David Adams & Simon Thomsen

David’s work covers the political, regulatory, and economic issues facing Australian entrepreneurs. Prior to joining SmartCompany, he was a reporter for Business Insider Australia.

Simon has been Startup Daily editor since 2019. He was previously associate editor at Business Insider Australia.

Funding

‘This is devastating; this is crazy’: the Victorian government is killing off its successful startup agency, LaunchVic, to save money

- December 5, 2025 5 MIN READ

The Victorian government will wind down startup support agency LaunchVic and rework technology investment fund Breakthrough Victoria as part of broader public sector reforms set to save the state $4 billion. The decision has rattled the state’s startup sector, and spells an uncertain future for state-backed accelerators, grants, and investment funds tailored to local talent.… Read more »

Breaking Bad, money pile
Investing

Super ideas: Treasurer Jim Chalmers scraps the biggest threat to startup investment – the unrealised gains tax on superannuation

- October 13, 2025 4 MIN READ

Federal treasurer Jim Chalmers has abandoned plans to tax the unrealised gains of large superannuation balances, a controversial move that raised alarm bells for investors in early-stage startups. The change ends fears that angel investors, who often back startups from self-managed super funds (SMSFs) would vanish had the government implemented the new rule as part… Read more »