WA Government Backs 26 Startups With A$1.275 Million Innovation Grants
Synopsis
The funding will help early-stage companies tackle technical challenges and commercialise ideas across energy, tourism, space, health, medical technology and primary industries.
The WA Government has awarded A$1,274,686 to 26 startups and small businesses through the eighth round of its Innovation Booster Grant, providing up to A$50,000 per application.
The funding was announced on 10th August 2026 and it includes early stage projects in the fields of health and medical technology, energy, agriculture, space, tourism, mining and other fields. Hundreds of applications were submitted for the latest round, which was evaluated using an independent panel of industry leaders and experts.
Funding Covers Health, Agriculture and Mining
Projects in the A$1.275 million grant round range from an artificial kidney to a mobile ultrasound machine for breastfeeding pain to technology for remote community housing and agricultural exports to Asian markets.
Other funded projects involve an autonomous bird deterrence system for orchards, low carbon concrete, recycled rubber products, and a digital system for understanding Indigenous languages.
OneKidney was given A$50,000 to study blood flow and biocompatibility for its artificial kidney project. A$50,000 was also allocated to Open Ocean Exchange for the development of digital infrastructure which supports agricultural trade with Asian markets.
18 Recipients Are Regional, Female or First Nations Founded
In the latest WA Government Startup Funding, 10 of the businesses are founded by women, 6 of the businesses are founded by a First Nation and 5 of the businesses are a regional Western Australian business. A few recipients are in more than one category, so that 18 of the 26 are in at least one of these categories.
The Innovation Booster Grant is part of Western Australia's New Industries and Innovation Fund. The program is said to support enterprises at the early stages of developing and testing new products, services and technologies.
This is the eighth funding round of the grant. The government says its counterpart WaveX has also just raised a round of seed funding for its wave-energy technology.
Source: Startup Daily
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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