This research report focuses on Australia’s social venture ecosystem – the entrepreneurial ecosystem that grows and sustains social ventures across Australia. Specifically, it details findings in relation to two broad aims, which are:

• To develop a comprehensive understanding of the program-based supports available for early-stage social ventures in Australia, including, but not limited to, programs described as ‘accelerators’ and ‘incubators’; and
• To identify and understand ‘Apex organisations’ – sometimes called ‘peak’ or ‘industry’ bodies and networks in other contexts – that operate at a systems level, with the primary aim of building Australia’s nascent social enterprise, social business and social impact investment fields.

Key findings:

• The program-based supports available for early-stage social ventures can be grouped into four different ‘Types’, according to their objectives, the nature of the organisation offering the program and the core target program participants; and
• In Australia’s nascent social venture ecosystem, many ‘Apex-style’ functions are being performed by organisations that are not traditional Apex organisations.