Our impact
Measuring whether the ecosystem is getting stronger
We measure what the funding did and how the ecosystem feels. 367 people answered the 2025 survey baseline and 276 answered in 2026.
- $3.2M
- Granted since 2022
- 121
- Projects funded
- 34,090
- People reached
- $2.5M
- Matched funding unlocked
Our mission
A thriving, resilient ecosystem for innovation in WA
Meshpoints was established in July 2022 to create a thriving, resilient ecosystem that supports innovators and entrepreneurs across every sector and region of Western Australia.
We work through three connected streams. Everything on this page traces back to one of them.
How we measure it
- Annual ecosystem survey: innovators and supporters rate the four outcome areas.
- Annual partner survey: partners rate what Meshpoints is changing.
- Grantee updates and acquittals: people reached, matched funding and lessons learned.
- External ecosystem monitoring: valuation, funding activity, startup numbers and rankings.
01
Partner Network
Organisations across WA collaborating to create connections and opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs.
02
Meshpoints Fund
Funding for initiatives that respond to identified ecosystem needs, through themed Challenges and IdeaStarter.
03
Ecosystem Navigator
Tools and resources to help people navigate the programs, funding and organisations across the WA ecosystem.
Impact logic model
How our work adds up to change
What goes in, what we do with it, what that produces, and the change we expect to see in the ecosystem.
Inputs
What we put in
- Spacecubed Foundation team
- Partner time and expertise
Activities
What we do with it
- Partner events and Townhalls
- Communities of Interest
- Meshpoints Fund grants
- Regional Ecosystem Builders
- Ecosystem Navigator and research
Outputs
What that produces
- 214Partner organisations
- 121Initiatives funded
- $3.2MGranted to initiatives
- 34,090People reached
- 15k+Organisations and activities mapped
Outcomes
The change we expect to see
The change we expect to see across four areas. Every grant and survey question maps to one of them. Scores are the share of people answering positively in the annual ecosystem survey.
Strength of supporting structures
The programs, services and organisations around innovators are effective, well run and on par with other ecosystems. We fund new programs where there are gaps and help program leads learn from each other.
- 68%+8
- positive in the 2026 ecosystem survey, from 60% in 2025
- 63%
- of innovators say the number of programs supporting them is increasing
What we track
- Programs effectively advance ideas71%
- Programs build needed skills59%
- Program quality vs other ecosystems73%
Access to resources
Capital, mentors, support networks and programs are available and reachable, whatever someone’s stage, sector or postcode. We fund initiatives that lower barriers and make support easier to find.
- 55%-4
- positive in the 2026 ecosystem survey, from 59% in 2025
- 83%
- of partners say Meshpoints has strengthened support networks for innovators
What we track
- Access to mentors & support networks59%
- Availability of programs in WA68%
- Access to capital39%
Participation, connection and belonging
More people take part, collaborate across sectors and feel welcome, and more see WA as the place to build. We connect the network and back initiatives for groups who are under-represented.
- 69%+7
- positive in the 2026 ecosystem survey, from 62% in 2025
- 82%
- of partners say Meshpoints is making the ecosystem more connected
What we track
- Cross-sector collaboration76%
- Connection to the ecosystem65%
- WA as a viable place to progress63%
- Diversity of people & ideas66%
- Welcoming & inclusive ecosystem74%
Skills, tools and mindsets
Innovators have the skills and confidence to progress their ideas, and share what they learn with each other. We fund skills programs and early-stage ideas through IdeaStarter.
- 66%-4
- positive in the 2026 ecosystem survey, from 70% in 2025
- 83%
- of partners say Meshpoints grants are increasing innovators’ skills
What we track
- Confidence to contribute76%
- Knowledge sharing across ecosystem60%
- Skills available to progress an idea62%
Impact
A thriving, resilient ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in WA
Ecosystem growth
How the WA ecosystem has grown
Alongside our own programs, we track the wider market: what WA’s tech companies are worth, how much venture capital they raise, and how many startups are operating. Meshpoints launched in 2022, marked on each chart. Latest monthly figures are estimates.
