A New Zealand startup revolutionising the way the bicycle parts are bought and sold globally has raised NZ$2 Million in a Seed round. Rotorua-based Bike Matrix offers a B2B compatibility solution that allows users to “select a bike and see what fits.” The startup declined to name its investors saying they came from inside the… Read more »
A cleantech startup hoping to replacing the amount of diesel fuel in heavy-duty vehicles and machinery by up to 90% has been backed early-stage VC firm Investible. The level of pre-Seed funding for DeCarice from Investible’s Climate Tech Fund was not disclosed. DeCarice was founded in 2023 by engine industry veteran Goran Bozic, and Professor… Read more »
New Zealand meal planning and grocery shopping app MenuAid has rebranded to Appetise after raising NZ$4 million (A$3.6m) in a pre-Series A. The raise was backed by Kiwi VC Icehouse Ventures and OIF in Australia. As part of the rebrand, Appetise’s consumer app is moving to a free model, cutting its $4 weekly subscription, while… Read more »
Brisbane biotech Gelomics will represent Australia in KPMG’s Global Tech Innovator challenge after winning the local pitch competition. The startup, which grows human tissue in a petri dish for drug testing as an alternative to animal testing in pharmaceutical drug development, was selected from among five high-powered finalists chosen from 155 entries. The annual KPMG… Read more »
The Victorian capital’s 30-month trial of renting e-scooters on the city streets will end after the council killed off their use in a majority vote. City of Melbourne councillors voted 6-4 to end the contracts with Lime and Neuron, having trialed their use since February 2022. Lord mayor Nicholas Reece led the charge against them,… Read more »
Biomedical technology incubator Proto Axiom has raised $20 million in the first close of a planned $30m Series B. The company did not name its latest backers, who join the likes of Catalio, Parkview International, Churchill Asset Management and HOF Capital, who invested in a $15m Series A in September 2022.’ Proto Axiom set out… Read more »
A startup turning looking good into a membership has raised A$1.25 million in a push to rethink how we use beauty treatment services. The round for aglow was led by Kiwi VC Icehouse Ventures via Brand Fund, a joint venture with NZ brand development firm Previously Unavailable, with support from Ryan Baker, founder of beauty-tech… Read more »
Funding from the federal government’s new $392 million Industry Growth Program (IGP) has begun to flow, with $7.4 million in grants awarded to give startups spanning biotech, robotics, renewable energy, cybersecurity and medtech. IGP was announced in the 2023 federal budget, replacing the former Entrepreneurs Program, which had the same level of funding, but was… Read more »
A Sydney software platform managing memberships for the world’s leader fitness brands has raised $17.3 million in a Series A from OIF Ventures and Bailador. Hapana’s platform, a white label CRM solution for membership payments, retention and loyalty, is used by fitness brands such as BFT, KX Pilates, UFC Gym and F45 across 17 countries.… Read more »
Brisbane-based electric vehicle charger manufacture Tritium will live, but under new Indian owners. New Delhi-based EV charger manufacturer Exicom has scored a bargain, snapping up the rival business, at one stage worth $2 billion before it was handed to administrators in April, for $45 million (US$30m). The acquisition will save around 300 Australian jobs, but will… Read more »
The federal government says it will “reset” the Consumer Data Right (CDR) after three years to improve its uptake and make it cheaper to access. Assistant treasurer Stephen Jones is going back to the drawing board, opening a month-long consultation process, with Treasury releasing a paper on proposed changes to the consent and operational rules… Read more »
Victorian startups will have eight new early-stage venture capital (VC) funds to hit up for cash, seeded with $300,000 each from LaunchVic. All up, $2.4 million in grants will go to the VCs, including some from Sydney, to open shop in Victoria. They are: Australian Medical Angels, Ecotone Partners, Era VC, Flying Fox Ventures, Mandalay… Read more »
Crowdfunding platform Birchal has launched an angel network platform, with backing from LaunchVic. Birchal First is designed to connect angel investors with early-stage Victorian startups in the hardware technology space, investing from pre-seed to Series A. The roll out has been underpinned by a $300,000 grant from LaunchVic and is the 10th angel network the… Read more »
Breakthrough Victoria CEO Grant Dooley has pulled the pin, less than three years into the role, as the $2 billion tech innovation and commercialisation fund sustains continued political pressure and community criticism. In a statement announcing his departure, the fund said Dooley “intends to spend more time with his family before looking for a new… Read more »
“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.” This insightful quote from the famous 1960s American baseball player Vernon Law perfectly encapsulates the entrepreneurial journey. While experience may be a hard teacher, the spirit of winning and losing is governed by lady luck. Entrepreneurs must navigate continual learning, with… Read more »
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