BREAKTHROUGH VICTORIA ANNOUNCES FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS DRIVING INNOVATION FROM LAB TO MARKET
Breakthrough Victoria is proud to announce the first three recipients of its Fellowship program, supporting visionary researchers as they transition their groundbreaking discoveries into real-world impact.
The Breakthrough Fellowship Program is a $7.5 million, multi-year initiative aimed at fostering research entrepreneurship in Victoria. It is projected to establish up to 50 new companies and create at least 50 jobs, thereby nurturing entrepreneurial talent and enhancing future investment pipelines. Each Fellow will receive $150,000 to help them on their entrepreneurial journey.
The Breakthrough Victoria Fellowship is yet another way BV is transforming the Victorian economy by investing in and supporting successful IP and research commercialisation.
Research has shown that the optimal time to start a company is during the PhD level, particularly when multiple PhDs collaborate on diverse research topics to uncover commercial possibilities.
Despite this, there is a notable lack of awareness about entrepreneurship and pathways to create research spinouts among Victorian students. The BV Fellowship exists to bridge this gap and fuel innovation with targeted and supportive funding.
With 69 investment commitments totalling $480 million, BV is one of Australia’s most active early-stage technology investors. A recent independent report by EY-Parthenon found BV’s portfolio is on track to generate $5.3 billion in economic impact for Victoria by 2035. It also found 88 per cent of early-stage investment in Victoria in 2024 came from BV backed investors, and 76 per cent of all venture stage investment in Victoria in 2024 involved BV.
This year’s cohort includes three remarkable founders whose work spans mental health, fertility, and cancer diagnostics:
Founder Michelle Chen, a seasoned game developer and RMIT University PhD graduate, is using video games to transform mental health literacy. Her startup, Mental Jam, co-creates games with people who have lived experience of depression and anxiety. The team is currently developing Bobarista, a mobile game featuring a wombat barista who helps players explore emotional wellbeing through storytelling and interactive minigames.
“Traditional mental health support doesn’t work for everyone. We’re building accessible tools that help people understand and cope—starting with a game they can download instead of waiting for an appointment,” said Chen.
InnovalVF founder and researcher at Monash University, Mohammad Haft Tananian, is revolutionising IVF treatments with a non-invasive imaging technology that improves embryo selection. InnovaIVF aims to increase success rates and reduce the emotional and financial burden of undergoing fertility treatment.
“This Fellowship gives us the buffer to de-risk our technology and build investor confidence. Our goal is simple: to create a world-class medical device that gives hope to millions of families,” said Haft Tananian.
Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne Noor E Karishma Shaik, is developing AI-enabled cameras that detect skin cancer without the need for painful biopsies. With astronomy-grade imaging enhanced by AI, DeepDerm aims to make early detection affordable and accessible—especially in rural and underserved communities.
“We’re bringing space technology into clinics next door. With just a click, we can detect skin cancer and reduce the need for invasive procedures,” said Noor.
The Breakthrough Victoria Fellowship is more than funding—it’s a launchpad. Each recipient is supported to navigate the complex journey from research to startup, with tailored guidance on IP, investment, and product development.
Quotes attributable to Breakthrough Victoria CEO, Rod Bristow
“These Fellows exemplify the power of Victorian innovation. They’re solving real problems with bold ideas, and we’re proud to support them as they begin their entrepreneurial journey, building ventures that deliver for people, the planet, and the economy."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Economic Growth, Danny Pearson
"Victoria is home to some of the world’s most innovative minds, and we’re proud to back them. This is yet another way we're fast-tracking research into real-world solutions – creating jobs, driving economic growth, and improving lives through cutting-edge innovation."
Quote attributable to founder of Mental Jam Michelle Chen
“I’ve been trying to take my research out of the university and into that startup space, and BV really is like the perfect fit because they understand what it’s like to take research and try to commercialise it. They also understand all the intricacies that go with that, which a lot of traditional startup programs might not.”
Quote attributable to founder of InnovalVF Mohammad Haft Tananian
“We are very grateful that we got this opportunity from Breakthrough Victoria that gives us the opportunity to translate this groundbreaking discovery into something that can solve a real problem.”
Quote attributable to founder of DeepDerm Noor E Karishma Shaik
“It’s accelerating you forward… it’s making us 2x faster. The BV Fellowship came at exactly the right time—just as we were finishing our AEA grant and preparing to launch into the startup space. It’s not only speeding up our journey, but also giving us the structure, support, and confidence to turn our research into a real-world product that can transform skin cancer detection across Australia.”