CSIRO is excited to announce a partnership with SVG Partners for Australian-based start-ups and pre-start-ups to participate in this year’s THRIVE Accelerator cohort. The current opportunity is a pilot program that will be part of a Launch Vic-THRIVE event happening in Melbourne on February 13th, so the timing is tight!

THRIVE is a Silicon Valley-based program offering start-ups from the Agri-Food and AgTech areas an opportunity to take their incubated ideas and build them into successful businesses. The THRIVE Accelerator is an initiative of SVG Partners (which provides small seed funding to the selected teams) that is delivered partly in-person, with the majority of information, networking, webinars and meetings delivered remotely. THRIVE begins Feb 24th with a week-long session in Silicon Valley. And culminates with a pitch at the Forbes AgriTech event in Salinas June 24 & 25, 2020. 

While the CSIRO partnership is different from the mainstream program, this link provides a good overview: https://thriveagrifood.com/startups/seed-accelerat...

If interested, please submit a one-page Expression of Interest by the end of day (Pacific time) February 3rd to Susan Lucas-Conwell or Kay Worthington (emails below). This broad pool of applicants will be winnowed to 10 finalists from which 4 will be selected to pitch their idea on February 13 in Melbourne at the “Launch Vic” event. From this pitch contest, two winners will be selected to attend the THRIVE Accelerator program which begins on Monday Feb 24 in Silicon Valley.

Please contact Susan Lucas-Conwell or Kay Worthington to apply or with any questions.

Susan.lucas-conwell@csiro.au

Kay.worthington@csiro.au

Notes:

1)The link to the US based organization & program can be found here:

https://thriveagrifood.com/startups/seed-accelerator/

2)Note that the terms for the AUS entities to participate are slightly different:

i)If an entity is selected to participate and not yet incorporated, THRIVE will grant a $15k USD STIPEND to offset expenses, with no obligation to pay the $$ back.

ii)If the entity is selected to participate AND is incorporated, then THRIVE will provide a $25k investment, in return for which they will take an equity stake in the company as disclosed in the Terms and Conditions.

Terms and conditions can be viewed here:

View on Dropbox