The X-TEND WA Program is a competitive grants program, funded under the New Industries and Innovation Fund (NIIF), which is designed to build capability and capacity within our innovation community.
X-TEND WA is part of the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ's $40 million NIIF which aims to accelerate new and emerging businesses and support projects that build entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialisation to accelerate venture creation, economic diversification and support WA jobs.
X-TEND WA Round 7 Recipients 2024
Show moreCongratulations to the successful recipients of round 7 of the X-TEND WA program.
The 4 recipients will share $362,000 to deliver workshops and educational programs to entrepreneurs, startups and investors across 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.
Round 7 of the X-TEND program focused on supporting programs that educate, grow and encourage investor education, corporate innovation, and the innovation ecosystem.
The latest recipients will provide a variety of programs including specific support for 91¶ÌÊÓƵn First Nations, regional and female innovators and entrepreneurs.
| Organisation | Program | Program Overview | Funding Amount |
| INVESTinWA | INVESTinWA is a full lifecycle investor education program. It is designed to build a pipeline of engaged individuals to create an expanded community that is aware, with capability, capacity and ‘appetite’ to participate in emerging innovation-driven businesses. The focus is the scaleup innovation sector in cases where there is insufficient capital or capacity or the opportunity sits outside the investment mandate of the venture capital asset class. | $110,000 | |
| The Blak Angels Investor Network | The Blak Angels Investment Network (BAIN) is designed to deliver economic empowerment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is aimed at helping to create a broader investment ecosystem for investors and businesses, fostering greater inclusion in the angel and venture capital investment landscape. BAIN will offer activities including education on angel investing, facilitated access to early-stage investment opportunities, and establishing links between angel networks and investors in Australia and the US. | $150,000 | |
| EmpowerHer: Investor Readiness Program | The program is a dynamic initiative that empowers female entrepreneurs to propel their businesses to the next level. Tailored specifically for startups led by women, this program provides a comprehensive pathway to becoming investment-ready by focusing on 3 core pillars: skill development, investor connections, and mentorship. | $49,000 | |
Regional Events, Education, and Connection Program (Regional, based in Bunbury) | A 3-pillar program providing events, education, and connection for investors and startup founders, and others across the startup and innovation community, in regional WA. | $53,000 |
X-TEND WA Round 6 Recipients 2024
Show moreCongratulations to the round 6 recipients of the X-TEND WA program announced by Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy on 27 May 2024.
The 6 recipients share $547,300 to deliver workshops and educational programs to entrepreneurs, startups and investors across the State.
This includes 4 regional businesses based in the Kimberley, Karratha, Geraldton and the Pilbara who share $347,300 in grant funding.
Four Recipients received follow-on funding in 2025 to support a second year of their program delivery.
| Organisation | Program | Project Overview | Funding Amount | Follow-on Funding in 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HORIZON (Regional; Pilbara) | Empowering indigenous female leaders and entrepreneurs in regional 91¶ÌÊÓƵ including the Pilbara and enhancing networks between the regions and Perth. | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
Jarndu Garra (Regional; East Kimberley) | First Nations female entrepreneurs coming together for innovation in the bush foods and botanical industry to grow sustainable businesses. | $97,300 | $97,300 | |
IDEAcademy Regional Development (Peel region) | Expanding the successful Perth-based program for young entrepreneurs into the Peel region and beyond for community-based entrepreneurship education, activated by Peel youth, industry, and allied service providers. | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
Connecting the City of Karratha to WA’s Innovation Ecosystem (Regional; Karratha) | Activating entrepreneurial education and broader innovation ecosystem development within the City of Karratha and across coastal Pilbara and North-West. | $100,000 | Not applicable | |
| VentureX HQ | Building investment capability in the innovation ecosystem with emphasis on funding for female entrepreneurs. | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
Women Inspiring Better Business Female Entrepreneur Education (Regional; Geraldton) | Empowering female entrepreneurs and founders in Geraldton through education, mentorship and community support, enhancing capabilities to thrive in the business world. | $50,000 | Not applicable |
X-TEND WA Round 5 Recipients 2024
Show moreCongratulations to the successful recipients of round 5 of the X-TEND WA program announced by Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy on 23 February 2024.
The 6 recipients will see a share of $474,000 to deliver workshops and education programs to entrepreneurs, investors and startups across the State.
This includes four regional businesses based in the Kimberley, Geraldton and the South-West which will see a share of $346,000 in grant funding.
