AI/Machine Learning

YEAH BUT NAH: Expat Australian AI founder turns down Zuck’s $1.5 billion offer to join Meta

- August 6, 2025 3 MIN READ

An Australian AI researcher has reportedly turned down a $1.54 billion package from Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. University of Sydney graduate and Perth native Andrew Tulloch accrued a reputation as a ‘genius’ during a ten-year tenure at Meta, where he initially worked on machine learning for Facebook before eventually securing one of the company’s… Read more »

Investing

Melbourne’s innovation scene is very much alive and kicking – here’s why

- August 6, 2025 4 MIN READ

A fortnight ago a staggering 870 industry leaders packed into Centrepiece at Melbourne Park for an annual gala hosted by LaunchVic, the State Government’s startup agency. With stakeholders from across industry, investment, university and ecosystem the room was a buzz with the sound of deals being done and of problems being solved. And it couldn’t… Read more »

Working Kangaroo
AI/Machine Learning

The Productivity Commission’s take on AI regulation, data, privacy and how to help the digital economy – explained by one of its coauthors

- August 6, 2025 3 MIN READ

Data and new digital technologies such as artificial intelligence present an opportunity to get Australia back on the path to productivity growth. But we can only seize this opportunity with the right policy framework. Australia can unlock billions in economic value through strategic reforms to data access, artificial intelligence regulation, and digital infrastructure. The Productivity… Read more »

Global tech

Elon Musk’s Starlink loses out to Amazon in supplying satellite broadband for Australia’s NBN Co.

- August 5, 2025 2 MIN READ

Government-owned NBN Co has chosen Amazon’s Project Kuiper’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology for high-speed, wholesale fixed broadband to customers in sections of regional, rural and remote Australia. The decision sidelines Elon Musk’s Starlink, which launched in Australia in 2021, and has around 200,000 local customers, and was also pitching for the NBN contract.… Read more »

Global tech

BOOK REVIEW: The CEO of US data surveillance giant Palantir thinks Big Tech needs a moral compass

- August 5, 2025 7 MIN READ

Critics of those who misuse power tend to be outsiders. So, it’s striking that Alexander Karp, cofounder and CEO of data analytics giant Palantir Technologies, has written a book, with Palantir’s head of corporate affairs Nicholas Zamiska, calling on Silicon Valley to find its moral compass. Together, they upbraid fellow big tech companies for “building… Read more »

3 older men
Leadership

Privilege and ageism: The devil is in the attitude

- August 5, 2025 3 MIN READ

One of the reasons I stepped back from ageism and stereotype activism this year was encapsulated in an apathetic LinkedIn post by a well-known male digital and investor leader. The intention of shaming and internalised ageism expressed riled me and others up to no end. I couldn’t stay silent. It was not only inaccurate but… Read more »

Accelerator

Sydney Uni accelerator Genesis launches $5,000 founder prize for startup financial models

- August 5, 2025 2 MIN READ

A new partnership between Genesis, the University of Sydney’s startup accelerator, and wealth management firm MLC is offering startup founders a $5000 award for excellence in startup financial modelling. The MLC Financial Clarity Prize will be awarded to the Genesis participant who develops the most clear and compelling three-year financial model aligned to their startup… Read more »

Kevin Gounden
Business

Buildkite finally has a new CEO

- August 5, 2025 2 MIN READ

Software development scaleup Buildkite has found a new CEO to replace cofounder Keith Pitt, who left the business suddenly five months ago, handing the reins to veteran Silicon Valley exec Kevin Gounden. The 12-year-old US-Australian business, allows developers to build, test, and deploy software at scale, has been rebuilding its C-suite over the last 18… Read more »

Happy group
Business strategy

The power of online branding in a noisy market

- August 4, 2025 2 MIN READ

At a recent panel discussion on building and scaling tech teams, a recurring challenge stood out – hiring and opening doors is significantly harder without a strong company brand. Building a company’s brand takes time; a logo or catchy tagline is no longer enough. People still seek genuine connections in an era of information overload… Read more »

Business

School leaver edtech Year13 acquires local assistance platform Student Edge ahead of US push

- August 4, 2025 2 MIN READ

Edtech platform Year13, which helps school leavers with the transition to work, has acquired veteran student discounts and support platform Student Edge. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal for Year13, which coincidentally is 13-years-old, comes as cofounder and CEO Will Stubley prepared to relocate across the Pacific and join cofounder Saxon… Read more »

Business

Get your responses in to the 2025 Startup Muster survey by August 18

- August 4, 2025 2 MIN READ

Responses to the annual census of Australia’s startup ecoystem, Startup Muster close on August 18, so you have just two weeks left to have your say. – from educators to investors, accelerators, incubators, coworking spaces, service providers, government, precincts and professional services supporting startups – delivering a clear and comprehensive picture of the state of… Read more »