Founders by their very nature see things others have yet to realise. Their challenge is to then get others to see that vision, believe in and back it. And then convince their customers to use a solution they didn’t know they need. Seven years ago, Dr Elliot Smith’s Maxwell Plus was just such a startup.… Read more »
A new Australian research initiative aiming to shed light on the often-overlooked mental health challenges facing founders and their relationship with investors, to address a critical knowledge gap in the startup community wants to know what you think. Recent international studies have revealed a significant disconnect between founders’ mental health struggles and their willingness to… Read more »
Law firm Maurice Blackburn is wading into an issue that’s vexed the federal government, competition watchdog the ACCC, as well as the media, investigating a potential class action against Google for alleged anti-competitive conduct in Australia’s digital advertising market. The idea is likely to be tempting to publishers Google has not struck deals with under… Read more »
WiseTech Global director and cofounder Maree Isaacs has sold her 8.17% stake in RealWise Holdings, the company that owns more than a third of ASX-listed logistics company (ASX: WTC), to the man she launched the business with 30 years ago, Richard White. White already owns the other 92% of RealWise Holdings, meaning he now owns… Read more »
The federal government has launched a review into Australia’s research and development performance but may not live to see the result. The year-long review strategic review will be led by Robyn Denholm, chair of Telsa and the Tech Council of Australia, founder of Wollemi Capital, and operating partner at VC fund Blackbird. The review was announced… Read more »
Comparison fintech Finder has acquired cashback platform Grow My Money for an undisclosed sum. Founder Pascale Helyar–Moray originally launched Grow My Money as Super-Rewards in late 2019, helping people save for the retirement with a cashback program from shopping. She subsequently expanded into mortage repayments, transforming the fintech into its current form and brand People can shop… Read more »
Tesla chair and Blackbird partner Robyn Denholm, has one-upped Atlassian’s Mike Cannon-Brookes, part owner of US NBA team the Utah Jazz, by buying an entire basketball league, the WNBL. The deal between the Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate (WCGS) and Larry Kestelman’s National Basketball League (NBL) consortium to acquire a majority stake in the Women’s National… Read more »
The dream is over for drone delivery startup Swoop Aero, with creditors voting on Tuesday to place the venture capital-backed business in liquidation. Swoop raised more than $26 million in VC funding, with CSIRO-backed Main Sequence, impact fund Giant Leap, US investor In-Q-Tel, the defence tech investment arm of the CIA, Artesian, Folklore Ventures, Right Click… Read more »
From artist Picasso to director Woody Allen, actor Kevin Spacey, athlete OJ Simpson, record producer Phil Spector and rapper Jay-Z, the idea of flawed genius is not new. But its prominence in the startup sector has been front of mind in recent months, most notably with WiseTech’s billionaire founder Richard White. Many have noted that… Read more »
Scam ads are lucrative for scammers, but the money they steal from vulnerable people is also delivering plenty of cash to Mark Zuckerberg and his social media company Meta. The business behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has been named one of five “winners” in consumer group CHOICE’s annual Shonky Awards for trash products. The CHOICE… Read more »
Sydney retail technology startup Hivery was handed to administrators last week after nine years and nearly $63 million in venture capital. The books for Red Analytics, trading as Hivery, were handed to Christopher Johnson and Andrew McCabe at Wexted Advisors in Sydney on November 6. A first meeting of creditors is scheduled for Friday, November… Read more »
The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) is hoping to address the industry’s “women problem” by launching a certification framework for the sector to address equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) amid lingering tension over the organisation’s response to former board member Richard White. The TCA is gathering in Melbourne this week for the three-day National Tech… Read more »
David Fairfull, the bankrupt founder and former CEO of marketing startup Metigy, appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Friday to face six charges following an ASIC investigation into the failure of the company. Fairfull was charged with five counts making false and misleading statements contrary to the Corporations Act, plus one count of… Read more »
Australian and international technology companies are among more than 1,200 organisations which did not pay tax in the 2022-23 financial year, according to an Australian Taxation Office (ATO) report. The ATO’s tenth corporate tax transparency report, released last Friday, showed around 30% of the 3,985 entities that lodged tax returns for 2022–23 did not pay any… Read more »
Crowdfunding platform Equitise has been handed to voluntary administrators after cofounder Jonny Wilkinson failed in his own attempts to raise a $500,000 bridging round. Administrators Damien Mark Hodgkinson and Mohammad Mirzan Bin Mansoor from Sydney firm Olvera Advisors were handed the books on October 31. An initial creditor’s meeting will be held on November 12.… Read more »
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