Accelerator

Startmate reveals the 11 startups for the new Winter cohort

- August 2, 2024 4 MIN READ

Accelerator and early-stage investor Startmate has revealed the 11 startups joining the program for its Winter cohort. They’re an eclectic bunch, spanning problems ranging from ending online abuse to rethinking firefighting, and supporting mothers post-childbirth. They’re also hoping to revolutionise tender processes, fitting rooms, oil extraction, physio-patient journeys, thermal systems, bug-catching software, and global digital… Read more »

PsiQuantum IQMP, Chicago
Funding

I’ll have what he’s having: US hands PsiQuantum $760 million for quantum computer in Chicago

- July 26, 2024 2 MIN READ

Australia may get the world’s first quantum computer by 2027, but within 12 months, PsiQuantum plans to build a second one in Chicago after scoring another massive government funding deal. The California startup’s latest cash injection of US$500 million (A$760m) over 30 years, funded by the Illinois government, Cook County, and the City of Chicago… Read more »

Funding

NSW launches $500,000 in grants for space tech

- July 22, 2024 2 MIN READ

The global space economy is expected to be worth forecast to be worth $2.7 trillion with a decade, so the NSW government has decided to get in on the action with $500,000 in grant funding. The new NSW Space+ Program grants have been launched ahead of an estimated 10,000 delegates heading to Sydney in September… Read more »

Business

Researchers found an easy way to detect companies that perform poorly – the number of government grants they receive

- July 18, 2024 3 MIN READ

Australia hands out the best part of A$1 billion per year in grants to businesses. Many of these come with no strings attached, meaning there is no need to evaluate whether the grants boost employment, help the recipients become more efficient, or benefit the nation. To test what good these grants do, my team at… Read more »

Kate Cornick
Accelerator

LaunchVic tips $2.4 million into seven new pre-accelerator programs to give Victorian founders a head start

- July 11, 2024 2 MIN READ

Would-be startup founders seeking a helping hand to take their first steps to tackle important problems will have seven new ways to do it thanks to a series of pre-accelerator programs bankrolled in Victoria by LaunchVic. Seven new programs have received up to $400,000 as part of LaunchVic’s ‘Grants for Targeted Pre-accelerator’ program to offer… Read more »

Funding

e-waste recycler Sircel pockets $5 million raise amidst acquisitive mood

- July 11, 2024 2 MIN READ

The country’s largest e-waste processor, Sircel, has banked $5 million from impact investor Kilara Capital to tackle solar panel recycling amid national ambitions. The Sydney startup, founded in 2018, grew rapidly in May when it acquired venture-backed Victorian recycler Scipher Technologies, including its solar panel recycling plans, for $5 million, after it collapsed into administration… Read more »

Funding

A handful of big raises plumped up Australian venture funding in 2024 – unless you’re a woman

- July 9, 2024 4 MIN READ

A single deal that saw Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund sling $300 million at 15-year-old exchange traded funds (ETFs) manager Betashares in mid-June has plumped up Australia’s venture capital turkey in the final quarter of the 2024 financial year, hiding an otherwise disappointing three months for local startups. Data compiler Cut Through Venture included government-backed Temasek’s… Read more »

Spock and Capt Kirk
Other

BOLDLY GO: The foundation named after Star Trek’s creator is offering a US$1 million prize for a startup using AI for good

- June 20, 2024 2 MIN READ

This year marks 60 years since a WWII bomber pilot began filming a science fiction series he wrote that would boldly go where TV had not gone before, changing the face of popular culture with Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry died in 1991, but his legacy and imaginings live on through the Roddenberry Foundation, which has… Read more »

Funding

Breakthrough Victoria’s latest $15 million investment is bringing another US company to Melbourne

- June 19, 2024 2 MIN READ

Breakthrough Victoria, the state government’s $2 billion tech investment fund, is backing California-based Liquid Instruments with $15 million to bring the test equipment manufacturer to Melbourne. The 10-year-old firm, headquartered in San Diego, began life in Canberra, and builds cutting-edge test and measurement instruments used by engineers, scientists, and students, which can be reconfigured, saving… Read more »

Opinion

The reason why most VCs don’t invest in women-led startups is much simpler than many think

- June 14, 2024 3 MIN READ

At every conference, on every panel, year after year, the same tech leaders ponder the same question: Why don’t more women receive venture capital funding? The participants stroke their chins and furrow their brows. Perhaps, they muse, it’s due to societal gender norms that discourage women from pursuing entrepreneurship. Maybe there’s a lack of access… Read more »

Agrifutures female farmer
Funding

Victorian agtech startups score an extra $1 million

- June 8, 2024 < 1 MIN READ

The Victorian government is doubling the size of its early-stage agtech fund to $2 million. The extra $1 million for the Hugh Victor McKay Fund, run by LaunchVic, follows the initial $1 million commitment revealed last year.  The fund offers up to $200,000 to early-stage Victorian agtech startups, so the new funding doubles the potential… Read more »