Commercialisation Australia chief Doron Ben-Meir: We want to fund more innovative SMEs

When Commercialisation Australia was launched in January last year, many entrepreneurs, frustrated by previous government-backed funding schemes such as Comet, were sceptical of its impact.
However, the organisation, which offers up to $2 million in matched funding to help start-ups’ skills, executive hires, commercialisation and proof of concept, is steadily building itself a favourable image among small businesses.

With more than $50 million dished out to innovative entrepreneurs since its creation, Commercialisation Australia still has cash to play with, after being given a $278 million war chest until 2014. It will get $82 million a year from then on.

Doron Ben-Meir was appointed CEO of Commercialisation Australia last April. He has personally founded several start-ups, as well as working for a number of leading VC firms, including a stint as CEO of Prescient Venture Capital.

StartupSmart spoke to Ben-Meir about the challenges faced by start-ups attempting to get government funding, as well as get his tips on how to land a grant

Craig West

Managing Director | Succession Plus

Craig West is a strategic accountant who has over 20 years’ experience advising business owners. His background as a CPA in public practice, provided invaluable experience in the key issues of concern to business owners. Following 6 years of study to gain two masters degrees, Craig focused on Capital Gains Tax (CGT) for business sales advising on strategic management of tax issues. This experience formed a very strong view that business owners (and often their advisers) were unprepared and unaware of the steps required to prepare a business for exit.

Craig now acts as a strategic mentor for mid-market business owners and has written four critically acclaimed books on employee incentives, succession planning, asset protection and exit strategies. Craig has conducted numerous seminars and keynote presentations throughout Australia & internationally, including adviser education programs for the Institute of Chartered Accountants and CPA Australia.