Regional ICC

One program. Three categories. Offered Regionally.

Venture Catalyst is a six-month program to develop founders with innovative ideas.

Participants accepted into the program will receive a tailored program of support designed to help early stage startup founders, plan and successfully execute their journey towards building a globally scalable and investment ready business.

Participants will also receive one-to-one mentoring from the ICC's Entrepreneur in Residence; Kirk Drage and his company LeapSheep.

Applications for regional Venture Catalyst program in 2020 have now closed. Stay tuned for 2021 updates. Feel welcome to submit an expression of interest in the meantime.

Venture Catalyst General

supported by the University of South Australia

The General category is open to any industry sector and supports startups with the potential for high growth, who are developing new services, markets or business models that compete in global markets. Accepted applicants will receive a tailored program based on their current needs as well as the $10,000 stipend and other benefits mentioned above.

Learn more

Venture Catalyst Space

supported by the South Australian Space Industry Centre

The Space category, supported by the State Government's Space Innovation Fund, is the state's first program designed specifically for startups who are developing new services or products for the space industry. The program gives founders the support and tools they need to plan and successfully build a scalable and investment ready business.

Learn more

Venture Catalyst Social Enterprise

supported by the Pank Family

The Social Enterprise category is supported by the Pank Family who support social innovation and enterprises developed by UniSA students or alumni. Through the Venture Catalyst program, the Pank Family have ensured that new ideas that come out of the University have the support and mentoring needed to set up a new and innovative social enterprise in South Australia.

Learn more

About the Regional ICC

The Regional ICC was opened in early 2019 at the University of South Australia's Whyalla Campus underpinned by a grant through the Australian Government's Entrepreneurs’ Programme.

The new innovation hub provides a dynamic pathway for innovative startups to reach their global capacity by providing educational workshops combined with fast gigabit network speeds and injecting expert mentors.

The Whyalla business community will benefit from a suite of training forums led by professionals with a track record of driving a local innovation into an international market. In addition to startup activity the centre will provide support to local businesses looking to grow by providing a hub for their activity, with access to a global network and a series of workshops and other activities to support those businesses.

Supported by the Australian Government through the Entrepreneurs’ Programme.

Program features to help start your venture

Workshops

A series of capability workshops and pitch and feedback sessions designed for founders to accelerate growth

Mentoring

One-on-one mentoring sessions to support implementation of your learnings

University resources

Access to co-working space in either the Adelaide CBD or Whyalla, and access to UniSA’s support services including research and placements

Industry experts

Access to a pool of global industry experts and experts in residence who specialise in advice for the startup journey

ICC community

Regular group activities supporting community building, resilience and access to networking events

Funding

A stipend of up to $10,000 AUD per company. Eligible startups only

Discover more of our program features

Frequently asked questions

2020 applications have now closed. Please stay tuned for 2021 updates.

If shortlisted, you are likely to 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.

For regional startups, the program can be done at either the regional ICC in Whyalla or online. They will also have access to the metro ICC as part of the program.

The program is offered at the ICC Adelaide and the regional ICC. Regional applications will be accepted all year round.

This program is based on individual support and mentoring to help you get your idea off the ground. This is not a grant program.

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

Regional startups

114AI

Developing a data fusion platform for space domain awareness Venture Catalyst Space 2021

Adaptation Ai

Artificial Intelligence company developing smart and innovative solutions for business

AICRAFT

Low-power smart data processing at any orbit

AltData

Empowering artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to train faster.

ANT61

Enabling humanity’s development in space and back home

Ardant

Utilising cutting-edge technology to radically improve access to allied health services

Astrogate Labs

Smallsat optical communication solutions

Astroport Space Technologies

Space construction and materials maufacturing company turning Moon dust into durable feedstock for autonomous 3D construction printing of lunar surface infrastructure

Athlete's AI

Video analytics for sports using AI

Beyond Optimum

Removing diseases and toxins from our farming soils and waterways

Blue Dwarf

Automated permit application system for space activities

ByteProTeQ

Advanced optimisation in software development

Calm-Vax

Transforming the vaccination experience by easing distress for children, parents and clinicians

Carina Biotech

Creating a future that defeats cancer

Converlens

Turning words into insights helping to collect, manage and analyse government consultations.

Critiqal Path

A project management professional services social enterprise

Digantara

A space surveillance company Venture Catalyst Space 2021

eDON

Re-imagining nursing Venture Catalyst Current

ESpy Ocean

Early detection of mid-to-large-size vessels to combat poaching

Eyre Power

Providing solutions for the power industry

Festivally

Evaluating the usability and accessibility of online platforms for festivals, events and tourism through consulting

FireFlight

Creating accurate wildfire maps from airborne and spaceborne sensors

Firefly Biotech

Supporting biology research in microgravity

Framework

Customise everything. Build your ideal framework

Frontline BI

Job management software for tradies. Built by tradies for tradies

Frostek

Reducing the impact of frost on livestock and crops

Gaia Project Australia

Reinventing how the world cultivates crops, from the ground up

Global Thinking

Global Thinking aims to build intuitive data management and analytics platforms to track and report impact, that are flexible for users and easily adaptable to their needs.

