The Western Australian government has announced 21 recipients for its latest rounds of the Innovation Booster Grant and Commercialisation Bridge Grant, distributing more than $1.9 million to local startups and innovation-driven businesses, on the opening day of West Tech Fest.
The grants, funded through the state’s $40 million New Industries and Innovation Fund, saw regional businesses, First Nations-founded companies, and female-founded ventures make up two-thirds of successful applicants. 16 businesses received Innovation Booster Grants totalling more than $750,000, whilst five companies secured Commercialisation Bridge Grants worth $1.15 million.
Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson said the diverse representation amongst recipients demonstrates Western Australia’s growing innovation economy. “Seeing two-thirds of the latest recipients come from either regional areas, be First Nations-founded or have a female founder is another clear indication of how diverse WA’s innovation economy has become,” Dawson said.
Grant recipients and funding details
Innovation Booster Grants, capped at $50,000 per recipient this round, target early-stage founders and innovation-driven SMEs working to commercialise innovative projects. Notable recipients include ARCA Sustainability, which secured $50,000 for AI-powered climate-tech software for primary industries, and Cuddle Cup, which received the maximum amount for a Portable self-heating baby milk pouch for safe feeding anywhere.
Other recipients include GeoTechTronix’s RockAI, developing deep learning thermal rockfall tracking for open pit mine sites, and Indian Ocean Regenerative Aquaculture, pursuing a Yamatji community-led model for Indigenous aquaculture development in the Abrolhos Islands. Both projects secured $50,000 in funding.
The Commercialisation Bridge Grant recipients received between $50,000 and $250,000 to bridge the funding gap between early-stage commercialisation and breakthrough growth. Electric Power Conversions Australia received the maximum $250,000 for heavy mining dump truck electrification, whilst Matilda Health and Sadleir Laboratories each secured $250,000 for their respective healthcare innovations.
Australian Flow Batteries received $220,000 to develop vanadium flow batteries for residential solar installations, and SeaStock secured $179,673 for asparagopsis seaweed production and dual extraction.
West Tech Fest programme
West Tech Fest, hosted by Curtin University and running until 12 December, positions itself as Western Australia’s premier technology and innovation showcase. The WA government contributed $500,000 over two years as Premier Partner for the festival.
This year’s programme features several major events, including West Tech Main on 9 December at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and the City of Perth Innovation Showcase, which highlights WA’s leading innovation hubs in cyber security, life sciences, and clean technology.
West Tech Pitch, a newly launched initiative, offers early-stage founders the opportunity to pitch before investors as part of West Tech Main. The festival also includes specialised events promoting diversity and inclusion within the technology sector, such as West Tech Women and the First Nations House Summit.
Minister Dawson said the festival offers an outstanding opportunity for attendees to learn from world-class speakers, showcase their talent, and build connections that help turn innovation into real-world outcomes. The programme brings together international founders, investors, and CEOs alongside local talent to explore transformative technologies across multiple sectors.
Innovation Booster Grant recipients
| Business | Project | Grant |
| ARCA | AI-powered climate- tech software for primary industries | $50,000 |
| Bounceback Tennis Pty Ltd | BounceBack: Tennis ballreinflation device | $50,000 |
| Dirad Pty Ltd | Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging and laser ablation dental instrument | $50,000 |
| Fastform Corporation Pty Ltd | FastForm: Automated slipforming system for sustainable concrete walls | $49,600 |
| GeoTechTronix Pty Ltd (RockAI) | Deep learning thermal rockfall tracking for open pit mine sites | $50,000 |
| Indian Ocean Regenerative Aquaculture Pty Ltd | Yamatji community-led model for Indigenous aquaculture development in the Abrolhos Islands | $50,000 |
| JLR Solutions Pty Ltd | CuddleCup: Portable self-heating baby milk pouch for safe feeding anywhere | $50,000 |
| Magic Wavelength Pty Ltd | Real-time data-driven drone agrochemical sprayer | $50,000 |
| Momentum MetalWorks | MakerStop: Automatic mitre saw length stop | $36,800 |
| Novolo Co Pty Ltd | Molecular preservation technology to prevent agricultural degradation | $50,000 |
| Open Phage Ltd | OpenPhage: Open-access biobank of highly characterised bacteriophages | $50,000 |
| Peachie | CreatorFlow: AI event content system | $50,000 |
| RPTEC Pty Ltd | SnailCam: Data visualisation platform to detect snails in broadacre crops | $38,636 |
| Safe Call Up Pty Ltd | Safe Call Up: Safety app for Australians experiencing domestic violence | $50,000 |
| Velora Health | Velora: Novel device to objectively measure infant breastmilk intake | $50,000 |
| Venchef Pty LtdT/A WADA Foodtech | Smart portal for hot meal vending automation | $26,137.50 |
Commercialisation Bridge Grant recipients
| Business Name | Project Title | Grant |
| Australian FlowBatteries Pty Ltd | Vanadium flow battery for residential solar installations | $220,000 |
| Electric Power Conversions Australia | Heavy mining dump truck electrification | $250,000 |
| Matilda Health Pty Ltd | Matilda: Digital platform for prehabilitation and post-operative recovery for endometriosis surgery | $250,000 |
| Sadleir Laboratories Pty Ltd | IRIS (Increasing Rate Infusion System): Automated test-dose syringe to prevent peri-operative antibiotic anaphylaxis | $250,000 |
| SeaStock Pty Ltd | Asparagopsis seaweed production and dual extraction | $179,673 |