Four Recipients received follow-on funding in 2024 to support a second year of their program delivery.
| Organisation | Program | Project Overview | Funding Amount | Follow-on Funding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broome’s Innovation Catalyst Program (Regional; based in Broome) | Broome’s Innovation Catalyst Program consists of several interconnected initiatives designed to nurture entrepreneurship, investment and innovation. It will deliver entrepreneurship and small business growth, investor education and confidence building, and regional innovation ecosystem growth and promotion. | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
| Impact Seed Pty Ltd | Impact2Innovate Investor Series will bring together impact investors to learn more about impact investing and participate in live pitches from enterprises undertaking capital raises. | $88,000 | Not applicable | |
| Make It Happen HQ | Make it Happen HQ Digital will build the capability of First Nations entrepreneurs in the Kimberley through the creation of a First Nations e-learning platform. This will form a digital hub, servicing entrepreneurs in a culturally safe way. The First Nations learning platform will improve digital literacy, market accessibility, skills and knowledge. | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
| CONNECT Sustainable Industries (Regional; based in Busselton) | CONNECT Sustainable Industries is comprised of a six-month regional startup incubator program for 8 scale-ready businesses with a sustainability focus. It will include a bootcamp, online and face-to-face masterclasses and a Regional Innovation Summit. | $96,000 | $96,000 | |
| Geraldton Entrepreneur Support (Regional; based in Geraldton) | Geraldton Entrepreneur Support will deliver regional business support services including event management, bookkeeping, marketing, and business advisory support. | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| StartupWA: administration support | Executive Officer support assists in delivery of a range of StartupWA initiatives including educational forums, panel sessions, pitch nights, WA Pulse ecosystem updates and roundtable forums. | $40,000 | Not applicable |
X-TEND WA Round 4 Recipients 2023
Show moreCongratulations to the successful recipients of Round 4 of the X-TEND WA program, announced by the Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Innovation and ICT on 30 June 2023.
The 9 recipients received a share of over $680,000 in grant funding to deliver investor-ready workshops and education programs to WA entrepreneurs and startups across the State.
Following the successful completion of the first year, recipients received further X-TEND funding to support a second year of their programs.
A number of these programs are aimed at supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs, while others are aimed at female founders, with some hosted in regional WA.
The successful projects were:
| Program | Company Name | 2023 Funding | Follow-on Funding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 Degrees South Group Pty Ltd | $96,000 | $96,000 | |
| The Set | $95,500 | $70,000 | |
| ASTN Entrepreneurship Education Program | $47,500 | $100,000 | |
| Curtin Invest WA program | Curtin University | $94,000 | $63,500 |
| Scale Advisory Female Founders | $80,000 | $80,000 | |
| Oceania DigitalX Skills Program | Oceania Indigenous House of E-commerce Ltd | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Venture Capital Education Series | $32,500 | $32,500 | |
| Australian Centre for Business Growth | $100,000 | $99,000 | |
| IP Reach | $38,500 | $38,500 |
X-TEND WA Round 3 Recipients 2022
Show moreCongratulations to the successful Round 3 recipients of the X-TEND WA program, announced by the Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Innovation and ICT on 17 February 2022.
The recipients will deliver innovator and/or investor educational programs that support the development of entrepreneurs and stimulate private investment in innovative projects in 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.
In 2023, the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Government has provided extra funding through its X-TEND WA program to 6 of the successful Round 3 applicants.
| Company name | Title of Project | Sector Focus | Location | 2022 Funding | Follow-on Funding in 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VentureX HQ Pty Ltd | Female founders and female investors networking educational program | Metro | $100,000 | $95,000 | |
| Agristart Pty Ltd | Regional focused support for entrepreneurs in the sustainable industries and future energy sector | Regionally focused | $99,020 | $99,020 | |
| Atomic Sky Pty Ltd | Cross sector industry growth and scaleup program in the space and technology economy | Metro | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
| For Blue Pty Ltd | Investment and support for innovative marine SMEs and WA's 'blue' (ocean) economy | Metro and regionally focused | $99,500 | $75,000 | |
| Spacecubed Ventures Pty Ltd | Female founder development through a digital technology incubator program | Metro | $20,000 | $28,000 | |
| Life Sciences WA Inc | Life Sciences WA Investment Series | WA's first dedicated life sciences investor education program. | Metro | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| St Catherine's College Inc | Orbit Accelerator Program | Accelerator for youth entrepreneurship | Metro | $70,000 | Not applicable |
X-TEND WA Round 2 Recipients 2020
Show moreCongratulations to the successful round 2 recipients of the X-TEND WA Program, announced by the Hon. Dave Kelly in February 2020.
The successful programs were:
| Program | Company Name | 2020 Funding |
|---|---|---|
| AgriStart | $80,000 | |
| China Gateway | $99,000 | |
| Growth and Diversity | $94,000 | |
| Peel Entrepreneurial Academy | $44,825 | |
| Perth Biodesign | $100,000 |
The recipients will deliver innovator and/or investor educational programs that support the development of entrepreneurs and stimulate private investment in innovative projects in 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.
They will deliver their programs over the next 12 months to the benefit of the innovation community. To learn more about their programs and how you can access them for your business, directly contact the companies listed above.
For more information visit the
X-TEND WA Round 1 Recipients 2019
Show moreCongratulations to the successful round 1 recipients of the X-TEND WA Program, announced by the Hon. Dave Kelly in July 2019.
Following the successful completion of the first year, 2 recipients received further X-TEND funding to support a second year of their programs.
| Program | Company Name | 2019 Funding | Follow-on Funding in 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Health Commercialisation | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
| Quantum Spacetech Accelerator | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
| Boosted series SMEs and Scale Ups | $70,000 | Not applicable | |
| Launchpad@Bloom | $70,000 | Not applicable | |
| Profound Incubator | $100,000 | Not applicable | |
| Impact Seed | $76,000 | Not applicable |
For more information visit the media statement '
Print this page
