Innovative Investors

Overview

This pathway is for active investors with a proven track record of actively funding and advising innovative, high-growth businesses.

You may be eligible for NSW nomination if you:

• Have invested in multiple startups or scale-ups and stayed involved as a mentor, board advisor or strategic partner
• Have co-invested alongside reputable venture funds, angel syndicates or innovation hubs
• Open your networks and expertise to help founders grow faster and smarter
• Have a plan to deploy smart capital that builds NSW’s startup ecosystem and creates jobs

Eligibility

Track record of significant angel investment

You must show a history of providing substantial angel investment in innovative ventures — with clear evidence that you helped support their success.

Evidence may include:

• Details of previous investments, including amounts, company stages and outcomes (such as follow-on funding rounds, growth or exits)
• Evidence you provided active support, advice or mentorship to the ventures you invested in

Contribution to the startup community

You should have active involvement in the start-up and innovation ecosystem beyond just financial investment.

Evidence may include:

• Serving as a mentor or advisor to founders
• Participation in industry events, investor groups or networks
• Helping grow the local investment landscape — for example, angel syndicates or startup hubs

Focus on innovative ventures

Your investments should be primarily in innovative, scalable businesses with strong growth potential — ideally aligned with NSW’s priority sectors.

Commitment to investing in NSW

You must show a clear intention to actively invest in innovative ventures within NSW.

Evidence may include:

• Existing investments in NSW-based startups
• A strategy for future investments in NSW
• Engagement with NSW-based investor networks or partnerships

Recognition within the investment community

Evidence that you’re recognised as a successful and influential investor in the angel or venture capital community will strengthen your case.

Endorsements

Letters of support from founders you have invested in or from established figures in the NSW investment community would strengthen your application.

How to get started

To be considered for NSW nomination, you must follow this three-stage process.

Stage 1: Check you are eligible

First, you need to confirm you meet the criteria for a nomination pathway.

• This page explains the criteria for the Innovative Investor pathway.
• If you are not a innovative investor, read our Pathways page to find your correct pathway.

Stage 2: Submit a Registration of Interest (ROI)

When you are sure you are eligible, you can submit a Registration of Interest (ROI). An ROI formally tells us you would like to be considered for nomination.

• Fill it out carefully. You cannot change your ROI after you submit it. Make sure everything is accurate.
• One at a time. You can only have one active ROI with us at a time.
• It’s valid for six months. Your ROI will be considered for up to six months.

You can read our Guide to Registering Your Interest for more detailed help.

Stage 3: Apply if invited

If we invite your ROI, we will email you a link to apply for nomination.

• Prepare your evidence early. Your application must include documents that prove the claims you made in your ROI. We advise you to start gathering this evidence now.

Other visa pathways

If NSW nomination for the National Innovation Visa isn’t right for you, there are other visa options for skilled professionals wanting to live and work in NSW. These include:

• Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
• Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Nomination visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494)

For a full list of available visa options, see the visa finder on the Home Affairs website.