Lisa Ring and Family Scholarships 2026
About The Scholarships
The Lisa Ring and Family Scholarships support founders of new or early-stage ventures in Victoria to take their business to the next level.
Applications are open to solo founders or teams of up to two who have made solid progress in launching their venture and are now looking to grow, gain traction, and build their knowledge.
These scholarships are generously supported by the Lisa Ring family, who are passionate about nurturing innovative ideas and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Applications close at 11:59 pm (AEST) on 7 September 2025.
Benefits
As a Lisa Ring and Family Scholar, you’ll receive access to a tailored support package designed to help you grow your business.
Key Scholarship Benefits
$10,000 equity-free funding
Receive financial support without giving up any ownership in your business.12-month premium coworking space membership
Work from StartSpace Loft in the State Library Victoria, a vibrant, collaborative space in the heart of Melbourne, from January to December 2026.Personalised business mentoring and coaching
Gain valuable guidance to sharpen your strategy and accelerate your progress.Tailored business support
Access opportunities such as attending relevant conferences, receiving specialised training, or tapping into other high-value resources curated to meet your venture’s unique needs.
Application Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on responses to the following criteria:
1. Market and Problem (20%)
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of your target customers, the problem you’re solving, and the size of your addressable market.
- Provide insights into the competitive landscape. Who are your competitors, and what is your unique competitive advantage?
2. Solution and Innovation (20%)
- Explain the problem or unmet demand you aim to address and how your product or service provides a compelling solution.
- Highlight what makes your approach new, unique, or innovative.
- Provide evidence of product–market fit and how your business stands out in your industry.
- Clearly outline your business plan and model. (Applications with a well-developed business model, rather than just an idea, will be preferred.)
3. Founder Strength and Fit (20%)
- Demonstrate why you (and your co-founder, if applicable) are well-positioned to succeed with this venture.
- Showcase your relevant experience, skills, networks, or industry knowledge that support your capacity to deliver.
4. Scholarship Impact and Future Growth (30%)
- Share how this scholarship will change your business trajectory.
- What will the funding and support enable you to do that you couldn’t otherwise?
- Describe how you plan to make the most of the scholarship benefits, including funding, coworking space, and bespoke support.
5. Traction and Milestones (10%)
- Outline what you’ve achieved so far, such as product development, customer traction, or partnerships.
- Share your roadmap for the next 12 months: What are your key goals, and how do you plan to reach them?
For more information, visit our FAQs or read the Terms and Conditions.
Other Key Information
The following individuals and/or organisations are ineligible to apply for the Lisa Ring and Family Scholarships for 2026:
- Founders of established businesses or startups deemed too advanced and no-longer early stage.
- To determine early-stage we are guided by the definition in LaunchVic’s Startup Framework (PDF – page 9).
The scholarships will be awarded to individuals (“Primary Applicant” in the application) – though there will be options provided to applications that include up to one other co-founder or team member (one additional person / co-applicant) of the scholarship winners.
Please note: StartSpace does not take any stake in the business in exchange for the seed funding; equity remains with the founder.
If you have any questions or seek more information please contact the StartSpace team [email protected].
Previous Scholarship Announcements
Find out more about the Lisa Ring and Family Scholars from previous years: