The Founders Factory Nature Tech Accelerator has kicked off in Western Australia, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for six early-stage start-ups focused on nature-based technologies. The program is designed to help these innovators scale their solutions with expert guidance and seed funding.
Among the inaugural participants is a project developing 'plant factories' for growing food in space and a start-up focused on producing seaweed-based compounds to reduce methane emissions from livestock. These companies, selected after a rigorous application process, are the first recipients of the accelerator's support.
The Founders Factory program, already operational in cities such as London, Milan, Berlin, Johannesburg, and New York, has helped over 300 companies worldwide. The Perth-based accelerator is supported by a $7.2 million investment, aiming to foster a sustainable, nature-focused tech ecosystem in Western Australia.
Each of the six start-ups will receive $50,000 in seed funding to support their early-stage development. They will also participate in a four-month intensive support program, which includes tailored mentoring, access to global networks, and resources to accelerate their growth.
The accelerator will run for three years, ensuring that ambitious local start-ups can scale globally without having to leave WA. The successful participants include:
- SeaStock - A company focused on producing and extracting valuable compounds from seaweed.
- Agra - Developing sustainable crop production systems that can match the cost of traditional agriculture.
- OceanHex - Innovating marine restoration with scalable kelp reforestation technology.
- Nitronic - Creating sustainable nitrogen fertilisers using non-thermal plasma technology.
- Call to Country - Empowering organizations to integrate cultural competency and Indigenous engagement into their operations.
- X-Centric - High-performance soil testing instruments to improve agricultural efficiency.
For more information about the accelerator and how to apply, visit: Founders Factory Nature Tech Program.