Support for AgTech startups

As part of the AgTech Regional Innovation Network (AgRIN) initiative, the Victorian Government has partnered with LaunchVic, the state’s startup agency, to deliver the following AgTech programs for startups.

CivVic Labs challenges

Overview

CivVic Labs is a 6-week, challenge-based program run by LaunchVic, the Victorian Government startup agency. It seeks to engage technology startups to solve known public challenges through a boot-camp like experience.

A cohort of 10 start-ups are selected for each challenge following an application and assessment process. Each startup receives $15,000 in equity-free funding to participate in the program, as well as specialist advice and support, to build out their solutions. At the end of the experience, two teams secure a further $35,000 funding to bring their prototype to life.

The program enables new and emerging startups with potential solutions to connect with government and facilitates a co-design process between the public and private sectors to support startups to identify product market fit.

With funding from the AgTech Regional Innovation Network (AgRIN), Agriculture Victoria and LaunchVic have partnered to create two CivVic Labs challenges focused on prominent agricultural issues. These are:

1. Farm Safety – how innovative agricultural technology can improve farm safety, with farming being one of the highest risk occupations in Victoria.
2. Circular Agriculture – how technology can reduce organic residues throughout the supply chain, optimise efficiency and resource use, and enhance the economic, environmental, and social outcomes for agribusinesses.

Farm safety

The agriculture sector is vital to our economy, and yet it continues to face significant safety issues. Farming is one of the most high-risk occupations in Victoria, accounting for 14% of all workplace fatalities while employing only 2% of Victorians.

The farm safety CivVic Labs program ran from February to March 2025, asking the startup sector the question: how might technology make farming safer?

The following 10 startups were selected to participate through a competitive process:

1. Acumind AI: Founded by Leneila Lynne and former AFL player Justin Koschitzke, Acumind AI is transforming dense, text-heavy, and verbal-trained protocols into accessible, interactive training experiences that can be used effectively in agriculture.
2. Biomass Frontiers Australia: PhD candidates Mohamed Rashid Ahmed Mohamed and Dr. Md Sakinul Islam are creating biodegradable mulch films from cellulose and lignin extracted from agricultural waste, offering an eco-friendly and safer to produce alternative for farmers.
3. TX-E: Based in Lavers Hill along the Great Ocean Road, David McKeown is developing a tool that enables remote operators to call emergency services directly using a radio, while also transmitting real-time location information to emergency responders.
4. EarthBrew: Founded by Monash University student Ned Murdoch, EarthBrew offers a low-emission fertilizer made from repurposed industrial by-products, such as brewery and quarry waste, providing a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers.
5. Field Desk: Jamie Ross is building a mobile app designed to help agricultural workers plan, report, and stay reminded of safety protocols. The app includes task-specific checklists tailored to users’ work and experience levels.
6. Agri Assure: Laurence Khoo’s venture focuses on an insurance and risk management system that encourages clients to implement long-term solutions to potentially dangerous farming practices.
7. Orchard Mate: Michael Brown’s Orchard Mate leverages satellite monitoring and field observations to streamline orchard scouting, improving both efficiency and worker safety.
8. Ornata Technologies: Ornata Technologies is developing an agricultural autonomy service. Their automated machinery solutions aim to eliminate the need for farmers to be near powered machinery during operation, reducing the risk of accidents. The team includes Swoop Aero alumni Michael Webb, Sabrina Ravail and Joshua Tepper.
9. People in Paddocks: Sam Pritchard’s platform simplifies recruitment, training, and management of agricultural workers, making workforce management more efficient for farm operations.
10. Semantrix: Founded by Michael McGrath and Dave Theodoridis, Semantrix employs advanced mmWave radar technology to create comprehensive safety monitoring systems for farm equipment, addressing the critical issue of equipment-related accidents.

The AgRIN initiative partnered with the Farming Safe and Well Program to deliver the Farm Safety CivVic Labs challenge.

Circular agriculture

The circular agriculture CivVic Labs program will run from June to July 2025, and asks the question: how can technology create circular economy opportunities in agriculture?

Applications for this program are now closed.

The 10 startups selected to participate in this program will be announced shortly.

Hugh Victor McKay Fund

A new sidecar fund, the Hugh Victor McKay Fund, is now open for applications and will invest up to $200,000 into at least 10 early-stage startups in the next 12 months.

The fund is co-investing with private sector investors, who will match the Government’s contribution by a minimum of 2:1.

The fund is named after pioneering Victorian inventor Hugh Victor McKay, who patented the original combine harvester in the 1880s – widely credited as one of the most important agricultural innovations in recent history.

Find out more about the Hugh Victor McKay Fund

Accelerator programs (The Victorian AgTech Entrepreneurs’ Initiative)

Agriculture Victoria, in partnership with LaunchVic, provides support for eligible organisations to deliver pre-accelerator programs for AgTech early-stage startups.

These programs are playing a pivotal role in growing the AgTech sector in Victoria, enabling new founders to access the best possible support, advice and networks to build new businesses that will help shape our future economy and grow jobs.

For more information about the current pre-accelerator program on offer, please visit Farmers2Founders or find more information at LaunchVic.

In addition, Agriculture Victoria has also partnered with Invest Victoria to bring SVG Ventures to Victoria and establish an Asia Pacific AgTech accelerator program. SVG is a Silicon Valley based agrifood innovation and investment platform.