Venture capital funding at the start of 2023 may not have been as bad as many thought according to new analysis from Perth-based investment data company Techboard. Releasing its March quarter Funded report this week, Techboard identified $1.01 billion in capital deployed across 111 deals. That figure is 50% higher than the $661 million across… Read more »
New innovation and investment firm, Skafold signed on former Blockchain Australia CEO Steve Vallas as its new senior technology advisor. The role is responsible for exploring and advising all Skafold activities related to blockchain, digital currencies, digital regulation and technology more broadly. Skafold’s diverse innovation and investment ecosystem works closely with innovators and entrepreneurs to… Read more »
Corporate regulator the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has sin-binned Sydney firm Holon Global Investments from offering three of its cryptocurrency funds to retail investors for three weeks due to concerns that they’re not suitable for the retail market, with the product disclosure statements pointing out that the funds could end up worthless. The… Read more »
Exchange-traded funds provider ETF Securities is launching two funds in an Australian first, allowing people to invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The ETFS 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (Code: EBTC), and ETFS 21Shares Ethereum ETF (Code: EETH) will list on Cboe Australia (formerly Chi-X) next week. They will both track the price of the respective cryptocurrency in Australian… Read more »
Tesla chair and Blackbird operating partner Robyn Denholm is among three heavy hitters from the tech and VC scene on a new voluntary panel charged with advising the NSW government on local and international investment opportunities. Denholm, who’s also chair of the Tech Council of Australia, has been joined by AirTree Ventures founder Daniel Petre… Read more »
The age of fintech for investors is shifting to climate tech startups in 2022, a landmark report into Australia’s startup ecosystem reveals. The inaugural State of Australian Startup Funding report, from Folklore Ventures and Cut Through Venture, has analysed data from more than 800 Australian founders and startup investors for a comprehensive look into the… Read more »
Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes has backed renewables funding firm Infradebt with $200 million from his private family VC firm Grok Ventures. The funding announcement emerged less than 48 hours after Cannon-Brookes had a $5 billion takeover offer for energy supplier AGL rejected as undervaluing the business by the company’s board. Infradebt is a specialist infrastructure project finance… Read more »
A new Fund-of-Funds venture capital firm, formed by veterans of the super fund Hostplus VC team, has been chosen by the Victorian government to build LaunchVic’s $120 million Victorian Startup Capital Fund (VSCF). Neil Stanford and Brighid Pappin have created V-Ignite to turn $60 million from the state government into $120 million for the VSCF.… Read more »
FinTech Australia has released a new map for fintechs detailing investors in the sector. The map showcases investors from across the country, featuring a variety of funders including venture capitalists, angel funds, corporate investors, crowd-funding options and incubators. It’s available for free for people in the fintech and startup communities. The map is free to… Read more »
The Commonwealth Bank is embracing cryptocurrencies, and will allow CommBank app customers to buy, sell and hold crypto assets. In the a game-changing move for the sector by the country’s biggest bank will see it partnered with crypto exchange Gemini – founded by the Winklevoss twins of Facebook fame – and blockchain analysis firm, Chainalysis.… Read more »
New Zealand markets investment platform Sharesies has raised NZ$50 million (A$48m) in a series C that values the business at NZ$500 million (A$480m). The round was led by existing investor Amplo. The US VC firm contributed around half the raise to take a 7.5% slice of the company. New Zealand VC Icehouse Ventures also backed… Read more »
We often hear witty comparisons being made between startups and babies. A recent, timely paper titled ‘Exit to community’ does the same. A startup is your (brain) child, a long-term commitment that needs constant love and attention. You’re going to experience significant growing pains and that ‘baby’ will cry at any hour of the day… Read more »
Climate-focused fintech Bloom Impact Investing has raised $675,000 in a pre-seed round ahead of the launch of its impact investing app. The round was led by climate tech startup accelerator and innovation network, EnergyLab with Envato co-founders Cyan and Collis Ta’eed also among the angel investors with ACAC Innovation, Palm Beach Ventures, and NOAB Ventures.… Read more »
New Zealand G venture capital firm Global From Day 1 (GD1) has raised NZ$130 million (A$124m) for its Fund 3, more than double its original first close target The Auckland-based VC is now pushing on to a cap of $160 million to back local startups with global ambitions as one of the country’s leading investors.… Read more »
The world’s biggest investor, New York firm Blackrock, is selling down ASX-listed fintech Afterpay as the company’s share price continues to head south. Afterpay (ASX: APT) lodged yet another ceasing to be a substantial shareholder notice for Blackrock today, after nearly five months of the investment firm dipping in and out of having 5% stake… Read more »
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