St George is offering startups up to $40,000 in cash grants

St George Bank’s $100,000 Kick Start program is offering up to $40,000 in grants to help a startup or small business venture launch or boost its early-stage growth.

Applications are open now for the grants here. The plan is to choose 12 finalists for a pitch competition at TEDxSydney on May 22, with two $40,000 grants and two $10,000 runner-up grants up for grabs.

St George National Head of SME Banking Anthony Mathews said funding can be one of the hardest parts of getting a business off the ground.

“Even if you have that moment of inspiration, SMEs and entrepreneurs can find themselves unable to bring their ideas to life without access to funds,” he said.

“Through the St.George Kick Start program, we hope we can help provide a platform that gives them the chance to receive funding and turn their dreams into a reality.”

Among the 2019 Kick Start winners was Jo Palmer of Pointer Remote Roles, which connects employers and potential employees to a remote workforce specialist. She used the business grant to hire her first full-time employee.

“Winning the $40,000 grant allowed me to scale my business, which I’d never thought was possible. Thanks to the Kick Start program we’ve been able to help more companies connect with the talent they need in their business, remotely,” she said.

“An increase in jobs has meant talented professionals who live in rural Australia have been able to access the same jobs as those in the city. This has created incredible opportunities for those in rural areas impacted by the ongoing drought and the recent bushfires.”

How to apply for a Kick Start grant

Applications are open to businesses across NSW, Queensland and the ACT and close on Monday, March 23.

Businesses can enter in one of two categories:

1. A New Business Idea: for business that has recently launched or is about to launch – for those not yet trading, solid plans must be in place.

2. An Idea to Grow an Existing Business: for businesses that have been operating and trading for at least 18 months and want to diversify or grow.

For more information see FAQs and to apply for the St.George Kick Start program, click here.