A Pilot Fund project, through Defence and other agencies, aims to investigate funding barriers facing small businesses in the defence sector.
The project will engage venture capital fund managers and investors, institutional investors and potentially a cohort of other sophisticated investors.
It seeks to identify if there is a gap in the market where small businesses cannot readily and economically access equity or debt products to further develop Defence and dual use capabilities in order to leverage them into Australian and New Zealand Defence capability programs.
An expression of interest (EOI) is now available on AusTender and seeks responses from:
- Venture capital, equity or debt providers who have an interest in investment in eligible Australian businesses.
- Eligible Australian micro or small businesses (less than 50 employees) with:
- An Australian-based industrial Defence capability and who have a registered Australian business number (ABN); and
- An interest in seeking investment or debt (in accordance with the eligibility criteria within the EOI documentation).
EOIs close August 2, 2024.
Following closing of the EOI, Defence and officials from other relevant agencies will assess responses and consider if there is sufficient interest for further development of the Pilot Fund proposal.
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