What Being an IBG Recipient Means for Startups

For early-stage companies, the difference between momentum and stagnation often comes down to access - access to capital, expertise, and credibility.

That’s where the Innovation Booster Grant (IBG) makes a real impact.

In 2020 alone, the IBG (formerly the Innovation Vouchers Program) awarded more than $690,000 in funding to 36 Western Australian startups and SMEs. But the value of the IBG goes far beyond the dollar figure.

For growing companies, this funding can be a true gamechanger.

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Why the IBG Matters

1. Fuel for Commercialisation

Turning research into a market-ready product is one of the hardest steps for any startup. The IBG provides funding that helps bridge this gap - supporting prototype development, validation studies, technical testing, and early commercial activities that move ideas out of the lab and into the real world.

2. Company Growth and Job Creation

With additional funding comes the ability to scale. Startups can engage specialist providers, expand operations, and bring new talent on board. For WA’s innovation ecosystem, that means more high-value jobs and stronger local capability.

3. Validation for Innovation

Receiving competitive government funding is also a powerful signal. It validates both the technology and the team behind it. For investors, partners, and customers, an IBG award demonstrates that the innovation has been independently assessed and deemed worthy of support.

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Why This WA Startup Program Is Such a Big Deal

The Innovation Booster Grant (IBG) is not just another funding system - it comes directly from the WA state government’s $40 million New Industries and Innovations Fund (NIIF).

The Fund is a major commitment to growing the state’s innovation economy, and a testimony to the brilliant minds leading Australia’s development.

Delivered through the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED), IBG is dedicated to supporting newcomers achieve commercialisation of their brilliant products.

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Helping StartUps to overcome their greatest hurdle

The transition from concept to commercial product is where many startups face their greatest challenge.

It is a gruelling process of testing and validation, often and expensive one requiring external sources.

For us, the IBG funding directly supported the development of SinuSight, a next-generation diagnostic device designed to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections by analysing the body’s immune response (Note: As of 2022 - The SinuSight program was discontinued to focus on the RhinoMAP platform. It identifies specific immune pathway driving a patient’s disease and helps determine which medication they are most likely to benefit from. In simple terms, it helps match the right patient to the right treatment)

This funding has accelerated our progress by giving us access to specialist research providers and commercialisation support - critical steps in bringing advanced diagnostics from the lab bench to the clinic.

Programs like the IBG don’t just support individual startups. They strengthen the innovation ecosystem and help ensure groundbreaking technologies can be developed and scaled locally.

And for companies like ours, this support can be transformational.

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What’s next for Diag-Nose?

The team at Diag-Nose is focused on its continued efforts into transforming the world of ENT diagnostics and precision medicine. Over the coming months, the team will focus on further developing its technology, refining its platforms, and exploring new opportunities to bring innovative diagnostic solutions closer to clinical use.

Alongside this, we will continue to build meaningful partnerships, engage with experts and collaborators, and pursue avenues that support sustainable growth and impact. Diag-Nose remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in diagnostic medicine, while continuing to learn, adapt, and grow as a team dedicated to improving patient outcomes.

We are grateful for the support of the WA government in taking the next steps towards precision medicine.

Keep an eye out for our latest breakthrough and behind-the scenes updates by following us on LinkedIn!

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About Diag-Nose.io

Diag-Nose.io, founded in 2020, is a biotechnology company focused on translating the complexities of the unified airway into precision diagnostic and drug discovery solutions.

Their precision medicine technology combines advanced proteomics, computational biology, and AI (machine learning) to create a scalable respiratory biology model. This innovation aims to help clinicians prescribe the right treatments faster and enable researchers to accelerate the development of new therapies.

The company’s flagship platform, RhinoMAP™, leverages proteomic data to predict respiratory disease activity, monitor therapy response and predict treatment efficacy in advance, with an initial focus on anti-Th2 biologics.

Learn more at Diag-Nose.io

About the New Industries and Innovations Fund (NIIF)

The New Industries and Innovations Fund (NIIF) is a Western Australian government initiative designed to support innovation, research commercialization, and business growth across startups and SMEs. With a focus on cutting-edge technologies and emerging industries, NIF provides funding and resources to help local businesses scale, access expert research providers, and accelerate their journey to market.

Through programs like the Innovation Booster Grant (IBG), NIF enables high-potential startups to develop and commercialize breakthrough solutions, driving economic diversification and strengthening Western Australia’s position as a hub for innovation.

Learn more at New Industries and Innovations Fund

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