Open NowBusiness
Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP)
Innovation and Science Australia · Australia
The Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships program allows eligible venture capital partnerships to register for tax benefits that support investment in innovative early stage businesses. Applications are accepted at any time for new funds seeking to raise between $10 million and $200 million in committed capital.
Funding
$10M – $200M
Deadline
Rolling / Ongoing
Duration
between 5 and 15 years
Location
Victoria
Who Can Apply
• Applicant must be a new venture capital fund.
• Applicant must be a limited partnership or an incorporated limited partnership.
• Partnership must be established in Australia or a country that has a double tax agreement with Australia.
• General partner must be a resident of Australia or a country that has a double tax agreement with Australia.
• Partnership must generally have between $10 million and $200 million in committed capital, unless conditionally registered.
• A qualifying partnership agreement must keep the partnership in existence for between 5 and 15 years.
• The agreement must require partners to contribute capital when required.
• The agreement must prohibit adding new partners except as provided for in the agreement.
• The agreement must prohibit increasing committed capital except as provided for in the agreement.
• The agreement must confer on the general partner the right to require partners to contribute committed capital.
• The partnership agreement must include an investment plan focused on eligible early stage venture capital investments in early stage businesses.
• The partnership must have access to the skills and resources needed to implement its approved investment plan.
• Most investors cannot contribute more than 30% of committed capital without Committee approval.
• Investors contributing more than 30% must be a bank, life insurance entity, widely held super fund, or widely held foreign venture capital fund of funds.
Applicants must be a new venture capital fund that is a limited partnership or incorporated limited partnership, established in Australia or in a country with a double tax agreement with Australia. The partnership must have a general partner resident in Australia or a country with a double tax agreement with Australia, and generally have between $10 million and $200 million in committed capital, although conditional registration may be available if this threshold is not yet met. The partnership agreement must ensure the partnership exists for between 5 and 15 years, requires capital contributions when required, restricts adding new partners and increasing committed capital except as provided in the agreement, and gives the general partner the right to call committed capital. The agreement must include an investment plan focused on eligible early stage venture capital investments, and the partnership must have the skills and resources to implement that plan. Investor concentration rules also apply, including a 30% cap on contributions by most investors unless an exemption is approved.
What's Funded
Registration of a new venture capital limited partnership to raise pooled capital and make eligible early stage venture capital investments in innovative businesses at pre-seed, seed, startup and early expansion stages.Before you apply
Check Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP) fit and evidence gaps
Use this business grant page to sanity-check eligibility, funding fit, evidence gaps and application effort before you commit days to drafting. If you already know the grant you want, the 48-hour audit gives a practical go/no-go view, reviewer-readiness score and next-step risks.
Get a 48-hour grant fit auditExpected Outcomes
Registered partnerships maintain compliance under the Venture Capital Act 2002 and invest in eligible early stage businesses, enabling investors and fund managers to access tax concessions and support business growth.Free Eligibility Check
Answer a few quick questions to find out if you qualify for this grant. Takes about 2 minutes.
Check EligibilityKey Information
Applicant Types
partnershipcompany
Stage
early_stagegrowth
Funding Purposes
innovationcommercialisationother
Keywords
venture capitaltax benefitslimited partnershipearly stage businessinnovationcommercialisationinvestment fundESVCLP
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP)?
The Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP) is a business grant offered by Innovation and Science Australia in Australia, providing $10M – $200M in funding. The Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships program allows eligible venture capital partnerships to register for tax benefits that support investment in innovative early stage businesses. Applications are accepted at any time for new funds seeking to raise between $10 million and $200 million in committed capital.
2
How much funding does the Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP) provide?
The Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP) provides $10M – $200M in funding. The typical project duration is between 5 and 15 years.
3
Who is eligible for the Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP)?
- Applicant must be a new venture capital fund.
- Applicant must be a limited partnership or an incorporated limited partnership.
- Partnership must be established in Australia or a country that has a double tax agreement with Australia.
- General partner must be a resident of Australia or a country that has a double tax agreement with Australia.
- Partnership must generally have between $10 million and $200 million in committed capital, unless conditionally registered.
- A qualifying partnership agreement must keep the partnership in existence for between 5 and 15 years.
- The agreement must require partners to contribute capital when required.
- The agreement must prohibit adding new partners except as provided for in the agreement.
- The agreement must prohibit increasing committed capital except as provided for in the agreement.
- The agreement must confer on the general partner the right to require partners to contribute committed capital.
- The partnership agreement must include an investment plan focused on eligible early stage venture capital investments in early stage businesses.
- The partnership must have access to the skills and resources needed to implement its approved investment plan.
- Most investors cannot contribute more than 30% of committed capital without Committee approval.
- Investors contributing more than 30% must be a bank, life insurance entity, widely held super fund, or widely held foreign venture capital fund of funds.
4
What activities are funded?
Registration of a new venture capital limited partnership to raise pooled capital and make eligible early stage venture capital investments in innovative businesses at pre-seed, seed, startup and early expansion stages.
5
How do I apply for the Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLP)?
Start by checking your eligibility using the free Beta Docs eligibility checker. If eligible, Beta Docs' AI-powered platform can help you draft, review, and refine your application to maximise your chances of success.
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