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→ Are you wasting time on grant applications that never succeed?

→ What if your business could access funding, without giving up control?

→ Why are some companies consistently securing six-figure grants while others miss out?



If you’re frustrated with the grant process or unsure what your business qualifies for, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Kate Whitehead, one of Australia’s top government grant strategists, joins John Downes to expose the truth about business grants. From the R&D Tax Incentive to export and commercialisation support, (and everything in between) Kate explains what actually works, what’s often misunderstood, and how CEOs can avoid the biggest mistakes.

You’ll hear practical examples, including a case study of an Australian innovation company that secured over $1 million in non-dilutive funding, expanded globally, and remained fully in control of their business.

Whether you’re chasing growth, managing risk, or simply trying to stretch your runway, this is an unmissable guide to using government support to your advantage.

What You’ll Learn:

== How to stop wasting time on grants you’ll never win

== What government funders are really looking for

== Why R&D Tax Incentives are more powerful than most CEOs realise

== The role of compliance, audits and post-grant milestones

== The funding mistake that’s costing founders control of their company

Highlights

00:00 Why most grant applications fail

01:34 What government funders actually want

03:00 How the R&D Tax Incentive works

04:45 The case study: Underwater drones and export success

07:30 How to prove impact after you’ve won the grant

10:00 What “non-dilutive funding” really means

11:45 Why compliance is painful — but valuable

14:00 Who gets funded (and who doesn’t)

17:15 The critical grant mistakes most CEOs make

20:00 #CriticalFewActions™ for Senior Leaders

The #CriticalFewActions™ You Can Do Today:

When I work with successful business leaders, I often see them investing significant time in growth, but failing to explore grants they may already qualify for. Either they don’t know what’s available, or they assume it’s not worth the paperwork.

The first Insight is about eligibility and fit.Grants are designed to deliver policy outcomes, not handouts. If your business doesn’t align with the funding objective, you won’t be successful.

So, what can you do?

→ Read the grant criteria carefully before applying

→ Only pursue grants that clearly match your sector, intent, and stage of growth

The second Insight is about non-dilutive funding like R&D tax and export grants.

Many founders give up equity before looking into funding that doesn’t cost them control.

So, what can you do?

→ Treat grants as early-stage capital, not afterthoughts

→ Use tools and advisors to maintain documentation and audit readiness

The third Insight is about post-award compliance.

Winning the grant isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a delivery and accountability cycle.

So, what can you do?

→ Assign internal responsibility for reporting and milestones

→ Approach grants with the same rigour as any major investment.

If you found this conversation valuable, please Subscribe / Follow, leave a comment, and share this episode with your peer business leaders. Your support helps us reach more CEOs who want to improve organisation performance and value.

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Final Thought

Most CEOs assume government funding is too hard, or not worth the effort. But the truth is, you can often access generous, non-dilutive capital if you focus on grant fit, compliance and strategy. Kate’s advice isn’t theoretical. Iit’s grounded in real wins. 100s of them.

Your #CriticalFewActions™ might just start with asking: “Are we leaving money on the table?”