ARENA's Launchpad funds early-stage clean-energy startups and the partners that support them.
Who can apply
Early-stage startups working on technology that fits ARENA's renewable energy priorities, plus ecosystem organisations (such as accelerators) that help those startups grow.
We can write this application for you
Send us your business name and we'll check it against every criterion for Launchpad Program. If it's a fit, we write the application, build the budget and check the attachments. You read it, sign it and submit it yourself. Nothing to pay unless you win.
Eligibility quick-check
- Common blockerBusiness structure: a company (Pty Ltd, with an ACN) or other incorporated entity. Sole traders and most partnerships can't apply.
- Usually fineLocation: open Australia-wide, including Victoria.
- Check thisIndustry: aimed at renewable tech.
A quick guide from our reading of the official criteria, not a decision. The funder's guidelines are what count.
How to apply for Launchpad Program
- Check every eligibility criterion in the official guidelines, not just the summary. One missed criterion usually means rejection.
- Confirm your ABN details (legal name, entity type, GST status) match the ABN Register exactly. Mismatches are a common reason applications fail.
- Gather evidence: quotes for the project, recent financials, and proof of any co-contribution or lease, depending on what the guidelines ask for.
- Write the answers to each assessment criterion with specific numbers (costs, jobs, sales, timelines), and build the budget in the funder's format.
- Lodge it through the official portal before 28 Oct 2026. Keep a copy of the submitted application and the receipt.
- If you're successful, read the funding agreement before signing, keep every receipt, and diarise the report and acquittal dates.
Launchpad Program: common questions
Who can apply for Launchpad Program?
Early-stage startups working on technology that fits ARENA's renewable energy priorities, plus ecosystem organisations (such as accelerators) that help those startups grow.
How much is Launchpad Program worth?
Funding varies.
When does Launchpad Program close?
Closes 28 Oct 2026. Late applications are rarely accepted.
Can sole traders apply for Launchpad Program?
No. Launchpad Program needs a company or other incorporated entity, so sole traders can't apply as they are. Incorporating changes your tax and legal position, so talk to your accountant first.
Can someone apply for Launchpad Program on my behalf?
Someone else can prepare it, but your business is the applicant: you sign the declarations, and most funders expect you to submit it yourself. We prepare the whole application so it's ready for you to review, sign and submit, usually in about 10 minutes. If a funder's rules expressly allow an agent to lodge, we can do it with your written OK after you've approved the final version.
How much does it cost to get help applying?
Freelance grant writers in Australia typically charge by the hour or a fixed fee per application, whether you win or not. With Vic Grants Weekly, there's nothing to pay unless you win. If you do, the fee is 12% of the grant money you receive, capped at A$3,000 + GST, and due only once the money is in your account. Where a grant's rules don't allow percentage fees, it's a flat win-only fee from A$99.
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Tell us your business once. We find the grants it qualifies for now, then check every new grant against it and email you when one fits. If you want one, we write the application. Nothing to pay unless you win.