Feds grant Agristart $485,000

Perth’s Agristart accelerator program has won $485,000 of federal government funding to run three startup incubation programs in regional Western Australia, in Northam, Albany and Busselton.

The programs will be rolled out over two years, with about 50 small businesses to be involved.

It follows the first two rounds of the programs, run last year, one in Perth and one at Muresk.

Agristart managing director Natasha Ayers told Business News the expanded program will activate new innovation hubs in each of the regional towns.

In Albany, the program will be run in the heritage co-op building, while local governments in Northam and Busselton are working on two innovation spaces they hope will act as co-working hubs.

“This funding is a great opportunity to expand the geographical reach of our services, building capability and capital for small business growth across Western Australia,” Ms Ayers said.

“AgriStart Connect Regional Innovation Hubs will work with local innovators to connect entrepreneurs in rural areas to the Perth innovation networks and global markets.”

Agristart is backed by Atomic Sky co-founder Peter Rossdeutscher.

It was the only project in WA to receive a slice of the $2 million funding pool, one of six nationally.

Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews said the federal government was committed to incubators and startups.

“Incubators like these and the startups they support play a critical role across the economy in creating high-value jobs and increasing productivity by bringing new products and services to market,” she said.

“More high-performing incubators will mean more startups can realise their economic potential earlier and help Australia grow.”