Secure Government Grants
Navigate the complex world of government funding with expert guidance from someone who's been on both sides of the table.
🚩 Government Grants Aren't "Free Money" to Test Your Idea
Who doesn't want some "free money" from the government to kickstart their business? But let's get clear on something right from the start:
Government grants aren't handouts designed to test your business idea just because you don't have enough money to do it yourself.
Understanding how government funding fits into your overall financial and capital strategy is crucial. If you don't grasp this early, you'll waste months chasing grants that never had your name on them in the first place.
The following insights come from years of experience on both sides of the grant process.
If you're serious about securing government funding, read on.
❌ Debunking the Biggest Grant Myth
Myth: "The government funds new business ideas to help entrepreneurs get started."
Reality Check: Most government grants have very clear, specific objectives. They're not designed for entrepreneurs looking to build their very first business or test a market idea. Yet, time after time, entrepreneurs spend months preparing applications that never stood a real chance. This often leaves a bitter taste, creating resentment that the government "didn't support" their seemingly "perfect-fit" application.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Your perception of eligibility rarely matches the grant's precise objectives.
🎯 Government Grants Often Target Specific Policy Outcomes and Proven Capabilities
Government grants are not designed to take risks on your new business idea.
Instead, governments focus funding toward measurable outcomes and proven capabilities. Initiatives are crafted to support companies who have built existing products, technologies, or capabilities that are aligned closely with specific government goals.
For example:
- ARENA's Battery Breakthrough Initiative specifically targets established players within the battery supply chain who are looking to establish their facility in Australia.
- The Hydrogen Headstart Program explicitly supports large-scale hydrogen production facilities in Australia.
- Even broader initiatives like the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund or the Industry Growth Program have precisely defined legislative and industry requirements. They aren't open invitations to every manufacturing idea — just because you plan to manufacture umbrellas in Australia doesn't mean you're the ideal candidate.
Government funding isn't about your needs — it's about the government's strategic objectives. If your business already aligns clearly with these strategic objectives, perhaps government grants could become part of your funding strategy.
🔑 Grants are a Conservative Financial Strategy
Compared to private funding, government grants represent one of the most conservative forms of capital. Consider the difference:
Angel Investors
They're only risking their own money (or their family's). The decision and risk rest entirely on their shoulders. They are responsible for their own money.
Venture Capitalists
They invest funds pooled from limited partners (LPs), which may consist of just a handful of sophisticated investors. These investors are considered, under legislation, to be capable of understanding the risks involved and making informed decisions.
Government Grants
This is taxpayer money. Governments face significant scrutiny — any risky funding decision could lead to public backlash, investigations, or worse.
Because of this scrutiny, government grants generally favour companies that can provide credible third-party evidence — not just nicely worded intentions.
It's not about wordsmithing what you think the government wants to hear. Most programs look for real-world proof: documented customer commitments, industry partnerships, pilot agreements, or tangible stakeholder commitments. Even in cases where a grant is designed to help validate commercial potential, applicants are still expected to bring tangible market interest and serious buy-in — not just internal conviction, desktop research or hypothetical projections.
At the same time, many programs are strictly geared toward established companies — those with demonstrated commercial traction, proven capabilities, and clear alignment with specific government mandates. These are not grants for testing your first idea. They are designed to accelerate businesses already contributing to differnt pillars of national, state or local priorities.
🗝️ The Real Role of Government Grants in Your Financial Strategy
From my experience — both as a founder who's secured government funding, an asseor of 500+ early stage companies grant applications, and as an advisor who's guided over 190 high-growth tech companies through rigorous grant processes — the truth is clear:
Government grants become a viable funding pathway only when your business clearly fits into existing government objectives and you can convincingly demonstrate alignment with well-defined outcomes.
They aren't designed for you to test the waters or validate early-stage ideas.
🎖️ Why Work With Me? (Because Experience Matters)
I'm Jonathan Chak, and here's why founders choose to work with me on grant funding:
- I've been on both sides of the table — as a successful founder who accessed government grants and private capital, and as a trusted advisor assessing hundreds of state and federal grant applications.
- During my tenure as a government grant advisor, I recognised the potential in 8 companies out of a pool of 190 innovative tech businesses and guided them through their applications — achieving a 100% success rate in securing the exact funding they applied for.
- As an independent consultant, I've secured prestigious grants for clients, including the Boosting Female Founders Program, NSW MVP Ventures Program and the highly selective Go-Green Co-Innovation Program (where my client was one of only four successful applicants).
- I've seen exactly what works, why most applications fail, and the critical pitfalls you must avoid.
Take the Next Step: Book a Strategic Grant Alignment Session
Let's invest 30min into exploring your business, your financial strategy, and your specific grant interests. I'll provide clarity on your realistic chances and guide you on whether a government grant could genuinely support your objectives.
By the end of this call, we'll both know whether working together makes sense. If I believe you're positioned to succeed, we can discuss the commercial terms for our engagement directly during the session.