The Andrews Labor Government will invest $2.5 million to run Australia’s first accelerator designed to help startups gain access to government procurement – CivVic Labs Accelerator.
The program aims to increase the success rate of early-stage startups and help fuel their growth by providing the capital and in-kind resources required to work with government agencies.
CivVic Labs Accelerator will support 16 startups in an intensive program. Startups will be selected according to their ability to address challenges faced by government.
The Labor Government procures large amounts of goods and services from the private sector each year but accessing these opportunities is difficult for startups – a key issue flagged by LaunchVic, Victoria’s startup agency.
LaunchVic will fund and lead the program with additional funding from the Labor Government’s Public Sector Innovation Fund.
A pilot program will rollout this financial year, followed by an expanded accelerator program running twice over two years, until 2020. Visit for more information.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy Philip Dalidakis
“Startups are growing in Victoria and this initiative will help them create more jobs as well as offering government alternative options and different ways of doing things.”
“We’re quickly becoming the startup hub of the Asia Pacific and this is yet another initiative that will make Victoria an attractive place to start and scale a startup.”
Quotes attributable to Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings
“Government will benefit from having access to innovative startup thinking, new products and new services to help solve existing government challenges.”
“This is good for jobs and our economic prosperity, as we build upon Victoria’s position as the tech capital of Australia.”
Quotes attributable to LaunchVic CEO Dr Kate Cornick
“Lack of access to government procurement for startups is a common problem we hear from Victorian startups and something LaunchVic has been seeking to address.”
“CivVic Labs Accelerator will open up a world of new opportunities for startups to access lucrative government procurement opportunities.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020