Read the fine print
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 11:12 am
Take a comprehensive look at the eligibility criteria before you start writing a grant submission. Grants you think you’re suitable for may have specific criteria that disqualifies you.
We looked at a female founder grant; I’m a CEO and the largest shareholder in Adatree, but I wasn’t eligible since I had male co-founders, and the grant required me to own 50 per cent or more. Some grant programs, such as a lot of the COVID ones, are only for struggling established businesses or not-for-profits.
It’s rare to see funding-only grants. Other than cash, you might receive other in-kind support, from free desk space and access to facilities to uruguay cell phone database expert advice and mentorship, or ancillary services that can help you run your business. So consider what would be really helpful to you before you apply.
The fine print will also state what they expect in return. For example, you may need to complete certain activities by a deadline, or it may not be a cash grant but an offset requiring you to keep receipts and claim back costs at a later date. If you don’t have suitable cash flow, then the offset grants may not be right for you.
Treat applying as an investment
The application process requires a lot of rigour. Check the submission deadline before you start to ensure you have enough time to apply, and double-check all the information you need to provide. Some of this may be budgetary, some of it may be external endorsement, such as a letter of recommendation from an expert.
We applied for an R&D grant through AusIndustry that we found particularly complicated. It is hypothesis-based, starting with a framework and a lot of documentation.
The rules for rebates change frequently, so it’s worth hiring a consultant who’s on top of all that. I recommend getting professional help in general. There are specialist grant writers you can hire, or you can get training from organisations like Grant’d, whose purpose is to help navigate these grants and applications.
Partners can be an asset
If you partner with research organisations, there are myriad grants available should you co-apply for a grant that requires a business and a research organisation to submit together. If you can find and partner with Australia’s top researchers in a specific focus or topic, you’ll often find the grant organisation will subsidise their involvement. That’s a huge supplement for your company, and it really boosts your IP. One example is CSIRO Kick-Start.
Just like any investment, grants take time to come to fruition, and sometimes they don’t bear fruit at all. So while you shouldn’t rely on them to run your business they are still a valuable output for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, the application process helps you define your business and refine your offering. Secondly, when they do come through, the funds can save you from dipping into your savings for all the costs that come from starting a business. The alternative is often pursuing a capital raise earlier than is ideal, which can dilute your company ownership.
If a grant can help you shape your business to be the best it can be, as early on as possible, then it’s certainly worth seeking.
We looked at a female founder grant; I’m a CEO and the largest shareholder in Adatree, but I wasn’t eligible since I had male co-founders, and the grant required me to own 50 per cent or more. Some grant programs, such as a lot of the COVID ones, are only for struggling established businesses or not-for-profits.
It’s rare to see funding-only grants. Other than cash, you might receive other in-kind support, from free desk space and access to facilities to uruguay cell phone database expert advice and mentorship, or ancillary services that can help you run your business. So consider what would be really helpful to you before you apply.
The fine print will also state what they expect in return. For example, you may need to complete certain activities by a deadline, or it may not be a cash grant but an offset requiring you to keep receipts and claim back costs at a later date. If you don’t have suitable cash flow, then the offset grants may not be right for you.
Treat applying as an investment
The application process requires a lot of rigour. Check the submission deadline before you start to ensure you have enough time to apply, and double-check all the information you need to provide. Some of this may be budgetary, some of it may be external endorsement, such as a letter of recommendation from an expert.
We applied for an R&D grant through AusIndustry that we found particularly complicated. It is hypothesis-based, starting with a framework and a lot of documentation.
The rules for rebates change frequently, so it’s worth hiring a consultant who’s on top of all that. I recommend getting professional help in general. There are specialist grant writers you can hire, or you can get training from organisations like Grant’d, whose purpose is to help navigate these grants and applications.
Partners can be an asset
If you partner with research organisations, there are myriad grants available should you co-apply for a grant that requires a business and a research organisation to submit together. If you can find and partner with Australia’s top researchers in a specific focus or topic, you’ll often find the grant organisation will subsidise their involvement. That’s a huge supplement for your company, and it really boosts your IP. One example is CSIRO Kick-Start.
Just like any investment, grants take time to come to fruition, and sometimes they don’t bear fruit at all. So while you shouldn’t rely on them to run your business they are still a valuable output for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, the application process helps you define your business and refine your offering. Secondly, when they do come through, the funds can save you from dipping into your savings for all the costs that come from starting a business. The alternative is often pursuing a capital raise earlier than is ideal, which can dilute your company ownership.
If a grant can help you shape your business to be the best it can be, as early on as possible, then it’s certainly worth seeking.