La Trobe University’s growing influence in India’s innovation landscape took centre stage this week at a major summit hearing how the University’s IGNITE Lab and Ind–Aus LaunchPad programs are helping high-growth Indian startups scale into Australia and beyond.
Backed by the Government of Karnataka and delivered in partnership with the Bangalore Bio Innovation Corridor, the initiative connects Karnataka’s thriving tech ecosystem with Melbourne’s research excellence. The result is a structured pathway for founders to validate markets, sharpen commercial strategies and build the networks needed for international expansion.
Speaking at the summit, Dr Cerasela Tanasescu, Director of La Trobe Innovation and Entrepreneurship, said the program was already reshaping how Indian startups enter global markets.
“Our global India-Australia program was launched in 2024 by Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell, it is already transforming how Indian startups access international markets. This year, through our 12-week pre-accelerator and the IGNITE Lab immersion, we helped deep-tech founders build market understanding, sharpen their strategy and directly engage with experts across Australia. It’s a practical, high-impact pathway for global scaling and long-term success. Going global requires far more than readiness, it demands market understanding, strategic integration and real validation. Through our innovation centre in Melbourne, we provide targeted mentoring and market pathways to help Indian startups strengthen their capabilities and accelerate their international growth.”
Startups emerging from the IGNITE Lab immersion report stronger networks, clearer pathways to commercialisation and direct access to Australia’s innovation ecosystem.
Mohammed Yashik B, Co-founder and COO of Livolita, described the experience as transformational saying, “As an early-stage startup, having structured access to mentors, networks and market insights through La Trobe University and the Bangalore Bio Innovation Corridor was invaluable. It connected us to people and opportunities we couldn’t reach alone.”
For Narayanan Vaidyanathan, Co-founder of Charukesi Health Pvt Ltd, the alignment with deep-tech needs was striking saying, “The program aligns exactly with what a growing deep-tech company needs. The IGNITE Lab experience clarified the commercialisation journey and the steps required to scale beyond India. Collaborations like this are essential today.”
And in one of the program’s most compelling examples of accelerated impact, Kondragunta Omkar Babu, CEO of Hornet Biologicals, said IGNITE Lab had fast-tracked their global expansion plans. He said, “La Trobe University’s partnership with the Bangalore Bio Innovation Corridor has elevated our company to the next stage. We wanted to enter the Australian market but didn’t know the pathway. IGNITE Lab provided that direction. We had targeted 2030 for launch — we can now achieve it by 2026.”
Bengaluru-based Microbeworks, which develops microbial dyes as a biodegradable alternative to synthetic colourants, has emerged as one of the initiative’s standout success stories.
CEO Suchitha Raghunathan saying, “Winning the LaunchPad confirmed that our direction is strong. La Trobe University’s corridor with the Bangalore Bio Innovation Corridor connected us with leaders in Melbourne who meaningfully shaped our strategic thinking. The 12-week masterclasses strengthened how we approach scaling, fundraising and research. Since then, interest from investors, partners and potential customers has grown significantly, the program has opened real market opportunities.”
Supported by the Government of Karnataka and anchored by the Bangalore Bio Innovation Corridor, La Trobe’s Ind–Aus LaunchPad and IGNITE Lab are now recognised as one of the most credible and strategic entry routes for Indian founders looking to scale overseas.
Dr Mohamed Adil A.A, Managing Director of the Bangalore Bio Innovation Centre, said the initiative represented much more than an accelerator. “The Ind-Aus Launchpad is more than a program – it’s a pipeline for global biotech excellence. With strong support from the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology and the Victorian Government, we are proud to enable innovators to scale beyond borders, “he said.
As collaborations strengthen and participation grows, the program is emerging as a leading model for cross-border innovation—linking two rapidly expanding entrepreneurial ecosystems and accelerating ideas, investment and global impact.
