LaunchVic seeks to grow angel networks in Victoria with new funding round

LaunchVic, Victoria’s startup agency, opened a new funding round to establish and grow new Angel Networks in Victoria unlocking more capital for early-stage startups.

Angel groups will receive up to $300,000 in funding to support the establishment of their operations here in Victoria.

In the past two years, LaunchVic has helped to fund the creation of five Angel Networks that have recruited more than 200 new investors, resulting in more than $5 million being invested into Victorian startups.

LaunchVic CEO, Dr Kate Cornick said that Angel Networks support startup investors to syndicate, and leverage fellow investors’ skills including through mentoring investee startups and undertaking due diligence. For startup founders, angel networks provide a ‘front door’ to investors.

“While the number of formal networks has increased through LaunchVic’s work, the number of angel groups is still lower than in peer ecosystems.

“A rise in investor education programs in Victoria supported by LaunchVic has seen the number of informal syndications increase. We would like to see this funding round used to help formalise more angel networks.”

Australian Medical Angels, a clinician-focused syndicate, received $300,000 in funding from LaunchVic in November 2021 and set up a Victorian branch to support early-stage MedTechs in Australia’s Life Science capital.

Australian Medical Angels co-founder Dr Amandeep Hansra said LaunchVic’s funding catalysed the investment syndicate, which now has more than 500 medical professionals.

“LaunchVic took a chance on a group of investors that are not from traditional financial backgrounds, but who were able to use their medical expertise to identify promising early-stage HealthTech startups and back them in with financial and industry support,” she said.

“As Victoria’s startup ecosystem expands, it will become more important than ever to have sector-specific Angel Networks that add diversity to the investor pool and can support a variety up-and-coming ideas.”

More information on the funding round and application guidelines can be accessed at https://launchvic.org/rounds/growing-victorian-angel-networks

Applications close 10am, Wednesday 15 June.