About this programme
Seed-Start is a matched-funding grant run by South Australia's Department of State Development under Stream 2 of the state's Research and Innovation Fund (RIF), established in 2018. It supports early-stage South Australian businesses with "high-growth potential" — a scalable business model addressing a real customer problem, with a product or service that has a sustainable competitive advantage in national and international markets — to fund a defined project that marks a turning point in the company's growth.
The program has two tiers. A Seed Grant runs from $50,000 up to $100,000 on a 2:1 matched-funding basis (the government contributes $2 for every $1 the applicant puts in), for a project achievable within two years. A Start Grant runs above $100,000 up to $500,000 on a 1:1 matched-funding basis, for a project achievable within three years. Matched funding must be a cash contribution from the applicant — in-kind contributions do not count, and other Commonwealth or South Australian government grants cannot be used as the match.
Grants above $100,000 (ex GST) are contingently repayable by way of royalty: 3% per annum on net sales revenue above an agreed threshold, until the grant value is repaid, with no repayment owed if no income has been earned ten years after project completion. Seed Grants (under $100,000) carry no royalty obligation.
The application runs a two-stage process: a short online Expression of Interest (EOI) open on an ongoing basis, followed — if accepted — by a Full Application assessed by an Independent Assessment Panel that meets roughly every eight weeks and makes a funding recommendation to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, who holds final approval.
How it works
Seed Grant: $50,000-$100,000 at a 2:1 match ($2 government to $1 applicant), for a project completed within two years. No royalty repayment obligation.
Start Grant: above $100,000 up to $500,000 at a 1:1 match, for a project completed within three years. Funding above $100,000 (ex GST) is contingently repayable as a 3% per annum royalty on net sales revenue above an agreed threshold, until the grant is repaid or ten years pass from project completion with no income earned.
The applicant's matched-funding contribution must be cash, not in-kind, and cannot itself be another Commonwealth or South Australian government grant. If the total project cost exceeds the grant plus the minimum required match, the applicant must contribute the shortfall — e.g. a $500,000 Start Grant against a $1.1 million project requires $600,000 from the applicant, not just $500,000.
The South Australian Government Financing Authority (SAFA) conducts a financial review for any applicant requesting more than $100,000.
Once approved, the applicant signs a formal grant deed with the government before any payment can be claimed. Payments are generally made in advance against project milestones, with a final payment in arrears once a completion report and financial acquittal are validated.
Recipients take on ongoing reporting obligations for the term of the deed: performance milestone reports, biannual business-outcomes reports, a project completion report, a post-project-completion report at the 12-month mark, and (where a royalty applies) annual royalty reports certified by the recipient's accountant.
Who can apply
To be eligible, the applicant must be a company incorporated in Australia with an active ABN, be non-tax-exempt, and be registered for GST.
The applicant must have an average annual net sales revenue of less than $2 million over the three financial years prior to lodgement — this includes the combined revenue of any Related Bodies Corporate (as defined under s.50 of the Corporations Act 2001).
The applicant must be based, or willing to be based, in South Australia prior to project commencement. "Based in South Australia" means the business is registered in SA and the majority of its workforce is based in SA and/or its founders are SA residents. Businesses based outside SA may still be considered in special circumstances, but the government may impose a contractual obligation to relocate or maintain the enterprise in SA if funded.
An applicant that has already received South Australian Government funding for the same project, or the same stage of a project, is not eligible for further funding under this program for that stage — though a subsequent stage can be a fresh application once prior funding has been acquitted.
Retrospective funding (for costs already incurred) is not considered, nor are projects better suited to another funding source.
At EOI stage the applicant should show the required matched funding is available or highly likely to be available; by Full Application stage, access to the matched funding must be clearly demonstrated with documented evidence such as a bank letter, an executed investor/financier agreement, or an executed shareholder agreement.
How to apply
- Read the published guidelines in full to check eligibility and suitability before applying.
- Submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) application. EOIs are open on an ongoing basis. The Department reviews EOIs and typically replies within 10 business days to accept, decline, or request more information.
- If the EOI is accepted, the applicant is invited to submit a Full Application and is assigned a Department case manager as the main point of contact.
- Submit a Draft Full Application within 30 days of the invitation. The Department reviews only complete drafts and gives initial feedback; incomplete drafts are not considered.
- Submit the Final Full Application within 60 days of the invitation, addressing the full Assessment Criteria and attaching all requested supporting documentation. Missing either the draft or final due date lapses the invitation and the applicant must restart with a new EOI.
- The Full Application undergoes due diligence and, for requests over $100,000, a SAFA financial review, before going to an Independent Assessment Panel that convenes roughly every eight weeks and makes a recommendation to the Minister.
- The Minister (or a delegate) makes the final funding decision at their sole discretion. If approved, the Department contacts the applicant to begin drafting the grant deed; no payments can be claimed until the deed is signed by both parties.
Documents you’ll typically need
- ASIC Current Company Extract
- Historical financials (Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statement) for the previous three financial years, prepared by an independent accounting firm (or fewer years if the company is younger)
- Management accounts for the current financial year
- Cost quotes for the proposed project
- Intellectual property agreements, if applicable
- Documented evidence of committed matched funding (e.g. a financial institution letter, executed financier/investor agreement, or executed shareholder agreement)
- Any other documentation the Department requests to corroborate claims made in the application
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a Seed Grant and a Start Grant?
A Seed Grant funds $50,000-$100,000 at a 2:1 match (government contributes $2 per $1 from the applicant), for a project completed within two years, with no royalty repayment. A Start Grant funds above $100,000 up to $500,000 at a 1:1 match, for a project completed within three years, and carries a contingent 3% royalty on net sales revenue above an agreed threshold until the grant is repaid.
Does the matched funding have to be cash?
Yes. The applicant must commit its matched share as a cash contribution — in-kind (non-cash) contributions are not accepted, and other Commonwealth or South Australian government grants cannot be used as the match.
How long does the application process take?
Timeframes are indicative and vary with grant size and complexity. The EOI review takes up to roughly 10-15 business days, the Draft Full Application is due within 30 days of invitation and the Final within 60 days, the Independent Assessment Panel meets about every eight weeks, and contracting can take a further 30-40 business days depending on complexity.
Is there a royalty repayment on Seed-Start grants?
Only on funding above $100,000 (ex GST). A 3% per annum royalty applies to net sales revenue above an agreed threshold, calculated until the grant value is repaid. If no income has been earned ten years after project completion, no royalty is owed. Grants of $100,000 or under carry no royalty.
Does the business have to be based in South Australia?
Yes, or willing to be based there before the project starts — meaning the business is registered in SA and the majority of its workforce and/or founders are SA-based. Businesses outside SA may be considered in special circumstances, but the government can require relocation or that the enterprise be maintained in SA as a condition of funding.
What can the grant money actually be spent on?
Eligible expenditure includes salaries and consumables directly tied to the project, specialist professional services, IP access or protection, product development, and activities like market research, study tours, customer/investor engagement, reasonable travel for testing or market development, and data procurement or regulatory-approval costs. It excludes rent, routine sales/advertising/business-development costs, recruitment fees, basic office supplies, grant-application or accounting costs, and payments to directors — plus salaries for founders, project managers, or admin staff, unless demonstrably essential to the project.
What happens if my EOI is declined?
The applicant is notified and can seek feedback. A new EOI can be submitted at any time once that feedback has been addressed — there's no cap on re-applying.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.