Breaking Bad, money pile
Fintech

STEALTH MODE MONEY: Techboard checks under the bed for unannounced capital driving fintech startups – and finds nearly $700 million

- August 30, 2024 5 MIN READ

The amount of capital flowing into local fintechs is nearly double the known figures according to estimates from funding analytics firm Techboard, which has launched a new report into investment in the sector. Some of that funding includes millions into VC-backed startups  with around $684 million in unannounced funding discovered alongside $769m in announced deals… Read more »

Funding

Linktree, Culture Amp and Up founders back ‘Canva for data’ startup WhyHive in $600,000 pre-Seed

- August 26, 2024 2 MIN READ

Data analysis startup WhyHive has raised $600,000 in a pre-Seed round. The company’s first raise comes after six years of bootstrapping and was led by Skalata Ventures, with support from Culture Amp’s Jon Williams, Linktree’s Alex Zaccaria and Up Bank’s Dom Pym. The Melbourne startup describes itself as “like Canva, but for data: easy to… Read more »

Metakosmos
Funding

Spacesuit startup Metakosmos flies high with $2 million pre-Seed raise

- August 20, 2024 2 MIN READ

Sydney spacesuit startup Metakosmos, which is developing the “Kosmosuit” for life in space, has raised $2 million in a pre-Seed round. The round was led Saudi Arabian technology group Alzadhar Al-Sanai and will be used by Metakosmos to accelerate its innovation pipeline, advance spacesuit technology and launch spin-off applications in multiple industries for new markets.… Read more »

Funding

Edtech LoveHeart AI schools up on $2.3 million Seed round

- August 19, 2024 2 MIN READ

Early childhood edtech LoveHeart AI has raised $2.3 million in a Seed round for its “super-intelligent aide for educators”. The raise was backed OIF Ventures and Skalata. Loveheart was founded in 2022 by Himal Randeniya, who used the proceeds from his first venture, Project Academy, to buy and run several early childhood education centres. He… Read more »

Funding

Kiwi grocery shopping insights app MenuAid rebrands as Appetise after swallowing NZ$4 million pre-Series A

- August 15, 2024 3 MIN READ

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 »

Hugh Alsop
Funding

Sydney Uni mental health biotech banks $14.5 million Series B

- August 13, 2024 2 MIN READ

A Sydney biotechnology startup tackling behavioural and psychological symptoms in illnesses such as dementia and substance abuse has raised $14.5m in a Series B. The raise for Kinoxis Therapeutics, cofounded by researchers from the chemistry and psychology faculties at Sydney University, was backed by pioneering venture fund Uniseed, UniSuper, the university, Stoic VC, and US-based Avicella… Read more »

Michele Stansfield
Funding

Fermentation startup Cauldron scores $4.3 million in first funding from the federal government’s revamped entrepreneurship program

- August 12, 2024 3 MIN READ

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 »