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 »
Andrew Bassat’s Seek Investments has led a $40 million series A for online disability services platform, Hireup. Hireup helps people with disabilities find, hire and manage their own support workers. The strategic backing by Seek Investments for a minority stake, along with support from existing shareholders, will help the six-year-old business scale nationally. The Myer… Read more »
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released this week was described as a “code red for humanity”. We’ve been collectively called upon to drastically reduce emissions in order to stabilise rising temperatures that are already beginning to cause natural events of biblical proportions. Meaningful emissions cuts won’t happen unless we come up with strategies… Read more »
You’re a product visionary. You’ve incorporated customer feedback into your business. Your revenue model is scalable. Your brand is on point and cutting through. Your prototypes and proof of concepts are gaining customer traction. Your metrics are pointing in the right direction. Now all you need is funding to support your go-to-market. While we’ve previously… Read more »
AirTree founding partner Craig Blair says the Sydney VC firm is investing in the fund’s next generation with the promotion principals Elicia McDonald and Jackie Vullinghs to partners. The duo will continue to lead early-stage investments, with the VC having a record six months, tipping $103 million into local startup in the first half of 2021.… Read more »
Plant-based protein startup v2food has raised A$72 million in series B-plus with Europe’s largest impact investment fund, Astanor Ventures leading the round. The latest capital injection is to ramp up expansion into China and Europe and scaling its manufacturing. The plant protein joint venture between Hungry Jacks billionaire Jack Cowin and the CSIRO, previously raised… Read more »
Welcome to Giant Leap’s Small Steps, a newsletter offering global insights and news on the impact startups landscape. We’ll be sharing an edited version with Startup Daily readers every fortnight. Giant Leap is Australia’s first impact venture fund, and they use this newsletter to surface the ideas and businesses that intrigue and inspire them and… Read more »
If there is anything that really grinds my gears, it’s the continued lack of understanding exhibited by so many governments, businesses and VCs when it comes to female founders need, and their abilities. The recent blunder regarding the Boosting Female Founder initiative is the most recent case in point: after a wide scale email send… Read more »
Partners and principals at leading Australian venture capital firms, including Square Peg Capital, Main Sequence Ventures, Giant Leap, Jelix Ventures, and Flying Fox Ventures have signed an open letter to the editor the AFR about what the investment community sees as “an ongoing smear campaign” against colleague Dr Elaine Stead. The letter follows a high… Read more »
The co-founders of fintech unicorn Airwallex, are launching an early-stage venture capital fund to invest invest in tech startups supporting the payments platform. The fund, named Capital 49, plans to raise US$200 million (A$270m) through the Airwallex founders and other investors. Capital 49 has completed investments in two fintech firms. The VC is planning to… Read more »
Venture capital firm King River Capital says it has completed the first close of its second fund (KRC Fund 2) with US$95 million (A$128m) committed. The VC says backers in its second fund include tech entrepreneurs and execs from leading local tech companies such as Xero and AfterPay, as well as family offices such as… Read more »
Sydney computer vision startup Visionary Machines has raised A$7.5 million in a seed round led by Folklore Ventures, with co-investment by Our Innovation Fund (OIF). Existing backer Significant Capital Ventures reinvested, along with Thorney Investment Group and IQT International Australia, the Sydney-based of In-Q-Tel. Folklore partner Hannah Field will join the startup’s board Founded in… Read more »
Melbourne marketing startup IntelligenceBank has landed a US$37 million (A$50m) from US B2B investor Five Elms Capital. The marketing operations software platform has earmarked the funds to accelerate growth and scale its system, which converts manual processes to digital to improve marketing efficiency, increase speed to market, and minimise marketing compliance risks. IntelligenceBank helps marketing… Read more »
LaunchVic is seeking a fund manager to run the Victorian Startup Capital Fund (VSCF), a Fund of Funds announced in the Victorian budget. The $120 million VSCF is support Victorian early-stage technology-based startups with potential to grow into high-performing businesses. The fund manager will be charged with raising at least $60 million from the private… Read more »
Tennis Australia will follow the lead set by US governing sports bodies such as the NFL and NBA and launch its own venture capital fund to back tech startups. Wildcard Ventures will invest in early-stage startups using technologies that benefit the sports, health and entertainment industries. The fund will also create a syndicate for investors… Read more »
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