Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar meets community members during her visit to Sydney. Photo: supplied Nextdoor is an unusual social network. Its CEO, Sarah Friar, is happiest when you’re not on it and instead, outside, talking to your neighbours – who you’ve finally met on Nextdoor. Think of it as the nice version of Facebook –… Read more »
Shares in Sydney-based logistics tech co WiseTech Global (ASX: WTC) have fallen more than 6% in early trade today, amidst the company’s AGM, as China-based short-selling nemesis J Capital launched a fresh attack on the credibility of the business. WiseTech shares fell more than 10% to below $26 on Tuesday morning, despite an upbeat presentation… Read more »
The growing power of Facebook, Google and other tech companies as they swallow smaller rivals has Australia’s competition watchdog, the ACCC, worried about the threat to consumer data and privacy. Speaking at the Consumer Policy Research Conference Conference in Melbourne today, Australian Consumer and Competition Commission chair Rod Sims said Google and Facebook “are essentially… Read more »
Hello and welcome to tech on Tuesday. Let’s do this. 1. Prospa had a really bad day When the small business lender floated on the ASX in June at $3.78 a share, Prospa was seen as a startup success story. Yesterday the company told the ASX it was downgrading its revenue expectations for… Read more »
Atlassian’s Mike Cannon-Brookes and his wife Annie are backing a new $30 million venture fund to make agriculture more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions. The Tenacious Ventures fund will invest in early-stage startups focused on the agricultural supply chain. The Cannon-Brookes family are backing the fund via their private investment vehicle, Grok Ventures, with… Read more »
Shares in Sydney fintech Prospa have plunged nearly 28% in early trade on Monday, to a record low of $2.79 after the company released a trading update that downgraded revenue expectations for the remainder of 2019, less than six months after its IPO. The market reacted savagely to news, wiping more than $1 off the… Read more »
Just remember Sylvia and Gerry Anderson had a woman based on the moon by 1999 back in the mid-70s. Image: Space 1999. Got that Friday feeling? Remember it’s just 39 sleeps to Christmas. 1. WeWork’s death predicted WeWork’s rapid expansion included how much money it’s losing, with The New York Times reporting the company’s losses were… Read more »
Linktree co-founders Zaccaria, Nick Humphreys and Anthony Zaccaria Melbourne-based social media venture Linktree is the only Australian startup to make the cut in US business site CNBC’s list of the world’s most promising startups. The annual list by CNBC looks for the top 100 venture-backed startups globally with the potential to transform industries and become… Read more »
Payright co-founders Piers Redward and Myles Redward. Photo: supplied Australian payment plan fintech Payright is launching its buy now, pay later service in New Zealand in its first offshore foray. The buy now, pay later (BNPL) startup, typically for products prices between around $1,000 and up to $20,000, will start across the Tasman with direct… Read more »
Welcome to Wednesday. Hope you’re feeling well. If not, try shouting “Hey Google, what’s wrong with me” and if they know. 1. Google is collecting US health data The search giant is using the data of up to 50 million Americans from US non-profit health company Ascension as part of what it calls “Project Nightingale.” The… Read more »
One of Sydney’s leading startup accelerator and investment firms, BlueChilli, is shifting away early-stage startups to focus instead on scale-up companies instead, the company has announced. In response to the changing priorities of its corporate backers, BlueChilli will pivot in 2020, having expended the $10 million in the BlueChilli Venture Fund on early-stage startups… Read more »
Compass Education co-founders John de la Motte and Lucas Filer Melbourne-based schools management platform Compass Education has landed $60 million in its first major raise, with private equity firm Advent Partners taking a minority share in the startup ahead of its international expansion. The school management software platform says it’s now used by more than… Read more »
Hello Tuesday. Thoughts and fingers crossed. 1. The climate change startup accelerator Atlassian’s Mike Cannon-Brookes is among those who’ve thrown their support behind a new Startmate accelerator for startups tackling climate change. They’re looking for 10 ventures and offering up to $75,000 for a 7.5% stake in each one. A bunch of VC… Read more »
The mining billionaire’s photo has been used by scammers in social media ads for cyptocurrencies Forrest is one of several high-profile Australians the scammers falsely claim back crypto schemes that cost those who’ve believed the ads millions of dollars Facebook says its doing its best to combat the fake ads Forrest wants governments around the… Read more »
As fires rage across Australia’s eastern seaboard, with three lives lost, more than 150 homes destroyed and Sydney braced for “catastrophic” conditions on Tuesday, some of the country’s leading tech titans are backing a new initiative from accelerator Startmate, which is looking to back 10 startups focused on tackling climate change. The Startmate Climate Cohort,… Read more »
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