A booking and event management platform beloved by local councils has raised $5 million in its first external round after seven years of bootstrapping. The raise for Attekus was led by Five V Venture Capital, with support from Queensland government-backed QIC Ventures. Attekus was founded in 2017 by Tom Muller and Andrew Cutler, who worked… Read more »
The Queensland government has backed regional NSW biotech startup Cauldron Ferm to build a biomanufacturing facility in the state’s tropical north. The Sunshine State support under the $415 million Industry Partnership Program (IPP) follows a recent $4.3 million federal government grant. The size of the investment, ahead of Queenslanders going to the polls on October… Read more »
No sooner have the Brisbane Lions thrashed the Swans to claim the AFL premiership than another Queenslander is hitting town with Felons Brewing Co. setting up shop at Manly Wharf Bar in Sydney. In some ways it’s a bit of a homecoming for the brewery under Brisbane’s Story Bridge, which takes its name from the… Read more »
Melbourne biotech startup Cartherics has raised $15 million as it looks to begin trials of its cell therapy product for ovarian cancer. Cartherics, founded in 2015 by Alan Trounson, Bob Moses, and doctors Richard Boyd, Ian Nisbet and Peter Hudson, is developing immune cell therapies to treat cancer and other diseases. The startup previously raised $26… Read more »
Retail media adtech Zitcha has raised $15 million in a Series A as it looks to set up shop in the US. The round was led by US fund VMG Partners with support from existing investor OIF Ventures, which backed 2022’s $4.7 million Seed raise. It’s VMG Technology’s – the firm’s stage-agnostic venture arm –… Read more »
Athena Home Loans is now worth $310 million after REA Group (ASX:REA) unveiled plans to spend $62 million on a 19.9% stake in the fintech. The deal is being funded from the REA’s existing cash reserves and real estate giant will take two seats on Athena’s board. REA already has an existing relationship with the… Read more »
Seven Kiwi startups spanning space, health and cleantech have scored NZ$17.5 million in government funding under the country’s Ārohia Trailblazer grants program. The program, administered by the New Zealand government’s innovation agency, Callaghan Innovation, backs startups with global potential. Callaghan Innovation chief product officer Brett Calton said Astrix Astronautics, Basis NZ, Emrod, Fabrum Solutions, Toku… Read more »
Vinyl Group’s (ASX: VNL) ongoing acquisitions appetite has added former Sydney startup Serenade to its stable in a conditional deal that represents a major haircut for investors in the NFT music marketplace. Serenade founder and CEO Max Shand will become a Vinyl Group employee, in charge of meeting a range of sales targets in the… Read more »
Two Tractor Ventures OGs have teamed up to help deeptech founders with their funding plans. Warwick Donaldson’s CapXcentric has partnered with GROUP GROUP, the new specialist advisory and storytelling curation firm founded by Garry Williams. CapXcentric helps Australian technology startups access funding on the best terms, from the most appropriate investors. works with a range… Read more »
Global trading platform eToro is getting into the Australian superannuation business after acquiring the controversy-plagued investment app Spaceship Capital in a deal worth up to $80 million. The price is a blow to investors such as Airtree, which previously valued the fintech at more than $100 million. Investment in Spaceship has been opaque, but may… Read more »
HUB24 (ASX: HUB) has ponied up with startup Reach Reach Alternative Investments with a strategic investment for a minority stake. The teams of the deal were not disclosed, but earlier this year Reach had been on the hunt for $3 million at a $15m valuation. The three-year-old Sydney fintech previously raised $2.2 million in a… Read more »
Sydney legaltech startup Mary Technology has raised $1.35 million to enlist artificial intelligence to transform one of the most laborious and costly parts of case preparations – a chronology draft. The round was led by Empress Capital with support from Sam Nickless, CEO of Gilbert + Tobin, The Fund, Sydney Angels and Mark Kalajzich and… Read more »
VC-backed telehealth brands platform Eucalyptus has put its $3000 wellbeing optimisation program for men on ice until 2025 as its creators look to address issues from its initial trials and scale the concept. Compound launched earlier this year in beta mode, with a focus on “high-achieving, time-poor men who want more from their health”. The… Read more »
Migration process platform Matilda launches this week after raising $1 million in a pre-Seed round The raise was led by AfterWork Ventures, with support from Victoria Denholm’s Wollemi Capital, Everywhere VC, Co-Ventures and Startmate. This funding is to accelerate the development of the Matilda platform. which aims to make migration more streamlined and stress-free. Cofounder… Read more »
Consumer debt collection fintech InDebted has raised $50 million in a Series C that values the scaleup at more than $350 million The round was led by Airtree and supported by Australian Retirement Trust and new growth fund Premier Capital Partners. Existing shareholders Reinventure, Carthona and Perennial also chipped in. Indebted previously raised $22.5 million… Read more »
Daily startup news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
