Australian Space Startups to Benefit from UniSA's Enhanced Accelerator Program

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 30 January 2024 20:55

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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 30, 2024

The University of South Australia (UniSA) is taking a significant step in bolstering its support for the burgeoning space industry. In a collaborative effort, UniSA's Innovation and Collaboration Centre (ICC) and the Australian Centre for Business Growth (AuCBG) have unveiled a new scaleup pathway for space startups. This initiative builds upon the already established Venture Catalyst Space acce

Australian Space Startups to Benefit from UniSA's Enhanced Accelerator Program
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 30, 2024

The University of South Australia (UniSA) is taking a significant step in bolstering its support for the burgeoning space industry. In a collaborative effort, UniSA's Innovation and Collaboration Centre (ICC) and the Australian Centre for Business Growth (AuCBG) have unveiled a new scaleup pathway for space startups. This initiative builds upon the already established Venture Catalyst Space accelerator program by offering a comprehensive six-month Growth Ramp scaleup program, designed to accelerate businesses' development beyond their initial stages.

The South Australian Government, demonstrating its commitment to fostering a thriving space ecosystem, backs this initiative. Deputy Premier and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Susan Close, emphasized the strategic importance of this scaleup offering. "Space startups are shaping the future space economy and bringing incredible new technologies to life," Close remarked. She underscored the importance of this program in nurturing emerging talent within innovative companies and promoting a collaborative culture across the space sector.

Since its inception in 2018, the Venture Catalyst Space program has played a crucial role in the development of the space industry in South Australia. The program has supported 36 space startups, with its alumni raising over $31 million in additional investment and creating more than 220 new jobs in the space sector. This success story underlines the program's effectiveness in fostering space innovation and entrepreneurship.

The new space scaleup pathway is set to further enhance this support. Craig Jones, Deputy Director of ICC, described the pathway as a game changer, expanding the scope for space companies to achieve sustainable, long-term success. "As Australia's space industry continues its upward trajectory, the demand for timely and tailored support for emerging businesses becomes increasingly crucial," Jones stated. The Growth Ramp program is poised to provide these ventures with the necessary resources to evolve into scalable and thriving businesses.

This pathway is driven by a strong appetite for space companies to expand and attract investment within the state's growing space ecosystem. The Growth Ramp program targets companies with between five to 11 employees, aiming to refine their product/market fit, optimize customer base, and develop strategies for growth and hiring of executive teams.

Ryan Williams, Director of AuCBG, acknowledged the criticality of this phase in a startup's journey. "We're very excited to be able to work with CEOs through Growth Ramp, helping them scale great space companies and build South Australia," he commented. His experience with international business ventures informs his understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in scaling a business.

An example of the collaborative spirit this program fosters is the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between current Venture Catalyst Space participant AICRAFT and program alumni ResearchSat. This collaboration aims to use AICRAFT's edge computing technology in orbit, demonstrating the program's ability to facilitate meaningful industry connections.

AICRAFT's CEO, Tony Scoleri, highlighted the significance of having a scaleup program for investment potential. "Building a company is a journey and having a program that helps CEOs consolidate and discover how to best scale up their operations is a significant piece in that journey," Scoleri explained.

Applications for the 2024 Venture Catalyst Space program are now open, with startups invited to apply via the ICC website. Further information about the Growth Ramp space pathway can be found on the AuCBG website.

This new initiative by UniSA, in collaboration with AuCBG and the support of the South Australian Government, represents a major step forward in bolstering the space industry in Australia. It not only supports startups in their initial stages but also provides a clear pathway for them to scale and flourish, contributing to the growing dynamism of the Australian space sector.

For more information about the Growth Ramp space pathway, visit the AuCBG website.