The numbers don’t lie, and frankly, they’re confronting. Women make up 22% of Australian start-up founders, yet solely women-founded teams secured just 9% of capital-raising deals and 0.7% of total capital raised. Add a regional factor, and the challenge grows — regional women face additional barriers to reaching investors, funders, and growth networks.
Two days of real grower voices, honest feedback, and practical wisdom for our agtech founders. Here’s what unfolded.
This week our 2026 HARVEST Agtech Accelerator cohort came together for the first time in an immersive bootcamp packed with real grower voices, investor wisdom, and hands-on farm tech.
Farmers invest hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, into machinery, inputs and infrastructure – but very rarely do they invest upstream, into the innovations that will shape their business, and the industry, in two, five or ten years’ time.
We are proud to be one of 6 nominees in this award category. The award recognises the programs, accelerators, and initiatives that strengthen Australia’s agritech ecosystem and accelerate the commercialisation journey for the companies within it.
We’re proud to celebrate the success of HARVEST alumni Dr Mathew Welch, founder of Red Earth Pollen, who is making waves in Australia’s innovation ecosystem.
AgriSpace is an investment and innovation platform built specifically for agriculture. We curate innovative agtech ventures that are solving real, commercially relevant problems. Then we connect them with strategic investors – including farmers, growers and industry participants – who understand agriculture and can ensure that these innovative ideas work on farm and in real world situations.
The Regional Innovation Summit brought together founders, researchers, investors, industry leaders and government representatives at Caves House in Yallingup to explore how regional Western Australia can lead the next wave of innovation.
We’re officially halfway through the Connected Futures LEEF Program, our six-month initiative empowering regional women with skills, confidence, and connections to start their business or advance their careers.
We’re excited to announce the launch of Connected Futures, the new not-for-profit arm of Innovation Cluster. While AgriStart continues as our commercial arm – driving agricultural innovation through initiatives such as HARVEST, AgriSpace, and our wider agri-industry programs – Connected Futures has been established to expand our impact across the region through community-focused, purpose-led initiatives.
The Farm Business Resilience (FBR) Program has now supported 15 farming businesses across Western Australia through a blend of practical workshops, tailored one-on-one advisory visits, and real-world business planning tools designed to strengthen long-term resilience. Growers engaged in hands-on learning, peer connection, and personalised support that helped build confidence, improve financial decision-making, and support future-focused planning.
UpWaste Australia is a unique, tech-driven food waste brokerage and management service that helps businesses to recover value from surplus food and by-products. It takes the burden of finding environmentally and financially sustainable solutions for food waste off agrifood and beverage businesses so they can focus on their core business.
ClimAdapt combines Global Climate Models and AI to empower farmers make climate-smart decisions today to future proof their operations and ensure ESG compliance. Why did you apply for the HARVEST program? I applied for HARVEST at a pivotal moment for ClimAdapt. We were in the middle of validating our core
On the 18th of August 2025, 9 individuals aged 16-19 met at The SET to kick off the Future Founders Youth Entrepreneurship program. The program aimed to cultivate entrepreneurial skills and foster innovative thinking among young participants. The introduction session was led by Natasha Teakle, who encouraged the group to
The HARVEST 2025 Field Trip brought together growers, innovators, and agtech enthusiasts for an immersive journey through Western Australia’s agricultural heartland. Participants explored cutting-edge technologies, visited pioneering businesses, and engaged in conversations that strengthened community and collaboration. The experience began at the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) in Neerabup,
Held at the breathtaking Burswood on Swan on the 9th of September, AgriStart delivered its 8th HARVEST Agtech Innovation Showcase & Pitch Night, with more than 100 industry leaders to celebrate the future of farming. From driverless tractors to sustainability platforms, the HARVEST Accelerator cohort unveiled scalable, investor-ready solutions designed
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