This program aims to support not-for-profit or social enterprise founders or start-ups with their ventures to drive positive change for wildlife, biodiversity and the environment.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: $50,000
- Application opened: 21 December 2022
- Application closed: 10 February 2023
Program objective
There is no doubt that we are facing a biodiversity crisis, with severe declines in global wildlife and habitat that have been described as “Code Red for the Planet”.
We require a whole generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to bring change across every industry and corner of the globe. New technologies and ideas must be the at the forefront of tackling climate change and supporting biodiversity and conservation.
There is still time to act, but the time is running out.
Through this program Taronga aims to drive innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conservation and environmental challenges. If you are an eco-startup and have a brilliant idea, product or service that you think will be the next game changer for the planet, or know someone who does, Taronga wants to hear from you.
Program highlights:
- $25,000 value in development support per participating initiative
- The opportunity to receive up to $50,000 in funding at the end of the 14-week accelerator.
- No strings attached – free to participate, no equity required
- Expert advice from Impact Boom, Entrepreneur in Residence and delivery partner
- Available to applications Australia wide
- Travel and accommodation included
- Support to develop a brilliant idea into a not-for-profit or social enterprise venture
- Access to top mentors and subject matter experts, including Taronga’s experts in conservation, science, education and community engagement
- A peer group of like-minded innovators and thought leaders.
This program is administered by Department of Planning and Environment.
Eligibility
The HATCH Accelerator Program provides funding and support for eco-startups and founders to deliver positive environmental impact.
Who can apply
Grant address eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Accelerator Programs, applications must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants can be individuals or teams of up to a maximum of four (4) people
- All applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents
- All applicants must be 18 years and over
- Applicants/applicant organisations must be:
- A not-for-profit organisation, or
- A social enterprise (with at least 50% of annual profits being reinvested towards achieving the identified social purpose), or
- An individual or team not yet established as either of the above but seeking to establish as a not-for-profit or social enterprise organisation
- If applying as an existing organisation, the organisation will likely have an annual revenue of less than $150,000.
- Applicants/applicant organisations must be located within Australia and the initiative must deliver benefits within Australia.
- The initiative must practically address a current environmental or conservation issue
- The initiative must demonstrate an innovative, new or creative way of addressing the environmental or conservation issue
- The initiative must align with one or more relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- The initiative must support Taronga’s 360 degree approach to conservation that focuses on wildlife, habitats and communities. The initiative must directly impact at least one of the three areas, and directly or indirectly impact on the other two areas.
Who can’t apply
Applicants/applicant organisations who are not located within Australia or initiatives that do not deliver benefits within Australia.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Not-for-profit or social enterprise founders with a venture that will drive positive change for wildlife and the environment.
Example projects
Eco-startups like Good-Edi, who created the first edible take-away coffee cup and Carapac, a sustainable, durable, home compostable plastic packaging alternative made from crustacean shell waste.
What your application needs to include
Download a sample application form to see all the sections that need to be addressed in the applications portal. You can also download the complete Program Guide. (sample only)
- To be eligible for the Accelerator Programs, applications must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants can be individuals or teams of up to a maximum of four (4) people
- All applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents
- All applicants must be 18 years and over
- Applicants/applicant organisations must be:
- A not-for-profit organisation, or
- A social enterprise (with at least 50% of annual profits being reinvested towards achieving the identified social purpose), or
- An individual or team not yet established as either of the above but seeking to establish as a not-for-profit or social enterprise organisation
- If applying as an existing organisation, the organisation will likely have an annual revenue of less than $150,000.
- Applicants/applicant organisations must be located within Australia and the initiative must deliver benefits within Australia.
- The initiative must practically address a current environmental or conservation issue
- The initiative must demonstrate an innovative, new or creative way of addressing the environmental or conservation issue
- The initiative must align with one or more relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- The initiative must support Taronga’s 360 degree approach to conservation that focuses on wildlife, habitats and communities. The initiative must directly impact at least one of the three areas, and directly or indirectly impact on the other two areas.
The applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Targeted to address a key conservation or environmental challenge,
- An innovative approach to address the issue you’re targeting,
- Designed to make a positive impact on the natural environment,
- Aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Taronga’s 360 degree approach to conservation (see below),
- A concept, pre-launch or early stage venture – you bring the concept, we’ll help you to assess, test and validate it,
- Is established as, or plans to develop into, a not-for-profit or social enterprise organisation, and
- Has potential to scale up for ever greater impact over time.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Department of Planning and Environment
The applications will be assessed and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Support and contact
Contact: Belinda Fairbrother
Email: bfairbrother@zoo.nsw.gov.au