The 2026 Venture Catalyst Space (VCS) program, delivered by Adelaide University’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre with support from the South Australian Space Industry Centre (SASIC), will provide the next generation of space entrepreneurs with six months of specialised support, including mentoring, industry connections, funding pathways, access to university resources and opportunities to accelerate commercialisation.
This year’s cohort highlights the diverse range of technologies emerging from South Australia’s growing space ecosystem, spanning artificial intelligence, climate resilience, advanced materials, healthcare, agriculture and satellite-enabled decision making.
Among the selected companies is THE RED PLAN-ET, a start-up seeking to address one of the overlooked challenges associated with long-duration human spaceflight: menstrual management for female astronauts.
The company is developing a sustainable approach that would collect and process menstrual fluid for use as plant fertiliser, creating a potential closed-loop biological system for future space habitats while also exploring applications for healthcare and sustainability on Earth.
Founder Mei He said South Australia’s unique combination of medical research expertise and space capability made it an ideal location to develop the concept.
“I have a lot of admiration for some of the incredible companies that also started out with the Venture Catalyst Space program, and I hope to follow in their footsteps in turning an early stage idea into making a real, tangible, positive impact on Earth,” He said.
“Australia is one of the world’s leading places for medical research. Combined with Adelaide being the hub for space in Australia, SA just makes sense as the place to build a start-up at the intersection of space and healthcare."
The 2026 cohort also includes companies developing technologies designed to improve decision making and resilience across industries on Earth.
EOI Space is combining satellite and ground-based data to support improved decisions around land management, water security and climate risk, while AgMap is developing tools to connect agricultural research with the farms that need it most.
Founder of EOI Space Murali Krishna said the program would help the company strengthen partnerships and scale its technology internationally.
“We became aware of the Venture Catalyst program through the South Australian innovation ecosystem and recognised it as an ideal platform to refine our solution, build partnerships and scale a globally relevant, space-enabled business from South Australia,” Krishna said.
Other start-ups selected for the program include ALTDATA, which is using space data and artificial intelligence to support advanced microgravity research; HALO Aerotech, which is developing next-generation aerial platforms for future logistics and air mobility; OffDev, which is creating secure software solutions for offline and air-gapped environments; Rarity, which is applying space-grade engineering approaches to improve material resilience on Earth; and Tweaklogic, which is developing edge artificial intelligence systems for space applications.
The 2026 cohort also reflects growing diversity within South Australia’s innovation sector, with almost 40 per cent of participating companies led by female founders.
Since its establishment in 2018, the Venture Catalyst Space program has supported 54 start-ups and 100 founders, helping participating companies attract up to $135 million in additional investment. More than 90 per cent of alumni companies remain operational, generating more than $24.6 million in revenue and supporting more than 300 jobs globally, including at least 120 positions in South Australia.
Campbell Pegg, SASIC director space, said the program was helping establish the foundations for a globally competitive South Australian space industry.
“Programs like Venture Catalyst Space are giving South Australia’s next generation of space companies the support they need to commercialise ideas and compete on the global stage,” Pegg said.
“It’s exciting to see this year’s cohort made up entirely of South Australian-founded companies, highlighting the strength of our local innovation ecosystem.”
“These start-ups are advancing cutting-edge technologies while building sovereign capability, creating jobs and strengthening South Australia’s position in the global space economy.”
Craig Jones, Adelaide University associate director of business incubation, said building a successful space sector required sustained investment in the broader innovation ecosystem.
“Building a world-class space economy takes more than ambition,” Jones said.
“It’s the result of years of investment in the right infrastructure – the connections, the growth pathways, the industry partnerships – that make it possible for founders to build world-class companies without leaving the state.”
The Venture Catalyst Space program forms part of South Australia’s broader ambition to establish itself as a leading centre for space innovation, leveraging the state’s existing strengths in defence, advanced manufacturing, research and technology development.
With increasing global demand for sovereign space capabilities, satellite-enabled services and commercial space technologies, the latest cohort demonstrates how South Australian start-ups are seeking to turn locally developed ideas into solutions with applications both beyond Earth and across the Australian economy.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?Make Space Connect a preferred news source on Google.