Grants up to $75,000 for New South Wales businesses to commercialise innovative products and processes by helping progress their development and readiness for private investment.
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What is the MVP Ventures Program (MVPVP)?
The MVP Ventures Program (MVPVP) is a competitive grant initiative that helps startups and innovative small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) move their products along the commercialisation pathway, from proof-of-concept through to investment readiness.
It supports innovations at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3–9, enabling businesses to advance towards private investment opportunities.
There are now two funding streams available under the MVP Ventures Program 2025–2026:
- Stream 1: General Eligibility for general businesses.
- Stream 2: Targeted Support for women-owned and managed, regionally headquartered and operated, or Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander majority-owned and managed businesses.
MVP Ventures Program level of support
- Stream 1: $20,000–$50,000 (50% co-contribution, up to 50% of project costs)
- Stream 2: $20,000–$75,000 (25% co-contribution, up to 75% of project costs)
MVP Ventures Program important dates
Applications are now managed via funding rounds, not first-come, first-served.
- Round 1: 1 September 2025 – 28 September 2025
- Round 2: 24 November 2025 – 21 December 2025
- Round 3: 9 March 2026 – 5 April 2026
- Register your interest with GrantHelper.
MVP Ventures Program objectives
The program’s objectives are to:
- Support businesses to commercialise new products and processes in NSW.
- Encourage investment-ready innovation.
- Foster participation from under-represented groups in the startup ecosystem.
Projects eligible for MVP Ventures Program support
To be eligible, your project must:
- Be directly related to the pre-market development and commercialisation pathway.
- Progress your product along the TRL 3–9 scale.
- Have a minimum project period of 3 months and be completed within 12 months.
- Undertake at least 80% of expenditure in NSW.
- Demonstrate that the project would not proceed in NSW without government support.
- Involve only eligible expenditure.
Examples of eligible projects include:
- Prototyping and piloting studies.
- Demonstrating commercial viability to a customer or investor.
- Completing development of an innovative product.
- Demonstrating a product in an operational environment.
Ineligible projects include:
- Basic research or technical experiments.
- Developing a product for internal use only.
- Minor updates or iterations of existing product
Expenditure eligible for MVP Ventures Program support
Funding is available for expenditure directly supporting commercialisation:
- Wages (capped at 50% of grant).
- Contractor/consultant fees (capped at 50% of grant).
- Project materials (equipment hire, prototyping materials, labs/workshops).
- Patent/IP filing or regulatory compliance costs (up to $7,500).
- Domestic travel (economy only, up to $2,000).
Expenditure rules:
- At least 80% of expenditure must occur in NSW.
- All suppliers must be at arm’s length (no related parties).
Ineligible expenditure includes:
- Advertising, marketing, and promotional material.
- Capital expenditure on assets like vehicles, computers, or buildings.
- Insurance, depreciation, or debt financing.
- Entertainment, gifts, or sponsorships.
- International travel or accommodation.
- Grant application preparation or variation costs
Other MVP Ventures Program important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for MVP Ventures Program support
To be eligible, your business must:
- Have an active ABN.
- Be headquartered in NSW.
- Have an account with an Australian Authorised Deposit-taking Institution.
- Be a company incorporated in Australia, or an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Corporation.
- Hold intellectual property (IP) or rights to commercialise.
- Have ≤ 10 full-time equivalent employees (including founders).
- Have ≤ $400,000 aggregated turnover in each of the last 3 years
You are not eligible if you are:
- Insolvent, a sole trader, trust, or unincorporated association.
- A subsidiary of a larger entity.
- Tax-exempt.
- Currently receiving MVP Ventures funding.
- A government agency or enterprise
MVP Ventures Program assessment criteria
Applications are competitively assessed against:
1. Innovation
- Must address a real, industry-backed problem.
- Be new or significantly different from existing solutions.
- Provide clear competitive advantages and meet a market need.
2. Commercialisation
- Demonstrate commercial viability with TAM/SAM/SOM analysis.
- Show alignment with NSW Industry Policy Missions.
- Deliver measurable economic, environmental, or social benefits.
3. Deliverability
- Clearly outline project milestones, outcomes, and risks.
- Demonstrate realistic timelines using TRL descriptors.
- Provide evidence of team expertise (technical, commercial, management)
How do I get the MVP Ventures Program?
Before applying, you must read the official guidelines and ensure your business meets all eligibility criteria. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be considered.
What you’ll need to demonstrate
Successful applicants will show that they have:
- An innovative product or process progressing between TRL 3 and 9.
- A clearly defined problem or opportunity supported by industry evidence.
- Strong evidence of commercial viability, including market size, demand, and competitive advantage.
- A well-structured project plan with milestones, deliverables, and risk management.
- A capable team with the technical, commercial, and managerial expertise to deliver the project.
- The required co-contribution, evidenced by recent financial documentation.
Other tips
- Double-check that your business meets the 10 FTE and $400,000 turnover thresholds.
- Ensure at least 80% of project expenditure is in NSW.
- Submit early to avoid technical issues — late applications will not be accepted.
- Remember: you cannot amend your application after submission.
Information to prepare for the MVP Ventures Program application
To give your business the best chance of success, you should prepare all required information before the funding round opens. Applications that are incomplete or missing documentation will not be considered.
You will need to provide:
- Accountant Declaration (using the official template).
- Financial statements including profit and loss.
- Letters of Intent (LOIs) from potential customers or distributors to demonstrate market demand.
- Evidence of co-contribution, such as a bank statement or letter from an Australian Authorised Deposit-taking Institution dated within the last 30 days.
- A current ASIC company extract.
- For Stream 2 applicants: appropriate registration documents (e.g., ORIC, NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, Supply Nation, or equivalent).
Note: Only the official templates provided by Investment NSW can be used. Any alternative formats will be rejected.
What else to prepare
- A project plan outlining milestones, deliverables, and TRL progression.
- A budget showing eligible expenditure, aligned with program rules (wages capped at 50%, contractors capped at 50%, IP up to $7,500, travel up to $2,000).
- Evidence of your team’s skills and experience to deliver the project.
- A pitch deck or summary that clearly demonstrates innovation, commercial viability, and benefits to NSW.
Applying for MVP Ventures Program
Complete the online SmartyGrants application.
Applications are assessed in rounds on a competitive, merit-based basis. Funding decisions are made by the Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, based on recommendations from an independent review panel,
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
MVP Ventures Program resources
Is Your Business Eligible for This Government Grant?
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