South Australia’s brightest women-led startups and scale-ups have been recognised at the 2025 Fearless Innovator Grant Program Awards, where four standout ventures from a pool of 20 finalists, secured grant funding to accelerate their growth.
Funded by the South Australian Government and delivered in partnership with Women in Innovation (WINN) and the Fearless Females Network, the grants help innovative South Australian women access the capital they need to grow their business into national and global enterprises.
Grants were awarded across three funding streams:
- Scale-Up $60,000 Grant – for a business with established product or service sales, ready to scale and expand into national and international markets.
- Accelerate Grants: Two $20,000 grants to help early-stage businesses fast-track growth and build their market presence.
- An additional $20,000 grant, supported by Westpac.
This year’s finalists reflect the diversity and depth of innovation being led by South Australian women founders, from gamified mental-health tools, AI-driven cancer platforms, sustainable tourism and zero-waste design.
2025 Grant winners
- $60,000 Scale Up Winner – Placements Plus
Founder: Jo Schneider, DVE Business Solutions
A purpose-built platform transforming student placements across Australian universities.
- $20,000 Accelerate Winner – Mirror XR
Founder: Christel Cherryadi
Harnessing AI and extended reality to transform patient wellbeing and therapeutic care. Supported and presented by ActivOT.
- $20,000 Accelerate Winner – River Murray Dark Sky Tours
Founder: Kelly Kuhn
Delivering immersive stargazing experiences that showcase South Australia’s regional night skies.
- $20,000 Westpac Elevate Winner – Secure State
Founder: Amy Smith
AI-enabled cybersecurity and data strategy to protect digital environments.
2025 Finalists
- Natalie + Courtney Radford – SKOOT Community Access
- Jo Schneider – Placements Plus
- Isobel Marshall + Jasmine Beger – ACRO
- Clair Crowley – Ocean Kind
- Victoria Braithwaite – The Family Cook
- Christel Cherryadi – Mirror XR
- Rachel Titley – She Farmer
- April Benjamin – My Colourful Mind (MCM)
- Laura Tolson – Lateral Vision
- Cathy Domoney – The Backyard Peace Project (BYPP)
- Tamsin Simounds – Jump Proof
- Sanjam Kohli – Chefadora
- Kelly Kuhn – Juggle House Experiences + River Murray Dark Sky Tours
- Rebecca Starling – The Star Hunch Board
- Sylvia Chien – OminiWell
- Tiffany Murray – ROOM
- Kat Bidstrup – Think Digital
- Lauren Moularadellis – The Lumia Group
- Amy Smith – Secure State
- Eloise Hall – TABOO
