Nurturing an organic waste management solution and biological fertiliser to market.
Victoria-based Australian Bio Fert (ABF) developed an organic waste
management solution that produces cost-competitive biological fertiliser products for mainstream agricultural markets. Their fertiliser formulations are designed to meet farmers’ objectives of lowering input costs and increasing yields using a carbon-enriched slow-release fertiliser that promotes soil health and fertility.
Successful independent trials confirmed ABF’s Biological Fertiliser Range delivered similar bio-available nutrient levels to plants as more traditional chemical fertilisers while improving soil structure, enabling more sustainable farming practises. ABF’s challenge was to raise the funds they needed to demonstrate the technology and production system in continuous operation,
produce fertiliser for extensive field trials and product validation, and de-risk the business case so they could raise capital to build the first commercial plant, in Victoria.
ABF applied for funding under the Federal Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme ‘Accelerating Commercialisation’ grants scheme and, following extensive due diligence in a competitive environment, the Federal Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science agreed to support the project through a $750,000 commercialisation grant as part of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme.
The Grant
Part of the AusIndustry Entrepreneurs Program, Accelerating Commercialisation Grants help Australian entrepreneurs, researchers, inventors, start-ups, commercialisation offices* and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) address the challenges of commercialising novel
intellectual property where R&D has primarily been completed, but no commercial sales have occurred.
Applicants can seek up to $1M on a 50:50 matched-funding basis.
*Commercialisation offices and eligible partner entities are limited to grants of $250K.)
Client testimonial – Mark Frecheville, Director, Australian Bio Fert
“I’ve been working on this project for a number of years; Steve Wooster was aware of what we were trying to achieve and generously provided me with a
sounding board from time to time."
“As part of the application process, we engaged Matthews Steer to help us with some financial modelling. They also provided us with advice around our status as an early stage innovation company (ESIC), and how best to leverage the opportunity for our incoming investor shareholders.”