Sydney venture capital firm Airtree Ventures is hoping to fill a fifth fund with $650 million to kick off 2025, gathering commitments from three US investors as it hits its first closure. The Sydney VC will split the capital in two, with Core Fund V investing in early-stage startups at Seed stage while Opportunity Fund… Read more »
A group of Australian-based Harvard Alumni will fund two new scholarships to send an entrepreneur and an investor to attend the Harvard Business School Executive Education Course in February 2025. The scholarships are the brainchild of three graduates of Harvard College and senior technology industry executives: Antler Australia founding partner, Bede Moore; Unseen cofounder and… Read more »
US genetic engineering and biosciences startup Colossal has donated US$1.5 million (A$2.3m) to the University of Melbourne to support Australian avian conservation genomics. The funding has come from the Colossal Foundation. Colossal was founded software entrepreneur Ben Lamm and geneticist George Church in 2021 and went on to raise more than US$225m in venture funding.… Read more »
Climate Salad’s big annual shindig connecting climate tech startups with investors, is on next Wednesday, November 27, in Sydney. Australian Climate Tech Investor Connect kicks off at 1pm at the Paddington Town Hall, and climaxes with the Climate Tech Awards from 4.30pm, recognising the best in local solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges.… Read more »
Innovation means different things to different people, but the most important thing when it comes to product development is to have a clear vision, according to Canva’s Head of Design, Andrew Green. “‘We think pretty deeply about our roadmap, and for all the founders out there, I think that one interesting aspect of [Canva cofounder… Read more »
Tank Stream Labs, the Sydney-founded startup community, has made the move south, opening up a swish new coworking space in the heart of Melbourne at 440 Collins Street, and this week celebrates their launch with a series of events. CEO Brad Delamare said Victorian entrepreneurs – along with TSL members heading down from north of… Read more »
When CDs launched, it seemed like the end for vinyl records. But vinyl made a comeback and now it feels like using an old-school camera is set to follow in its footsteps if this week’s episode of Shark Tank is a sign. Brisbane university students Kelric Mullen and Mackenzie Salisbury were among the founders on… Read more »
When Zeller CEO and cofounder Ben Pfisterer raised $100 million in a Series B that valued the then two-year fintech at $1 billion, he was talking to his US investor from behind a $19 IKEA desk. Pfisterer has spent his career in payments, including six years building Square in Australia for Jack Dorsey, and has… Read more »
5 finalists receive help to grow their nature-positive impact $100,000 Nature Positive Prize to the winner A $20,000 People’s Choice Prize chosen by KPMG staff A new First Nations category Two new themes: regenerative economy and sustainable food systems Applications for the annual KPMG Nature Positive Challenge for 2024 are now open to startups in… Read more »
A fintech startup funding the legal fees for family law disputes has raised $5.7 million in a Seed round. Sydney-based JustFund launched in 2022 cofounded by former lawyers Andy O’Connor and Jack O’Donnell, and fintech entrepreneur Craig Carroll, The raise was led by Xilium Capital, with support from Startmate, US-based Legal Tech Fund, impact investor… Read more »
Startups tackling issues ranging from being able to settle on Mars to recycling EV batteries and helping entrepreneurs with ADHD to maintain their focus are among seven ideas to emerge from the 2024 cohort of the Australia and New Zealand Founder Institute accelerator program. The local chapter of the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, led… Read more »
Since announcing the close of their oversubscribed second fund at $77 million and expansion to Brisbane last week, Antler has now unveiled 12 of their latest investments. In line with Antler’s sector-agnostic focus to find the best possible founders in Australia, these 12 new startups span a broad range of industries including retail, sustainability, productivity,… Read more »
Energy sector digital twin startup Neara has raised $45 million in a Series C as international investors grab a slice of the AI-powered platform. The round was led by Swedish private equity firm EQT and Swiss infrastructure business Partners Group. Existing backers Square Peg, Skip Capital and Dutch VC Prosus Ventures also chipped in. Skip,… Read more »
A surf lifesaving robot, accessible beauty, a saliva-based hydration test and a way to green hydrogen from biomass are among 10 ideas to emerge Newcastle’s I2N Accelerator program in 2024. The I2N is an initiative from the University of Newcastle, supporting innovators and entrepreneurs by connecting them with what they call the 4Cs: community, customers,… Read more »
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Teens in Business Awards, hosted by non-profit organisation Young Change Agents. The Awards, now in their 4th year, celebrate young entrepreneurs across Australia, recognising their innovation, resilience, and impact. There are also categories for entrepreneurial educators and mentors, acknowledging those who support youth in bringing their ideas to… Read more »
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