Secure your share of the · Austrade pool.
EMDG rounds are first-come, first-served and the pool is finite. We pre-qualify you, draft the mandatory Plan to Market, and lodge through the Austrade portal the moment the next round opens — so you're at the front of the queue, not the back.
Maximum grant
$80,000 / yr
Minimum matched spend
$20k
- No Austrade portal delays once the round opens
- End-to-end lodgement, RFI handling and milestone reporting
- Audit-ready evidence locker for every eligible expense
Sources: austrade.gov.au · business.gov.au
Has your business been operating under the same ABN for at least 2 years?
Austrade requires a continuous 2-year trading history for Tiers 1–3.
§ 01 · The new Austrade rulebook
Round 4 isn't the old EMDG. It's a sprint.
Three structural changes have flipped the program. Miss any of them and your application is dead on arrival.
- 01
First-in, best-dressed
Austrade no longer guarantees funding for everyone. Applications are assessed in the order received until the $104.5m budget is gone. Speed and accuracy are the only ways to win.
- 02
Upfront funding
No more waiting 18 months for a reimbursement. EMDG is now an upfront grant agreement. We build the required 'Plan to Market' to get your agreement signed fast.
- 03
Strict new tiers
Austrade has introduced hard turnover minimums and stricter capacity-to-spend tests. We financially model your marketing budget so you don't get instantly rejected.
§ 02 · Fit check
We're picky about who we lodge.
Austrade is now rejecting applications inside 48 hours. We only take on businesses we expect to clear the new tier gates, so our success rate stays high and your $950 isn't wasted.
Good fit
You'll likely qualify
- Australian Pty Ltd with 2+ years of continuous ABN history
- Turnover between $100,000 and $20m in the last financial year
- Already selling overseas, or with a credible plan to launch within 12 months
- Able to invest at least $20,000 of your own funds in export marketing
- A founder or finance lead who can sign off financial figures
Wrong fit
We'll point you elsewhere
- Pre-revenue or sub-$100k turnover businesses
- Domestic-only trading with no export plan on the table
- ABN under 2 years, or recently restructured entities
- Looking for a reimbursement on spend already incurred years ago
- Wanting a DIY template, this is a done-for-you lodgement service
§ 03 · End-to-end lodgement
Four steps from cold start to signed Grant Agreement.
We manage every Austrade touchpoint on your behalf, so you can stay focused on selling.
- Step 01
Scoping & tier matching
We map your previous export sales, turnover, and future marketing budget to the correct Austrade Tier (1, 2 or 3).
- Step 02
The 'Plan to Market'
We draft the mandatory marketing plan, detailing your expected outcomes and eligible expense categories such as digital marketing, overseas travel and trade shows.
- Step 03
Portal lodgement
We manage the entire Austrade online portal lodgement on your behalf, ensuring your application is filed the moment the round opens.
- Step 04
Milestone reporting
We don't disappear after approval. We manage your ongoing milestone reports to ensure Austrade releases your funds on time.
§ 04 · Pricing & commercial alignment
A fixed brief, then a success fee on grant value.
Austrade's "first-in, best-dressed" rules mean applications without a pristine Plan to Market get pushed to the back of the queue. We partner with you in two phases, so you're lodged the minute the portal opens.
Phase 01 · Preparation
We financially model your export budget, verify your Tier turnover minimums, and write the mandatory Austrade Plan to Market so you are 100% lodgement-ready.
- →Tier scoping & turnover verification
- →Capacity-to-spend financial modelling
- →Drafted Austrade Plan to Market
- →Eligible expense register
- →Lodgement-ready application pack
Austrade requires proof of a minimum $20,000 matched-spend capacity. This step de-risks your lodgement before it hits the queue.
Phase 02 · Execution
We lodge, handle every Austrade RFI, and manage milestone reporting. You only pay on confirmed Grant Agreement. No grant, no success fee.
- →Full Austrade portal lodgement
- →Lodgement representation on your behalf
- →Request for Information (RFI) handling
- →Mandatory milestone reporting
- →Direct line to a senior consultant
| Tier | Annual ceiling | Fee @ 8% |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $30,000 / yr | ~$2,400 |
| Tier 2 | $50,000 / yr | ~$4,000 |
| Tier 3 | $80,000 / yr | ~$6,400 |
Round 4 funds are finite. Pre-qualify in 2 minutes.
Free eligibility check. No obligation. The $950 only invoices once you're confirmed eligible.
§ 06 · Free tools and founder briefs
Everything you need to brief yourself, free.
We'd rather you arrive informed. Use the calculator and guides to pressure-test eligibility, then book the wizard if the numbers make sense for your business.
Free · Calculator
EMDG Grant Calculator
Enter turnover and planned export-marketing spend. See your tier, annual ceiling and likely 2-year grant value. No sign-up.
Free · 18 page guide
EMDG 2026 Field Guide
Round 4 rules, tier maths, evidence requirements and the new Plan to Market test, written for founders, not consultants.
Free · Template
Plan to Market Template
The exact section structure Austrade looks for: target markets, channel mix, KPIs, capacity to spend. Drop your numbers in.
Free · Checklist
Eligible Expense Checklist
Eight expense categories Austrade accepts, with the proof you need for each. Run it before you spend a dollar.
§ 05 · Straight answers
The questions every founder asks before they sign.
No fluff. If you've got a question we haven't covered, put it in the wizard and we'll answer it in writing within one business day.
- Q.01
When does EMDG Round 4 actually open?
Austrade has signalled the next intake for early FY26. The exact date is published with about two weeks' notice. We hold a drafted Plan to Market in escrow so we can lodge inside the first hour of opening.
- Q.02
Can't I just lodge this myself?
You can. The risk is the new Plan to Market, financial capacity test, and tier evidence pack. Austrade is rejecting first-time DIY applications at a high rate, and a rejected lodgement does not get reassessed in the same round.
- Q.03
Is the 8% success fee on top of Austrade charges?
Austrade does not charge an application fee. The 8% is the only success fee, billed on confirmed Grant Agreement value. No grant, no success fee.
- Q.04
What happens if my application is rejected?
If you've passed our fit check and we still get a rejection, we resubmit at no extra Phase 02 fee in the next available round. The $950 covers the preparation work either way.
- Q.05
How long until I see the money?
Once your Grant Agreement is signed, milestone payments are released by Austrade as you spend and report. We manage every milestone report so funds keep flowing on time.
- Q.06
Do you work outside Australia?
No. EMDG is an Australian programme, so we only take on businesses with an Australian ABN and an Australian tax residency.