Innovation Victoria CEO - Rod BristowWe’re proud to back some of Victoria’s most promising founders at the critical first step of their entrepreneurial journeys, helping them translate their groundbreaking innovations into commercial successes. ”
Introducing the 2026 Innovation Victoria Fellowship Cohort
Innovation Victoria is backing the next generation of innovators: three visionary founders who are aiming to transform the recycling, medical supply chain and robotics sectors.
Innovation Victoria has selected the recipients of the 2026 Innovation Victoria Fellowships: Arie Levin, founder of APRM Technologies; Vanshita Johar, founder of LocalPharm; and Joshua Ince, founder of Poly-Motion. The three Fellows are building companies to translate their cutting-edge research into real-world solutions that have the potential to deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits for Victoria.
About the Fellowship
The Innovation Victoria Fellowship Program is a $7.5 million, multi-year initiative to foster entrepreneurship across Victoria’s world-class universities, offering tailored funding and development opportunities to PhD students and researchers.
Through the program, each Fellow receives $150,000 to create a company that brings their innovations out of the lab and into the market. They also participate in a series of workshops and programs that are hosted in partnership with various Victorian universities and designed to strengthen the Fellows' entrepreneurial capabilities and skills.
Arie Levin, APRM Technologies
Arie Levin, founder of Monash University spin-out APRM Technologies, is improving recycling efficiency through more accurate detection of plastics in recycling streams. APRM Technologies’ low-cost sensor platform uses an electrostatic “fingerprint” approach to identify plastics that traditional sorting systems often miss.
APRM Technologies Founder - Arie LevinThis Fellowship will be critical to helping me recruit a great team as I refine the technology and build a robust prototype that can be tested across a variety of fields. ”
Vanshita Johar, LocalPharm
Monash University researcher Vanshita Johar is working to improve access to critical medicines across Victoria. Her startup, LocalPharm, uses a predictive analytics software platform to help pharmacies identify medicine shortages before they occur, empowering pharmacists to make informed decisions.
LocalPharm Founder - Vanshita JoharAs I work toward commercialising the product, the Innovation Victoria Fellowship will enable me to build the expertise and networks I need to deploy LocalPharm's platform in real-world settings. ”
Joshua Ince, Poly-Motion
Joshua Ince, founder of Poly-Motion and a PhD researcher at Swinburne University, is advancing Victoria’s leadership in next-generation robotics technology. Poly-Motion builds biomimetic artificial muscles for robotics, prosthetics and exoskeletons, offering a lightweight, lower-cost alternative to conventional actuators.
Poly-Motion Founder - Joshua InceI intend to use this Fellowship to help me prepare for Poly- Motion's seed round. I'll be focused on de-risking the company and our technology through technical testing and market validation so we are a compelling investment opportunity when we begin fundraising. ”
Impact for Victoria
The Innovation Victoria Fellowship was created to strengthen a key component of the innovation ecosystem: the pipeline of future founders. By providing visionary researchers with access to international expertise, networks and markets, the Fellowship helps to accelerate the commercialisation and adoption of new ideas.
The 2026 Fellows join a growing alumni network of Victorian innovation leaders who are transforming industries and improving the lives of Victorians. Over the past year, the inaugural Fellowship cohort has successfully produced and tested prototypes of their products, interviewed and received feedback from experts around the world and secured angel investments and non-dilutive backing from a large global technology company.
Interested in applying?
This Fellowship is one of the many ways Innovation Victoria supports the state’s innovation ecosystem. From founder education to funding opportunities, Innovation Victoria is committed to helping local innovators commercialise and scale solutions that will drive future economic growth, job creation and social benefit.