Amazon Launchpad, a program by Amazon Australia, is offering SMBs an opportunity to pitch for an Innovation Grant worth more than $200K each.
The program is committed to helping Aussie startups and entrepreneurs bring innovative products to customers across the country and this year, to celebrate innovation as the economic recovery gathers pace, Amazon will provide five businesses with one of its Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grants.
The grants, worth more than $200,000 each, will include: a $20,000 cash grant, Amazon advertising support, an exclusive boot camp experience with access to Amazon experts, a national advertising package with JCDecaux Nurture, industry mentorship, and onsite marketing placements on Amazon.com.au.
Excitingly for the first time, Amazon Launchpad will give finalists the opportunity to virtually pitch their entry direct into Amazon Australia HQ, with a panel of judges. This year’s judges include Chadd Ciccarelli from Amazon Launchpad, last year’s grant recipients Rosa-Clare Willis and Andrew Ford from Crockd, Carolyn Creswell, founder of the country’s leading muesli brand Carman’s (pictured above), and managing partner, Kylie Frazer of tech investment group Eleanor Ventures.
“The Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grant came at the perfect time for our business. We were about 6 months into our e-commerce journey and growing without any real structure in place for proper scale.” says Rosa-Clare Willis, 2020 Innovation Grant winner and 2021 judge.
“The grant offered us an exclusive boot campaign experience showing us how Amazon.com.au can support us in a number of areas from marketing, access to new customers to alleviating a lot of the logistics around our business. We now use Amazon in Australia and the USA to distribute our orders.”
Rosa is encouraging all Aussie entrepreneurs and startups to apply for the grants.
“I would definitely recommend starting your e-commerce journey with Amazon Australia. It’s so beneficial to learn how the world of Amazon works in Australia before you expand!”
Coinciding with the launch of the grants, Amazon Australia has also released the 2021 Amazon Launchpad Innovation Report which explores how Aussie SMBs have evolved their businesses over the past twelve months and what they need most in 2021.
“Guidance and support remain important for SMBs in 2021, with 34 per cent seeking marketing, advertising and social media support, 30 per cent seeking help with future growth planning, 21 per cent wanting help building their e-commerce capabilities, 14 per cent seeking mentorship from established businesses and 17 per cent wanting help with infrastructure and logistics,” says Amazon’s Chadd Ciccarelli, the Head of the Amazon Launchpad program in Australia.
“The Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grant package will support recipients with all those areas. We’re committing to helping Aussie SMBs bring their unique products to customers across the country.”
Applications for these five incredible grants are now open to Australian start-ups, entrepreneurs and small to medium businesses and will be closing in a week’s time at 11.59pm AEST, Monday 10 May. To apply head to amazon.com.au/Launchpad.
