Aether, a Kiwi AI startup turning marketing presentations into a live documents, has raised NZ$3.8 million (A$3.4m) in Seed funding. The AI-powered SaaS platform, cofounded by former TikTok NZ country manager Carsten Grueber, has emerged from stealth mode with backing from Icehouse Ventures, and support from Brand Fund 2. The startup has emerged out of New+Improved,… Read more »
Unicorn Day, the annual AWS-led gathering of founders, investors and startup operators, took over Sydney recently – and the message was loud and clear: Australia might be a small market, but our startups are playing on a global stage. From an impressive lineup of speakers spanning AWS heavyweights to big-name customers and VCs, here are… Read more »
DAVOS, Switzerland — A coalition of tech executives, venture capitalists, and innovation self‑describers warned this week that unless governments immediately provide free electricity to the artificial intelligence sector, civilisation’s fragile future could collapse into what one investor called “a really compromised vibe.” “Making AI innovators pay for electricity is legacy thinking,” declared OpenAI CEO Sam… Read more »
Australia’s annual bible of the country’s best bottled grapes, the Halliday Wine Companion, has named Hunter Valley institution Brokenwood as its Winery of the Year for 2026. Founded 40 years ago by critic and winemaker James Halliday, who retired last year, aged 86, The Companion is the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wines, wineries… Read more »
Fun fact: A Xero user on ASX-listed accountancy platform’s 2nd top tier of $100 a month would need to subscribe for nearly 21,000 years to cover the cost of CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy’s annual pay packet. Luckily, Xero (ASX:XRO) has more than one customer. As the company’s remuneration committee chair, Susan Peterson, outlined at the… Read more »
Australia is at a critical juncture. The global transition to a net-zero economy is no longer speculative, it’s underway and accelerating. The nation has everything it needs to lead: world-class research, abundant natural resources, and strong research institutions, but Charlotte Connell, head of impact at Greenhouse, said the issue is how funding is being deployed… Read more »
The NSW government has overhauled its MVP Ventures Program, introducing a competitive selection process. It is also launching a targeted funding stream for underrepresented founders, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, and regional entrepreneurs. The update follows weeks of uncertainty around the 2025–26 grant round, which was originally scheduled to open on July 1.… Read more »
As the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ program celebrates 25 years of spotlighting the best of Australian entrepreneurship, Startup Daily is profiling the finalists of one of our nation’s most prestigious business awards, to be held on October 15. Today, we meet the four finalists in the Social Impact category. From improving youth mental health… Read more »
It’s often been lamented that time is the one resource we can’t buy more of, and it’s for this reason that so many entrepreneurs and startup founders regard time as one of the most precious, and elusive, resources. But between actual client work, admin, marketing, new business and growth planning, the line between our personal… Read more »
Former Microsoft content safety director and journalist Shaun Davies has turned entrepreneur, launching The AI Training Company, in a bid to close the gap between AI intention and workplace execution. Davies said that while executives may be enthusiastic about the transformational prospects of AI, there’s a a lack of practical skills and clear governance that’s… Read more »
In 2018, my Australian co-worker asked me, “Hey, how are you going?”. My response – “I am taking a bus” – was met with a smirk. I had recently moved to Australia. Despite studying English for more than 20 years, it took me a while to familiarise myself with the Australian variety of the language.… Read more »
Australia’s consumer economy is booming but investors are still looking the other way. While capital chases SaaS and tech, a new generation of brand-led, margin-rich, culturally relevant businesses are scaling fast with billions flowing through beauty, wellness, fashion, food, and lifestyle. This is not speculation. It’s already happening. From blockbuster exits like Zimmermann and MCo… Read more »
Design platform Canva has revalued itself at $65 billion, up 14.5% on just six weeks ago, as employees look to sell their stakes in a secondary share sale. The confirmation from cofounder Cliff Obrecht came after news leaked earlier this week that VC investors Blackbird and Square Peg had increased the valuations to $US42 billion… Read more »
The Australian government is reportedly moving to dump plans for dedicated artificial intelligence legislation such as an AI Act, with the minister for innovation saying lawmakers are carefully creating “an Australian approach” for regulation of the technology. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s caucus has reportedly become split on the issue, and tensions have grown since the… Read more »
Australian workers are secretly using generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tools – without knowledge or approval from their boss, a new report shows. The “Our Gen AI Transition: Implications for Work and Skills” report from the federal government’s Jobs and Skills Australia points to several studies, showing between 21% to 27% of workers (particularly in… Read more »
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