What Would AI Do for Your Business?
The Otto IT Innovation Fund
Real AI and automation projects for real Australian businesses.
The Otto Innovation Fund is how we invest our time and expertise into practical AI and automation ideas from across Australia. Each year, we co‑fund a small number of projects using credits against Otto services. We work alongside the selected organisations to design and deliver something useful, measurable, and grounded in the real world.
This is not about shiny demos. It is about solving actual problems and learning what works, and what does not, in real operating environments.
Got a problem? Let’s build something that fixes it
We Back Ideas, Not Just Projects
The Otto Innovation Fund exists because we believe most Australian businesses have a genuine AI or automation opportunity sitting right in front of them. They just need someone to help them see it, shape it, and deliver it.
Each year, we set aside a pool of service credits and co-invest them alongside a small number of businesses with the right idea and the commitment to act on it. This is not a grants scheme. It is a working partnership.
Applications are open to any Australian business or organisation. There is no nomination required and no invite needed, you tell us what you are trying to do. Our team reviews every submission and selects the projects where we believe we can make the most meaningful difference.
What The Fund Provides
We’re a team that believes in doing things differently, with heart, with honesty, and with a whole lot of drive. Our values aren’t just words on a page, they shape how we show up, how we work together, and how we grow.
- Project credits against Otto services, indicatively $10k to $50k per project
- An AI and automation design sprint where relevant
- Best-practice frameworks for safe, ethical AI adoption
- Access to Otto solution architects and specialists
- Training and change management support for your teams
- Shared impact reporting and the opportunity to tell your story
- Project delivery
Built with Australian organisations, on Australian problems
What selected applicants receive
Projects selected for the Otto Innovation Fund receive a pool of project credits, typically in the range of $10,000 to $50,000 per project. Some projects are fully funded and others are co‑funded, the exact structure depends on scope and impact. Typically, selected organisations take part in an AI and automation design sprint, this is where we slow things down and map out the outcome. You get access to Otto solution architects and specialists who work in this space every day. You also get practical frameworks for safe and ethical AI adoption, with a focus on governance, risk, and real operational fit. Training and change management support are part of the package. Where agreed, we also support impact measurement and shared storytelling, this is always opt‑in and done by agreement.
What the fund is, and what it is not
The Otto Innovation Fund is an annual pool of credits that apply against Otto services. These credits are co‑invested with selected Australian businesses and organisations to design and deliver AI and automation projects. It is open to any Australian organisation. Commercial businesses, not‑for‑profits, charities, social enterprises, and community groups are all eligible. You do not need a referral, an invite and you do not need to be an existing Otto client. Selection is discretionary and handled by the Otto leadership team. This is not a cash grant, a financial product or an open grants scheme. Credits can only be used for Otto services and cannot be redeemed for cash, software licences, hardware, third‑party platforms, or to offset existing managed services.
Who this is for
If you are an Australian organisation with an appetite for AI and/or automation, you should apply. You do not need to know what the solution looks like yet, not knowing is fine and can be part of the engagement. You can be an existing client of Otto’s, or new to us.
If it’s a problem, it belongs here
How the application process works
The process has two steps and is designed to respect your time. Step one is a short Register Interest form, it takes under five minutes and comes with no commitment. We ask for basic contact details, a brief description of the problem or opportunity, and what a good outcome would look like.
Shortlisted applicants are then invited to step two. This is a more detailed application. It covers the specific process or problem, who is affected and what it costs, how success would be measured, and the organisation’s readiness to deliver.
Register Your Interest
A short, lightweight form. Tell us who you are, what your business does, and roughly what problem or opportunity you have in mind. This takes less than five minutes and commits you to nothing.
- Your name, organisation and industry
- A brief description of the problem or opportunity
- What a good outcome would look like for your business
Our team reviews all expressions of interest, shortlisted applicants are invited to complete a formal application.
Formal Application
If your expression of interest is shortlisted, we will invite you to complete a more in-depth application. This gives us enough to properly assess the project and have a meaningful first conversation.
- The specific process or problem you want to address
- Who is affected and what the current situation costs you
- What success looks like and how you would measure it
- Your organisation’s readiness and capacity to deliver
Shortlisted applicants are reviewed by the Otto leadership team, selected businesses are contacted to begin the discovery phase.
Start with the problem. Let’s Figure out the tech together
Not Sure What to Submit? Start Here
Many applications start with the same kinds of frustrations. Manual work that eats time, approvals that bounce around inboxes, reports that take hours to build and minutes to read and data that exists but never quite gets used. Or perhaps it’s an interest in AI and automation but you’re not sure what that looks like. Either way, submit an expression of interest, we would love to have a conversation with you to help you see where AI can work best across your business.
Have a real problem worth solving?
If there is a process that frustrates your team, slows your impact, or just feels overdue for a rethink, this is a good place to start.
Register your interest, tell us the problem and we will take it from there.
Important Information
The Otto Innovation Fund is a discretionary programme and is not an open grant scheme. Otto retains sole discretion over selection, project scope and funding. Expression of interest or application does not guarantee participation or imply equal consideration of all submissions. Funding is provided as credits against Otto services, is indicative only, and is not redeemable for cash. Funding amounts referenced are indicative and subject to change. Otto may decline, vary, pause or withdraw the programme or any offer at any time without notice. Where projects proceed, ownership and use of project outputs, learnings and case studies will be agreed as part of the terms of participation. By submitting an expression of interest or application, organisations acknowledge that aggregated project learnings may be used by Otto for impact reporting or storytelling purposes. Any personal or organisational information collected is used solely to assess suitability for and administer the programme, in accordance with Otto’s Privacy Policy. This programme does not constitute a financial product, investment scheme or cash grant.