South Australia’s capital city Adelaide boasts a vibrant events calendar, food and small bar scene, and proximity to world-class wine regions and beaches. However, it’s increasingly the business community that’s making headlines. Home to global tech giants and internationally-recognized startups, Adelaide is thriving in multiple sectors, including renewable energy, health, agriculture, defense, and space.

Recognizing the need for greater diversity in the startup sector, in March 2024 the South Australian Government partnered with Women in Innovation and the Fearless Females Network to launch a new grant program supporting female business founders to access capital and grow their startups into global enterprises. The Government of South Australia’s Seed-Start grants provide early-stage startups with between $50,000 and $500,000 of matched funding to help them commercialize an innovative product or service.

In January 2024, Flinders University launched the first-of-its-kind Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurial Growth designed to guide graduates and postgraduates seeking to launch a startup. The Australian Government established Startup Year in 2024 to support students’ participation in startup courses at Australian higher education providers, encouraging innovation and supporting the startup community. Supported by the South Australian Government, a cohort of PhD students is currently completing the Industry Doctoral Training Centre program to specialize in biomanufacturing, matching their studies with industry experience and mentorship.

In March each year, business founders and leaders from across Australia converge on Adelaide for _SOUTHSTART, which in 2023 was ranked the nation’s #1 event for the startup, tech, and innovation community.