel and different, providing the support and clear steps needed to have something tangible for investors with an unbelievable support network.”

Harrison Box
Venture Catalyst Space, Paladin Space

Paladin Space is working to revolutionise the In-Orbit Servicing industry (valued at over $14 billion by 2030) by creating the world’s first reusable space debris removal satellite that can target several small pieces of debris in a single mission.

“The Venture Catalyst Space program has connected us to world-class mentors and subject matter experts to rapidly develop our proof of concept.”

Tiffanwy Klippel-Cooper
Venture Catalyst Space participants,

OmnigenIQOmnigenIQ are developing a zero-gravity protein purification and bioreactor system.

“I have been dragged kicking and screaming through a bunch of incubators, but I must say the ICC program is way above the others we have been involved in.”

Ian Dewey
Venture Catalyst Space,

ESpy OceanESpy Ocean provides intelligence to predict shark behaviour, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, anti-poaching, and transport vessel compliance.

“My favourite parts of the program have been the one-on-one coaching and the group setting. Having other companies around discussing their business or hearing about what they're facing with their current customers or their go-to-market strategy. The group setting is also helpful in terms of hearing what challenges and solutions the other companies are going through.”

Tony Scoleri
Venture Catalyst Space, AICRAFT

AICRAFT designs and manufactures smart sensors, tailored systems and electronic boards powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

“Being a part of Venture Catalyst Space has allowed Digantara to gain access to Australia's space market and ecosystem far more quickly than we could have done on our 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.”

Anirudh N Sharma
Venture Catalyst Space, Digantara

Digantara is the first Indian space company to develop a space-based surveillance platform to track space objects.

“The ICC program has been instrumental for us to build connections within the Australian ecosystem. There are active conversations which have been enabled by the ICC program. They deserve full credit to be able to run an international program with startups represented from multiple countries. I would recommend the program for startups wanting to enter the Australian market.”

Vinayak Dalmia
Venture Catalyst Space, 114ai

114ai build data fusion software platforms for space domain awareness.

“Supporting space startups and mentoring deep tech entrepreneurs, the Venture Catalyst Space Program has assisted SPACELIS to climb the ladder in our space venture with the precise, unique guidance to launch our business. Our innovative ideas have been reinforced to fit the emerging space and clean energy markets and our company has gained valuable knowledge to assist in exploring significant businesses and technology opportunities for SPACELIS to be its very best. We are proud and devoted to follow the leadership and advice that the Venture Catalyst Space program has provided us. Our team strongly recommends the program offered at the Innovation & Collaboration Centre to those following their entrepreneurial passions for being part of the SA space industry and connecting with the global space community!”

Guler Kocak
Venture Catalyst Space, SPACELIS

SPACELIS develop solar energy solutions for space manufacturing.

“As a US based company having been selected for the ICC’s Venture Catalyst Space Startups program, it has been an enormous help in establishing our foothold in the growing space industry in Australia. Their substantial networking resources and ecosystem helped us to identify and connect with industry and university collaborating partners. With ICC’s help these partnerships rapidly evolved into space projects we are jointly developing with potential for creating jobs and hiring local talent for our Australian operations.

Sam Ximenes
Venture Catalyst Space participant, Astroport

Astroport Space Technologies are a space construction and materials maufacturing company turning moon dust into durable feedstock for autonomous 3D construction printing of lunar surface infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

When do applications need to be submitted by?

Applications for the Venture Catalyst Space program typically open in Q1 each year, with programs running May-November. Application dates will be published to this page when available. Access to the program application form will be enabled from Monday, 2 December for those wishing to make a head start.

To stay up to date with program information, join the ICC mailing list or follow the ICC on Facebook, LinkedIn or X. Otherwise, click here to send us an enquiry.

Will I need to pitch my business as part of the application process?

If shortlisted, you will be asked to attend a short (45 min) informal interview to expand on your idea and allow the Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) to meet the key members of your team. This may be in person or online.

When will I know if I have been accepted into the program?

Applicants will be contacted 4-6 weeks after their application has been submitted. Applicants will also be kept up to date on the steps and status of their application. All program-related dates will be published to this page when available.

Do I need to be affiliated with UniSA to apply?

No; startups who are developing new services or products for the space industry and wish to apply for the Venture Catalyst Space program do not need to be affiliated with UniSA.

If I am successful, will I have the opportunity to meet the team at the ICC before the program starts?

Yes. A meet and greet will be planned prior to the program starting. All successful applicants, program leaders and industry experts will be invited. If successful applicants wish to visit the ICC before the meet and greet, we can arrange this at your request.

Do I need to be based in Adelaide?

If you are interested in the program and live interstate or overseas, you may be eligible for the program if you can demonstrate intention to relocate your business to South Australia. If you have specific questions about this requirement, please send us an enquiry.

I am currently based interstate/overseas; will you provide any support with relocation?

An equity-free stipend of $10,000 AUD may be used to support relocation costs. For regional South Australian startups, the program can be completed at either the regional ICC in Whyalla or online.

Do I receive funding when joining the program?

This program is built on tailored support and mentoring to help founders get their ideas off the ground. Venture Catalyst Space is not a grant program, however eligible startups receive an equity-free stipend of $10,000 AUD, paid incrementally according to contract terms. Since 2018, startups undertaking the Venture Catalyst Space program have gone on to raise more than $31 million in additional declared funding.

Are there restrictions on what I can use the stipend for?

There are no restrictions; you may use the stipend however you see fit.

Do participants retain their equity when joining this program?

This program is 100% equity free. You retain any and all of your equity as a participant of this program.

Interested?

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