University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund

The University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund supports high-potential University research, ideas and technologies at the early, pre-seed stage. It helps researchers, students and alumni establish investment-ready startups.

The Fund provides pre-seed investment (the 'first cheque') so new startups can accelerate the commercialisation of expert research and innovation to deliver positive impacts and benefits across society. The Fund’s goal is to help start-ups secure the next stage of investment – seed funding.

If you're thinking about forming, or have recently formed a startup, the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund could help you.

What is the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund?

The University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund is a new initiative supporting research translation and entrepreneurship.

It has been established in partnership with Breakthrough Victoria and provides financial investment, expertise, networks and mentoring so new startup companies can progress to seed-stage funding and additional investment.

The Fund is part of the University’s comprehensive ecosystem that supports and encourages academics, students and partner organisations to realise the commercial potential of their ideas and research.

The Fund can invest a maximum aggregate of $A500 thousand over the lifetime of a startup through multiple funding rounds. Up to 20 per cent of the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund can be invested into social purpose ventures.

Funding can be used to enable activities like bringing on professional expertise, demonstrating customer and market fit, developing minimum viable products and validating a business model.

Why have we established the fund?

Complementing our ecosystem, filling the funding gap.

The University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed fund was established to address the ‘valley of death’ funding and expertise gap at pre-seed stage.

By providing this critical early-stage entrepreneurial support and funding for high potential University research innovations or ideas, the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund ensures startup founders are supported at a key point in their startup journey.

Who can apply for funding?

The University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund is open to anyone interested in, or who has already formed, startup companies commercialising University of Melbourne Intellectual Property (IP), and startups with a demonstrable link to the University, from all sectors and industries, including medical research institutes and alumni.

Applicants don’t have to have formed a startup to be eligible for funding as the process of incorporating a new company can be covered within the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund’s investment.

To be eligible for funding, you must:

• Be open to, or have already formed, a start-up company
• Commercialising IP that is licensed or assigned from the University
• And/or have founders with an association with the University. For example, as a researcher, graduate researcher, student, alumni of or honorary from the University of Melbourne, or a University of Melbourne-affiliated organisation, including Medical Research Institutes and hospital partners
• And/or have received Proof of Concept or other relevant research translation funding support from the University of Melbourne.

Note: The startup company should be at pre-seed stage but there may be exceptional cases where it is not at the pre-seed stage.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the expression of interest form.

If you have any questions about the Fund, please contact the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund Investment Team.

Please note: Information collected via the Expression of Interest form is collected in accordance with the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund Privacy Notice.

Foundation partners

The fund is supported by Breakthrough Victoria in partnership with the University of Melbourne to initiate and support early-stage startups and boost the commercialisation of critical research.

As well as funding, startups are supported to translate ideas into commercial opportunities and improve their entrepreneurial capability.

Team leadership

Hun Gan – CEO, University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund

Hun Gan is an experienced technology developer and innovator with a history of successfully developing and translating research into new products and services via startup companies.

Hun has invested in, led, mentored and grown over 30 Deep Tech startup companies out of universities, research organisations, National ICT Australia (NICTA) and CSIRO.

He has been a researcher, venture capital investment director, startup company director, startup CEO, and he has held leadership roles in Business Development and Technology Transfer.

Hun brings strong commercial acumen, startup experience and technology expertise to the University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund Investment Team.