- Ecosystem valuation, 2025
- $15.7B+38% since 2022
- Venture capital invested, 2025
- $93.2M
- Startups in WA, 2025
- 1,112+8% since 2022
$15.2B estimated in September 2026
$105.3M invested in 2026 so far, to September 2026
1,680 estimated in September 2026
Ecosystem valuation
Combined enterprise value of WA tech companies at year end, then the latest monthly estimate.
Startups in WA
Active tech-enabled startups by year, then the latest monthly estimate (lighter bar).
Source: Dealroom. Latest-month figures are estimates.
Grants awarded
$3.2M into 121 projects
Since 2022 the Meshpoints Fund has backed 67 organisations across 8 grant streams, at an average of $26,523 a project.
- $3,209,288
- Total granted
- 121
- Grants awarded
- 67
- Organisations funded
- $26,523
- Average grant
- Catalyst Create39 · $1,705,311
- Lotterywest Ideastarter14 · $592,775
- Catalyst Inspire35 · $320,882
- Challenge #3: AI & Society12 · $195,000
- Challenge #1: Promotions & Storytelling8 · $152,550
- Challenge #2: Resilience & Wellbeing8 · $142,770
- IdeaStarter 20264 · $80,000
- Open Challenge 20261 · $20,000
Reach
34,090 people reached by funded projects
Reported by grantees at acquittal, grouped by the year their project started. 86 of 121 projects have reported a figure so far.
- 34,090
- People reached
- $1,511,963
- Matched cash
- $977,934
- Matched in-kind
Every $1 granted unlocked a further $0.78 in matched cash and in-kind support reported by grantees.
Reports
What we’ve published
Our impact and ecosystem reporting. Reports from across the Partner Network are on the research page.
Ecosystem survey, 2025 and 2026
How the ecosystem rated itself, a year apart
We ask the ecosystem the same core questions at the end of one funding phase and early in the next. The chart puts both rounds on top of each other, so you can see which areas moved.
Phase 1 · March 2025
367Meshpoints’ first three years of Lotterywest funding (2022 to 2025). Set the baseline, at the end of Phase 1.
Responses: Ideator 42 · Partners & Grantees 82 · Ecosystem 243
Phase 2 · May 2026
276The next three years, backed by renewed Lotterywest support from 2026. The first check-in, early in Phase 2.
Responses: Ecosystem 2026 201 · New Partner 23 · Partner 52
Each spoke is one question, grouped by outcome area. The further out, the larger the share of people answering positively (5 to 7 on a 7-point scale). The shaded shape is the 2025 baseline and the outline is 2026. The two rounds reached different people with slightly different surveys, so read the gaps as direction of travel, not proof.
Survey results by area
Pick an area to see what moved
Participation & belonging to ecosystem
- Cross-sector collaboration75% → 76% +1
- Connection to the ecosystem65% → 65% 0
- WA as a viable place to progress48% → 63% +15
- Diversity of people & ideas71% → 66% -5
- Welcoming & inclusive ecosystem49% → 74% +25
Bar = 2025 baseline · marker = 2026.
What partners say
How partners rate Meshpoints
Partner surveys, 2025 compared with 2026. Some results slipped, and we’re acting on that feedback.
- Meshpoints has advanced the ecosystem202578%202678%
- Contributing to greater collaboration202577%202676%
- More viable to remain in WA202568%202677%
- Right structure to advance the ecosystem202568%202657%
- My organisation has benefited from Meshpoints’ support202574%202657%
- Partner Network has been valuable202571%202662%
Percentages are “% positive”: the share answering 5 to 7 on a 7-point scale. The 2025 and 2026 surveys are not identical instruments and weren’t answered by the same people, so read the changes as direction, not proof. Reach and matched funding are grantees’ own reported figures.
Contributing to innovation in WA? Join us.
Any organisation or individual contributing to innovation and entrepreneurship in Western Australia can join the Partner Network. It’s free.
Get in touch
A question about Meshpoints, the fund or the network? Send the team a message.