The Know-how Commercialization Enterprise Scheme aims to drive Seed and Series A investments into University of New South Wales (UNSW) climate-tech spin-offs and firms backed by the Technology Research and Commercialisation Enterprise (TRaCE).
A pioneering initiative at an Australian university, inspired by successful programs in Israel and Singapore, aims to accelerate the translation of research findings into commercial applications.
Through this strategic partnership, TRaCE can effectively mitigate the risks associated with initial funding, while also leveraging Investible’s innovative buy-back mechanism to drive the recycling of funds and subsequent reinvestment in fresh startup ventures.
According to Gabriella Nunes, Director of Analysis and Commercialization at TRaCE, the scheme is in line with their mission to support as many local weather-tech companies as possible in transitioning from research labs to commercial viability and building a sustainable pipeline of seed funding for TRaCE-backed startups.
TracE has initially committed $1.7 million to the system, with support from Investible’s $32.7 million local weather technology fund, which has backed 29 startups to date.
“This partnership sets a new standard for TRaCE.” TRaCE’s analysis and R&D capabilities, mixed with Investible’s experience and ASEAN market connections, create a singular pathway for our startups,” Nunes mentioned.
“Our goal with this co-investment strategy is to provide additional resources to promising applied sciences, attract venture capitalists at an earlier stage, and establish a self-sustaining cycle of funding that enables us to reinvest in a broader range of startups.”
possesses knowledge of comparable co-investment models overseas and is enthusiastic about their viability locally.
Investible CEO, Charlie Unwell
“Unwell’s praise for TRaCE’s openness to innovation and collaborative approach, saying it marks a promising start.”
“This strategic partnership significantly expands our capacity to provide funding, creating more efficient routes for college spin-offs to access crucial resources and global markets.”
Fund Hampton Capital brings its distinct expertise, leveraging a vast network to achieve scale and transforming college spin-offs into high-growth enterprises with an energetic administration approach.
Nunes highlighted the partnership with VC Companions as an effort to mitigate the numerous “Valleys of Death” faced by climate-tech startups, where prohibitively high costs and uncertain market traction often discourage private investment. By reducing risk at an earlier crucial stage, she aims to pique the interest of additional investors and spark their curiosity.
The partnership initiated in August with DeCarice, a pioneering startup specializing in hydrogen diesel hybrids, aiming to revolutionize heavy-duty vehicles and equipment by potentially reducing diesel fuel consumption by up to 90%.
While TRaCE provided funding for Business PhDs, thereby enabling a research-oriented individual with a commercial focus to be seconded to DeCarice.
As Decarice’s CEO Bozic emphasized: “Our successful transition from laboratory to market was heavily reliant on a comprehensive ecosystem that provided not only financial backing but also invaluable support, thereby facilitating access to venture capital and fueling our growth.”
