Organization · Incubator
Cicada Innovations
Cicada Innovations is a deep tech incubator based in Sydney, Australia, established in 2000. It supports startups focused on science and engineering innovations to address global challenges.
Overview
What Cicada Innovations does
What Cicada Innovations is
Cicada Innovations is a deep tech incubator based in Sydney, Australia, established in 2000. It supports startups focused on science and engineering innovations to address global challenges.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host and community and event host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Incubator
- Founded
- Founded in 2000
- Approximate age
- About 26 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host · Community · Event host · Publisher
- Last reviewed
- March 27, 2026
What Incubator means
An incubator is a support environment for turning a nascent idea or early company into a startup that is more ready for customers, funding, or an accelerator.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Cicada Innovations elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Cicada Innovations as a funder
Investment thesis
Cicada Innovations supports science and technology ventures focused on addressing complex global challenges through tailored incubation programs.
Focus narrative
Cicada Innovations invests in deep tech ventures across various sectors, including health and life sciences, climate and energy, food and agriculture, space and aeronautics, and advanced industry and manufacturing. The organization provides support through tailored programs designed to assist startups at different stages of their development, from ideation to commercialization.
Value beyond capital
Cicada Innovations provides tailored programs, expert mentorship, and access to a network of industry leaders to help startups grow and succeed.
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Series A · Series B · Series C · Growth Equity
- Sectors
- HealthcareClimate & SustainabilityEnergyFood & AgricultureSpace TechIndustrial & ManufacturingBiotech & Life SciencesFintechArtificial IntelligenceFrontier & Deep Tech
- Regions
- Global
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 400
Portfolio context
Cicada Innovations has supported numerous notable ventures, including Aquila, focused on wirelessly charging drones; Azaneo, developing efficient weed control solutions; Contactile, innovating in robotic dexterity through touch; Counter Current, utilizing AI for ocean current navigation; Crest Robotics, creating tools for a safe and productive future; FreeVolt, offering solar energy storage solutions; Gelion, specializing in renewable energy grid-scale batteries; and InvertiGro, providing indoor vertical farming solutions.
Capability profile
Cicada Innovations as a program host
Program thesis
Cicada Innovations is an Australian deep tech incubator established to support science and technology ventures focused on addressing complex global challenges.
Focus narrative
Cicada Innovations invests in deep tech ventures across various sectors, including health and life sciences, climate and energy, food and agriculture, space and aeronautics, and advanced industry and manufacturing. The organization provides support through tailored programs designed to assist startups at different stages of their development, from ideation to commercialization.
Value and support
Cicada Innovations offers tailored programs, workshops, and coaching to support deep tech startups in achieving their growth milestones and commercializing their innovations.
Terms and economics
- Indicative investment
- $6,500,000,000
Availability
- Application state
- Not published
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- HealthcareClimate & SustainabilityEnergyFood & AgricultureSpace TechIndustrial & Manufacturing
- Regions
- Oceania
Alumni and track record
Alumni context
Cicada Innovations has supported numerous notable ventures, including Aquila, focused on wirelessly charging drones; Azaneo, developing efficient weed control solutions; Contactile, innovating in robotic dexterity through touch; Counter Current, utilizing AI for ocean current navigation; Crest Robotics, creating tools for a safe and productive future; FreeVolt, offering solar energy storage solutions; Gelion, specializing in renewable energy grid-scale batteries; and InvertiGro, providing indoor vertical farming solutions.
Capability profile
Cicada Innovations as a community
Community overview
Cicada Innovations is an Australian deep tech incubator founded in 2000 and based in Sydney. It was established to support science and technology ventures focused on addressing complex global challenges. The organization has incubated over 400 startups, which have collectively raised approximately $6.5 billion in funding and achieved significant exits.
Community focus
Cicada Innovations invests in deep tech ventures across various sectors, including health and life sciences, climate and energy, food and agriculture, space and aeronautics, and advanced industry and manufacturing. The organization provides support through tailored programs designed to assist startups at different stages of their development, from ideation to commercialization.
Member value
Members benefit from tailored programs, workshops, and coaching designed to assist in commercialization and growth. They gain access to a network of industry leaders, investors, and resources to help navigate the challenges of building a deep tech startup.
Membership
- Recorded members
- 400
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- hybrid
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- moderate
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
- Benefits
- mentorship, network-access, and certification
- Program types
- incubator, community, and course
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+
Community activity
- Annual events
- 1
Events and activity
Cicada Innovations hosts several events, including the annual Cicada x Tech23, which showcases emerging deep tech startups and connects them with investors and industry leaders.
Notable members
Cicada Innovations has supported numerous notable ventures, including Aquila, Azaneo, Contactile, Counter Current, Crest Robotics, FreeVolt, Gelion, and InvertiGro.
Capability profile
Cicada Innovations as an event host
Event focus
Cicada Innovations invests in deep tech ventures across various sectors, including health and life sciences, climate and energy, food and agriculture, space and aeronautics, and advanced industry and manufacturing. The organization provides support through tailored programs designed to assist startups at different stages of their development, from ideation to commercialization.
Format narrative
Cicada Innovations offers several programs to support deep tech startups, including online courses, intensive workshops, and coaching programs.
Participant value
Cicada Innovations has incubated over 400 startups, which have collectively raised approximately $6.5 billion in funding and achieved significant exits.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- summit
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
- Sectors
- HealthcareClimate & SustainabilityEnergyFood & AgricultureSpace TechIndustrial & Manufacturing
- Regions
- Oceania
Speakers and past editions
Past editions
Cicada x Tech23 is an annual event showcasing emerging deep tech startups and connecting them with investors and industry leaders.
Capability profile
Cicada Innovations as a publisher
Editorial focus
Cicada Innovations is an Australian deep tech incubator that supports science and technology ventures focused on addressing complex global challenges. Established in 2000 and based in Sydney, the organization has incubated over 400 startups, collectively raising approximately $6.5 billion in funding and achieving significant exits.
Audience value
Cicada Innovations provides tailored support programs designed to assist startups at different stages of their development, from ideation to commercialization, focusing on deep tech ventures across various sectors.
Format and cadence
- Content formats
- newsletter, blog, and research-report
- Primary platform
- Website
Availability
- Guest pitch state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and focus
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
Flagship work and coverage
Flagship properties
Cicada Innovations produces the 'Cicada x Tech23 Report', which provides insights on deep tech ventures in Australia, along with newsletters and blogs that offer regular updates on deep tech innovations and events.
Common questions
What to know about Cicada Innovations
Upseed classifies Cicada Innovations under the Incubator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, program host, community, event host, and publisher capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.