Australia’s business pages in 2025 were on the spicier side, as controversies across retail, tech, consulting and policy certainly brought out the trust issues in the sector. Across the year, there were major data breaches, court actions over wage underpayments, startup failures, consumer safety interventions and the closure of long-running business support programs. Here’s a… Read more »
The federal Labor government’s flagship National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) is back investing post-election, hitting the send button on another $27 million to lead a $40 million Series C for PolyActiva. The 15-year-old Melbourne biotechnology scaleup is developing potentially revolutionary eye implant technology to treat glaucoma and improve treatment outcomes for patients with ocular (eye)… Read more »
Artificial intelligence (AI) might not have been created to enable new forms of sexual violence such as deepfake pornography. But that has been an unfortunate byproduct of the rapidly advancing technology. This is just one example of AI’s many unintended uses. AI’s intended uses are not without their own problems, including serious copyright concerns. But… Read more »
UTS Startups is moving into the heart of Sydney’s Tech Central, offering discounted desks, vibrant founder community access, and new perks for UTS students and staff. Director Murray Hurps says it’s “the world’s best early-stage startup incubator.”
A global romp that compliments the films, only let down by some janky moments and odd enemy AI. It’s a shootout of true Indiana Jones proportions. Playing as the intrepid archaeologist, I’m hiding out in Giza on a small wooden platform secured to the side of the Sphinx, surrounded by Nazis. The few that are… Read more »
Business conditions slipped to their weakest level since the first COVID lockdown, according to NAB’s April survey. Profitability and capacity utilisation fell, capex cooled and retail prices jumped—fuel for speculation the Reserve Bank may cut rates next week if it judges the inflation pulse is fading.
Global contractor credentials platform MyPass has raised $7.5 million Series A. The round for the 12-year-old worker onboarding, compliance and credentials management business, which counts BHP, Shell, Woodside and UGL among its customer base, was led by Sydney VC OneVentures. The capital will be used for expansion in North and South America and accelerate product… Read more »
New Zealand’s most active venture capital firm, Icehouse Ventures, has closed its second growth fund, with NZ$122 million (A$111m) in commitments to back later-stage scaleups. The record raise for Growth Fund II, closed at the end of 2024, and will be used to back up to 20 Kiwi tech scaleups, with several investments already made.… Read more »
Pioneering Brisbane recycling venture Circonomy was placed in voluntary liquidation on Friday with founder Yas Grigaliunas saying the 11-year-old business was no longer financially viable. Liquidators James Taplin and Stefan Dopking of BRI Ferrier were handed the books to review the company’s operations for a possible sale. Circonomy began in life in 2013 as the… Read more »
From robotic insects solving the problem of food waste to an AI game-changer for the hearing impaired, the 2024 Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards celebrated the impact, innovation and diversity of Australia’s extraordinary startup ecosystem. More than 270 guests gathered at a gala dinner at Sydney’s Ivy Ballroom on September 4 to recognise the startup,… Read more »
For Caitlin Tanaka, founder of Youth In Motion, being named the Future Leader of the Year in the 2024 Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards is already as life-changing as the impact her startup gives to students in regional NSW to succeed at school. As she explained on LinkedIn following the recognition: “Three months ago,… Read more »
Murdoch University and national science agency CSIRO have partnered to launch the $8 million The Bioplastics Innovation Hub in Perth to develop a new generation of 100% compostable plastic. CSIRO research program director Dr Andy Whiteley, said the Hub aims to bring together experts in microbiology, molecular genetics, synthetic biology, biochemical engineering, advanced manufacturing and circular… Read more »
Applications for Bupa’s 2024 eco-Disruptive program, which is open to start-ups in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, close next Monday, September 2. The program gives selected startups with £25,000 (A$49,000) in initial funding and then £200,000 (A$390,000) if they win Bupa’s global eco-Disruptive competition. That’s been done by Australian startup already – in 2022, Cassava… Read more »
Last week, a drone delivery company called Wing (owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) started operating in Melbourne. Some 250,000 residents in parts of the city’s eastern suburbs can now order food from cafes and restaurants via the DoorDash app and have it brought to them in minutes by a small aircraft. This is the… Read more »
A massive IT outage is currently affecting computer systems worldwide. In Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, reports indicate computers at banks, media organisations, hospitals, transport services, shop checkouts, airports and more have all been impacted. Friday’s outage is unprecedented in its scale and severity. The technical term for what has happened to the affected computers… Read more »
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