Going To Places

Buy local, sell global ecosystem, for all industries and businesses

Grahaa Space

Live CCTV for Earth from space

Guerin Technologies

Lightweight and compact deployable antennas for satellites

Hairy As Beard Love

Producing natural beard care products with a vision of creating better men everywhere

Hex20

Full stream technology solution for low earth orbit (LEO) satellite applications

ID8R

Empowering collectors to showcase their digital assets

ifarmwell

Growing farmers' well-being

InnovateAI

Optimising business operations with customer-centric technology solutions.

Integrated Environments

Cheap and highly efficient cooking system for developing countries

Iris Engineering

Green hydrogen power for communities and industry

KC Research and Solutions

Mobile insulin production in space

Kiratech

Having had nearly a decade of experience in the automotive and IT sector, lead to the concept of tracking every vehicle in Australia for recycling.

Licorice

The end of IT tickets forever

Link4

Every business receives invoices. Every business has someone who takes the data from an invoice and puts it into their accounting system. But not with Link4.

Local Liquid

Removal and reuse of liquid waste

Locus Rose

Compact and portable parabolic antennae for the space industry

Lookinglass

Lumina Vista

Empowering students and graduates on their journey to academic and career success

Lux Aerobot

Space robotics company building atmospheric satellites for Earth observation

Mesh in Space

Mesh networking solutions for satellite constellations focusing on cybersecurity

Metaspectral

Developing next-generation computer vision software for advanced optical sensors, capable of remotely identifying the chemical composition of materials in real-time Venture Catalyst Space 2023

Moonlode

Thermal engineering solutions for deep space Venture Catalyst Space 2021

Moose Industries

Designing robust innovative farm machinery

Nano Spaces

Nanofluidic technology for space

Ohana

Improving the lives of separating families

OminiWell

Recreating living microtissues in the lab

Onnes

Next-generation carbon fibre composite fuel tanks for spacecraft and launch vehicles

Orbital Blue

Building software solutions for safe navigation in crowded space orbits

Oxamii

Electricity direct from solar farms in your community

Paladin Space

Enabling a safe and sustainable future in space

Perspective

Introducing intelligent satellite imagery operations in spacecrafts

Ping Services

Intelligent listening

Provider 360

An all-in-one platform for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and aged care providers, offering efficient registration and growth solutions.

QL Space

Disrupting the mining and mineral industry with Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

RapidBeam

Enabling seamless, uninterrupted communications between earth and space

ResearchSat

The future of scientific research

Robinson Aerospace Systems

Educational satellite kits to inspire the next generation

Safety From Space

Resilient emergency communications from anywhere

satsearch

The global marketplace for space

ScanDi by McDemco MedTech

Bringing medical diagnostics to homes

Secure Nest

Secure Nest is an online mental health platform designed to support those seeking help to change their negative thinking and behavioural patterns.

SiteSeer

Simplifying complex information with spatial computing

SkySpec

Earth Observation data analytics for monitoring hazardous chemicals in the environment

SPACELIS

Solar energy solutions for space manufacturing

Spark Medical Solutions Pty Ltd

The smartest way to write your NDIS reports

Spinflector

Improving road safety

Sport Tech Learn

Using sport to engage students in integrative curriculum and gain confidence and skills in STEM

Taste Studios

Making it easier for families to eat better

Team 3

DISA – decision support tool for information and space domains

Tekuma

Reinventing the human machine interface

Theatrix

A specialised online platform delivering music, arts and entertainment

TIDI

An intuitive, AI-driven digital notebook for business ideas

True Algae

Growing micro-algae to use in feeding plants and animals

ulaunch.me

Helping startups to go to market quicker with less cash

Up and Up

Sending e-commerce brands to the edge of space

Village

WillBits

Wright Technologies

Preventing cargo theft on a global scale

Zharfire

Empowering climate action through space data intelligence

What our regional startups are saying

Geoff Rayson

"(The program provides) a chance to work with like-minded people and receive professional mentoring and tuition at a reduced cost and help us avoid the lethal pitfalls of startups and give our new business the best possible start."

Geoff Rayson
Director, True Algae

Regional ICC news

Local startups accepted into regional Venture Catalyst program to kick-start global ventures

10 June 2020

The regional Innovation & Collaboration Centre at UniSA Whyalla today announced the four local startups and small businesses that have won a place in the Venture Catalyst business support program.

Media Release: UniSA offering $10k to develop new business ideas in regional SA

1 April 2020

The Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) at UniSA’s Whyalla campus is seeking applications for their Venture Catalyst program that includes a $10,000 equity-free stipend to help people with a new business concept, get it off the ground.

Farmers2Founders’s first SA workshop of 2020 to kick off in Eyre Peninsula

10 February 2020

After a successful debut year in 2019, Farmers2Founders (F2F) is back, this time in South Australia, running workshops linking primary producers to innovation and technology experts.

Top SA entrepreneur supporting innovation in the regions

9 December 2019

One of Australia’s most successful business innovators is coming to the region as part of his new role with the University of South Australia.

MEDIA RELEASE: UniSA’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre officially launches in Whyalla with two local companies accepted into the incubator program

20 August 2019

After months of work and preparation, dignitaries, stakeholders and community members will officially launch the new Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) at UniSA Whyalla.

UniSA giving Whyalla Techstars the chance to shine

23 July 2019

The University of South Australia will host the first Techstars Startup Weekend in South Australia since 2017, at the new Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) in Whyalla, opening in August.