Hatch: Taronga Accelerator Program (Australia)

This program aims to support not-for-profit or social enterprise founders or start-ups with their ventures to drive positive change for wildlife, biodiversity and the environment.

Through this program Taronga aims to drive innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conservation and environmental challenges. If you are an eco-startup and have a brilliant idea, product or service that you think will be the next game changer for the planet, or know someone who does, Taronga wants to hear from you.

Benefits

• $30,000 value in development support per participating initiative
• the opportunity to receive up to $50,000 in funding at the end of the 14-week accelerator
• $2000 in seed funding
• no strings attached – free to participate, no equity required
• expert advice from Impact Boom, Entrepreneur in Residence and delivery partner
• available to applications Australia wide
• travel and accommodation included
• support to develop a brilliant idea into a not-for-profit or social enterprise venture
• access to top mentors and subject matter experts, including Taronga’s experts in conservation, science, education and community engagement
• a peer group of like-minded innovators and thought leaders.

Eligible Projects

• Not-for-profit or social enterprise founders with a venture that will drive positive change for wildlife and the environment.
• A key requirement is that your idea is:
  • targeted to address a key conservation or environmental challenge;
  • an innovative approach to address the issue you’re targeting;
  • designed to make a positive impact on the natural environment;
  • aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Taronga’s 360 degree approach to conservation;
  • a concept, pre-launch or early stage venture – you bring the concept, they’ll help you to assess, test and validate it;
  • is established as, or plans to develop into, a not-for-profit or social enterprise organisation, and;
  • has potential to scale up for ever greater impact over time.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Hatch: Taronga Accelerator Program provides funding and support for eco-startups and founders to deliver positive environmental impact.
• Eligible Applicants
  • Applications are open to individuals and teams, with a maximum team size of 3 people.
  • All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria found in the eligibility requirements, in accordance with the below.
• Ineligible Applicants
  • Applicants/applicant organisations who are not located within Australia or initiatives that do not deliver benefits within Australia. Organisations that generate above $150,000 in revenue per annum.
• Eligibility Requirements
  • All applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
    • Australian citizens or permanent residents
    • 18 years or over
    • located within Australia, and the initiative must deliver benefits within the country.
  • applicants or applicant organisations must fall into 1 of the following categories:
    • not-for-profit organisation
    • social enterprise (with at least 50% of annual profits reinvested towards the social purpose)
    • individuals or teams aspiring to establish themselves as not-for-profit or social enterprise organisations.
    • If applying as an existing organisation, your annual revenue should likely be less than $150,000.
  • Focus areas:
    • practically address a current environmental or conservation issue
    • demonstrate an innovative, new, or creative approach to addressing environmental or conservation issues
    • align with one or more relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
    • support Taronga’s 360-degree approach to conservation, focusing on wildlife, habitats, and communities. The initiative must directly impact at least one of the three areas, and directly or indirectly impact on the other two areas.

For more information, visit nsw.gov.au.