WiseTech Global’s billionaire former CEO Richard White may be on leave from the company he founded 30 years ago, but he’s keeping busy on the business front, increasing his stake in ASX-listed Vinyl Group via a deal involving another one of his investments, the music licensing startup Songtradr. White stepped down as WiseTech’s boss last… Read more »
Brisbane startup Earthodic has raised US$4 million (A$6m) in Seed funding as the climate tech packaging solution looks to make its mark in the US. The round was led by food systems focused California VC FTW Ventures, with support from Circulate Capital, the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), UniQuest Fund, Significant Capital Ventures, Branch Venture Group, RedStick… Read more »
The 79 finalists in the 7th annual Pause Awards for 2024 have been announced and women are making their mark this year. Pause Awards founder and CEO George Hedon said the awards celebrate game-changing breakthroughs and entrepreneurial excellence in Australia, with categories such as Women in Business and On the Rise putting the spotlight on emerging… Read more »
The NSW government considering legalising the use of e-scooters on the state’s roads, provided riders where a helmet and are over 16. At the moment, e-scooters can be bought locally, but can’t be ridden on NSW streets. But a plan to legalise their use forms part of a new E-micromobility Action Plan released by the… Read more »
WiseTech founder Richard White has stepped down as CEO of WiseTech Global, resigned from its board and also as a director of industry lobby group the TechCouncil of Australia. The billionaire fell on his sword late on Thursday afternoon following a fortnight of media reports about his private life, including legal action, settled on Monday,… Read more »
Construction technology startup BuildPass has raised $7.5 million in a Seed round as it makes a move on the US market. The round was led by Sydney VC Carthona Capital , supported by Leigh Jasper’s Saniel Ventures, GitHub founder Tom Preston-Werner’s eponymous fund, Recursive Ventures, Horizon VC and Massive Tech Ventures. The new funds are… Read more »
Heat exchange manufacturing startup Conflux Technology has raised $11 million in a Series B. The round was led by Breakthrough Victoria, which chipped in $5 million, with participation from AM Ventures and Acorn Capital. The regional Victorian, based in Waurn Ponds, has developed next generation heat exchangers using addictive manufacturing (AM). They transfer thermal energy… Read more »
Kiwi professional services job tracking platform Projectworks has raised US$5 million (A$7.5m) in a Series A. The round for the management software startup was led by US investor Bridgewest Group, supported by existing backers, including NZ VC Punakaiki Fund, and the company’s new US-based CEO Mark Orttung. It values the business at A$90m, and the… Read more »
Multi-billionaire Richard White’s early career was famously rock n roll as a guitar technician for AC/DC, but over the past month his life story has become more Shakespearean, with a sprinkling of Streisand effect, that’s taken the WiseTech Global founder from the business section to front pages amid lurid details of his personal life. It… Read more »
The former CEO of the company behind defunct Queensland digital asset exchange Mine Digital has been charged with criminal fraud in the wake of an investigation by corporate regulator the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). Grant Colthup, who was CEO of ACCE Australia Pty Ltd, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday charged with… Read more »
New Zealand startup DNAiTECH, which has developed instant diagnostic tests that don’t need a lab, has raised NZ$1 million (A$910k) in a pre-Seed round led by Sprout Agritech. It’s Sprout’s 10th investment alongside partners Finistere Ventures in the US, NZ dairy goliath Fonterra and venture builder OurCrowd, as well as the Te Pokapū Auaha Callaghan… Read more »
Disrupt Radio, the Melbourne media startup that launched in 2023 with a focus on entrepreneurship, but ran out of money to pay its staff within 12 months, is hoping to secure enough funding to return to live broadcasting in November. The Australian reports that founder Benjamin Roberts said negotiations for new capital are ongoing. “In… Read more »
Drone delivery venture Swoop Aero, which raised more than $26 million in VC funding, has been placed in administration as cofounder Eric Peck claimed pressure from investors placed the business in that position. BPS Reconstruction and Recovery’s Simon Nelson was appointed administrator of Swoop Aero Pty Ltd and Kookaburra Aerospace Pty Ltd on October 14.… Read more »
In real estate terms, Elaine, the 1863 waterfront mansion in Sydney’s Point Piper, could be described as a bit of a fixer-upper, with plenty of potential. And that’s how Atlassian cofounder Scott Farquhar and his wife, venture capitalist Kim Jackson, saw it when they bought the seven-bedroom Victorian mansion, which once belonged to members of… Read more »
Breakthrough Victoria, the $2 billion state government-backed venture fund, has invested $2.5 million into a Melbourne startup recycling food waste as animal feed and fertiliser. Viridian Renewable Technology, founded in 2016, lays claim to being Australia’s first large scale insect protein manufacturing plant. It has a commercial plant in Derrimut, in Melbourne’s western suburbs and will use… Read more »
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