Funding

Colossal, the US biotech that wants to use DNA to bring the dodo and Tassie tiger back from extinction, donated $2.3 million to the University of Melbourne

- November 25, 2024 2 MIN READ

US genetic engineering and biosciences startup Colossal has donated US$1.5 million (A$2.3m) to the University of Melbourne to support Australian avian conservation genomics. The funding has come from the Colossal Foundation. Colossal was founded software entrepreneur Ben Lamm and geneticist George Church in 2021 and went on to raise more than US$225m in venture funding.… Read more »

Michael Biercuk
Funding

Q-CRTL scores $2.3 million in $60m federal government plan to back quantum in defence

- November 20, 2024 2 MIN READ

Sydney quantum computing software startup Q-CTRL has been awarded $2.75 million contract by the federal government as part of a plan to deliver the defence sector additional capabilities in quantum and counter disinformation technologies. The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program has signed 21 contracts as part of an investment… Read more »

Climate Tech

The National Reconstruction Fund’s 1st investment is $40 million for a stake in a 40-year-old mining industry manufacturer

- November 19, 2024 3 MIN READ

Last week the industry and science minister Ed Husic stood in front of Australia’s tech titans at the National Tech Summit, telling them the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund was about to announce its first investments. Today Husic delivered on the promise, announcing $40 million for a manufacturer in Queensland. The funds went to Toowoomba-based… Read more »

Ben Gust and Kristin Vaughan
Climate Tech

Queensland Investment Corporation tips $10 million into climate tech VC Virescent Ventures

- November 19, 2024 2 MIN READ

A recent change of government in the Sunshine State has not slowed the Queensland Investment Corporation’s (QIC) enthusiasm for backing venture capital firms eager to invest in local startups. QIC joined Westpac and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) as a cornerstone investor in Virescent’s new $200 million climate tech fund (Fund II), reportedly tipping… Read more »

Susan Hion-Jarvis and Jessica Box
Funding

Modibodi’s Kirsty Chong backs Matched, a business and life coaching platform by former Linktree execs

- November 12, 2024 3 MIN READ

A goal matching platform that helps you find and build your community of advisors to help you succeed in work and life has raised nearly $500,000 in an angel round from high-profile female founders and LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson fund. Matched, cofounded by Jessica Box and Susan Hion-Jarvis, was backed by Modibodi founder Kristy Chong and… Read more »

CCTV on shop supermarket
Funding

Kiwi shoplifting intelligence software platform raises $74 million Series C

- November 12, 2024 3 MIN READ

A New Zealand retail crime reporting and surveillance platform that was being scrutinised by Australia’s Information Commissioner has raised NZ $82 million (A$74.3m) in a Series C. The raise for Auror was co-led by the Woolworths-backed retail venture fund W23 Global, Nasdaq-listed US taser and body camera manufacturer Axon Enterprise, and Westpac-supported Reinventure. Also chipping… Read more »

Orkestra cofounders
Funding

ARENA powers up clean tech startup Orkestra with $2.77 million for EV charger plans

- November 7, 2024 2 MIN READ

Federal government-backed Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded software startup Orkestra $2.77 million in co-funding to help fast-track the rollout of commercial electric vehicle chargers.  The $5.5m software project is also being backed by electricity giants AGL and EnergyAustralia, as well as motoring organisations RACV and RAA and commercial real estate firm CBRE, aims… Read more »

Jack O’Donnell, Andy O’Connor, and Craig Carroll.
Funding

Fintech raises $5.7 million Seed round for divorce lending

- November 4, 2024 2 MIN READ

A fintech startup funding the legal fees for family law disputes has raised $5.7 million in a Seed round. Sydney-based JustFund launched in 2022 cofounded by former lawyers Andy O’Connor and Jack O’Donnell, and fintech entrepreneur Craig Carroll, The raise was led by Xilium Capital, with support from Startmate, US-based Legal Tech Fund, impact investor… Read more »

Dom Lindsay and Nicholas Hunt
Funding

Robot logistics startup Nexobot lands $400,000 pre-Seed raise

- November 1, 2024 2 MIN READ

Robotics startup Nexobot has raised $400,000 in pre-Seed funding to deliver an affordable solution for order fulfilment in smaller warehouses. The round was backed by Skalata and Antler, to help smaller retailers and others compete against the multi million-dollar robotic systems deployed by the likes of Amazon.  Nexobot was founded in 2023 by Dom Lindsay and… Read more »

Antler Australia

The Dazzling Dozen: Antler in Australia backs 12 new early-stage startups with $2.7 million

- October 31, 2024 6 MIN READ

Since announcing the close of their oversubscribed second fund at $77 million and expansion to Brisbane last week, Antler has now unveiled 12 of their latest investments.  In line with Antler’s sector-agnostic focus to find the best possible founders in Australia, these 12 new startups span a broad range of industries including retail, sustainability, productivity,… Read more »