Fund Your Project With A $250K Proof-Of-Concept Grant From Commercialisation Australia
(Or take your project to market with the $2 Million Early Stage Commercialisation Grant!)
Dear Entrepreneur,
You've probably heard of the nearly $200 million allocated to Commercialisation Australia...as the primary source of Australian Government assistance for commercialisation.However, you may also feel apprehensive about spending time and other resources on the application process.
After all, the vast majority of the applications for grant funding are unsuccessful. This not only lowers morale but also WASTES valuable resources... with nothing to show for it but a "rejection letter" (even if it's politely worded... giving you hope but NOT funding).
That's why BEFORE you even consider starting an application answer the
following 3 questions:
When was the last time you successfully applied for a competitive government grant?
Do you have time to read through 100+ pages of guidelines and supporting material?
Do you even know where to start?
That's where we come in...
We can take on ALL the risk ...by doing ALL the work. We are Commercialisation Australia consultants and submitting Commercialisation Australia grant applications is our specialty.
That's right...We can do the work and you can get the money!
Sounds FAIR doesn't it? We think so and so do our satisfied clients.
Interested? These are the Next Steps...
Warning – Your Commercialisation Australia application is at risk
With the announcement of Commercialisation Australia, a number of operators have entered the grant consulting market. Unfortunately many of these companies are under-qualified and differentiate themselves by offering cheap prices in order to compensate for lack of experience.
There are even rumors that several operators who were previously involved in the “home insulation” fiasco are now entering the Commercialisation Australia space. Companies that 2 years ago did telemarketing before re-branding themselves as “home insulation experts” – to take advantage of the $1200 rebate - are now offering their services in assisting with Commercialisation Australia applications.
Prior to the insulation scheme being axed, these operators made a ‘killing’– at the expense of house owners (who are now stuck with inferior insulation) and Australian tax payers who paid for it.
Yet this is happening now with grant consultants – especially when it comes to Commercialisation Australia. Many consultants who previously specialised in obtaining ‘entitlements’ – a type of non-competitive grants (such as EMDG and R&D) - have suddenly ‘transformed’ into competitive grant experts. This is equivalent to an amateur tennis player deciding to ‘have a go’ in the Australian Open… just because they can.
What is even worse, is that most would-be applicants don’t know the difference… but they will… once a “thanks but no thanks” letter arrives in the mail.
Choose Quality over Quantity
Commercialisation Australia is a comprehensive program with a rigorous selection process comprising of Pre-application, Draft application and Final Submission. It takes time to get it right… because only the best submissions get funded.
Unfortunately some consultants take the quantity over quality approach – charging less and just getting more applications through the door. Many of these applications have no chance of being funded… but that’s something these consultants don’t worry about... they just move on.
These rush jobs are potentially responsible for the substantial backlog that has now occurred with Commercialisation Australia - as around 1000 pre-applications have been submitted. Unfortunately, it takes approximately the same amount of time to assess low quality applications as it does take high quality applications… meaning everyone experiences delays as a result.
Warning Signs - Perspective Applicants Beware...
No Success Fees - Just Fee For Service
While it may seem cheaper to deal with a company that does not charge upfront fees, this is not always the case. Many fee for service companies focus on delivering a service… rather than the result.
But is that what you’re looking for?
Do you want a completed application form … or do you want the money?
What incentive do they have to go above and beyond what is required?
Will they work on weekends or re-read the application for the 30th time… just to make sure it as perfect as humanly possible?
Or are they more likely to want to 'get it over and done with' so they can move to the next client?
Let’s just be VERY blunt here…. “Would YOU work your butt off” if there was no financial incentive to do so?
No Direct Government Experience
Has your consultant actually worked in government... in order to understand how things really work?
Have they observed the paradoxes that make the public sector different from the private sector?
Or are they trying to 'transfer their skills' across... hoping there is a match.
It happens more often than you think… consultants with experience in the private sector trying to place a square peg into a round hole… and blaming everyone else when it doesn’t fit.
The sad thing is that it’s not their fault… they’re doing the best they can… it’s just that they don't get the money.
Non-MBA (or similarly qualified) consultants.
‘Getting the money’ is NOT about ‘putting stuff down’ on paper… just to get it done. It’s about communicating the value of a project in a way which over-shoots the selection criteria, placing the project at the top 15% of applicants.
As you can imagine, this process is not easy… which is why most applicants don’t do it. Doing a ‘good’ job …generally only gives you a 50% chance of being funded.
Few are willing to do the ‘hard yeards’ and get the project up to 85%. This drive, determination and tenacity is generally found amongst graduates from top business schools… which is why our consultants are MBA qualified.
Our consultants also have the maturity and confidence to question your assumptions and push back if there are issues with your application. We tell you what you need to hear… rather than what you want to hear because we don’t get the 'big bucks' unless you do (and that only comes from submitting the best application).
In July 2010, Grant Solutions will be launching a dedicated Commercialisation Australia site (CommercialisationAustralia.com.au) which will contain articles, tips, and other helpful information about being successful in applying for the Commercialisation Australia program.
We're very excited about what 2010 has to offer... and hopefully you are too!
To Your CommercialisationSuccess,
Ross Turetsky MBA, BCom, BInfosys
Managing Director, Grant Solutions
Commercialisation Australia is a new Australian Government initiative that takes a radically different approach to commercialising Australian research and ideas. It will build the capacity of Australia's talented researchers, entrepreneurs and innovative companies to convert ideas into successful commercial realities and create high-skill, high-wage jobs.
Commercialisation Australia is the primary source of Australian Government assistance for commercialisation. It will deliver a new integrated, hands-on approach to take ideas to market through offering a range of tailored assistance measures for specialist advice and services, proof of concept and early stage commercialisation activities.
Commercialisation Australia will receive $196.1 million over the four years to 2013, with ongoing funding of $82 million a year thereafter.
Commercialisation Australia is a merit based, competitive assistance program that offers:
Proof of Concept grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to test the commercial viability of a product, process or service
Early Stage Commercialisation repayable grants of $250,000 to $2 million to develop a new product, process or service to the stage where it can be taken to market including:
Product development
Testing and documentation
Tooling-up for full scale production
Establishment of quality control
Market validation
Establishment of management teams
Initiation of sales and marketing
Execution of IP strategy
Each successful applicant will be assigned a Case Manager for the duration of their time with Commercialisation Australia. The Case Manager will guide them through the commercialisation process and facilitate access to experienced Volunteer Business Mentors.
A flow chart of the Commercialisation Australia program is provided below.
All applicants will be judged against the bellow Merit Criteria:
