Applications for the Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grants are closing soon

Startups, entrepreneurs and small-to-medium-sized enterprises looking to innovate and grow their business have until midnight on Monday, May 10 to enter the Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grants.

This year’s grants are delivering an extra opportunity for finalists, with the chance to pitch their products to Amazon Australia HQ as they vie for a grant package worth more than $200,000 .

The winning recipients will receive a $20,000 cash grant, Amazon advertising support, an exclusive Amazon boot camp experience with access to Amazon experts, a national advertising package with JCDecaux Nurture and access to industry experts and onsite marketing placements on Amazon.com.

Rosa-Clare Willis, co-founder of Crock’d, a 2020 Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grant winning said that the grant help them accelerate their growth and expand internationally.

“By the end of the Launchpad Program we had expanded internationally, completely re-invented our packaging, streamlined our distribution through Amazon’s FBA and of course, opened ourselves up to a new omni-channel marketing strategy,” she said.

Chadd Ciccarelli, Head of Launchpad at Amazon Australia said more and more small businesses have turned to eCommerce to trade during the pandemic and Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grants deliver a fantastic opportunity for Aussie startups.

“Amazon Launchpad is a unique program that helps startups and entrepreneurs reach their online potential, whether they live in Broken Hill, Tassie, or Far North Queensland,” he said.

“We hope that this year’s Innovation Grants will nurture the ingenuity that Aussie entrepreneurs are famous for and help the winners grow their businesses through e-commerce.”

Ciccarelli will head up the judging panel at Amazon HQ.

The 10 finalists will then pitch their wares to Carolyn Creswell, founder of the country’s leading muesli brand Carman’s; and managing partner, Kylie Frazer, of tech investment group, Eleanor Ventures, and Crock’d co-founders Rosa-Clare Willis and Andrew Ford.

Apply for the grant at Amazon.com.au/Launchpad. Five grant recipients will be announced in June.

Chadd Ciccarelli recently spoke to the Startup Daily show on ausbiz to tell us more about the grants.

Click on the video below to hear what he had to say about it.