Funding Archives

Picture of origami unicorn to represent tech unicorns

Airwallex for Startups offers new $10k business grant for ‘next generation of unicorns’

Simon Jones - June 7, 2024 3 MIN READ

Global fintech unicorn Airwallex recently launched its Airwallex for Startups program in Australia to such success that they’re giving away a second $10,000 Business Acceleration Grant. Designed to foster the next generation of local startup talent, the program is already making huge waves in several industries, providing entrepreneurs with a suite of financial tools, educational resources,… Read more »

Funding

Superseeder: psychedelic biotech Psylo plants $12 million in latest ‘Seed’ round

Simon Thomsen - June 4, 2024 2 MIN READ

Sydney biotech startup Psyslo has banked a fresh Seed round worth US$8 million (A$12m) as it relocates to the US. It’s Psylo’s second major Seed round, having previously banked a A$5 million Seed raise in late 2022 on top of an initial $1.1m 12 months earlier as the company emerged from Startmate. The latest round… Read more »

Funding

Road freight management startup confirms $31 million raise

Simon Thomsen - June 4, 2024 2 MIN READ

Sydney logistics software startup Ofload has finally confirmed an additional $31 million capital injection, six months after it was first reported. The new funds are to support to product roll out and wider business growth in digital freight technology The AFR first reported Ofload had banked $27 million in December 2023, led by David Acton’s… Read more »

Jaedon Farrugia, Nathan Mackinnon, Jesse Duffield.

Funding

Subscriptions management startup Subble kicks off $1 million pre-Seed

Startup Daily - June 3, 2024 2 MIN READ

Business software subscriptions management platform Subble has raised $1 million in a pre-Seed round as it goes to market. The raise was backed by entrepreneurs Jordan Walsh and Leon Hayes from Haystack Capital to support product refinement and customer expansion. The Melbourne startup gives business execs improved visibility over their SaaS subscriptions for greater control… Read more »

Funding

Raiz founder George Lucas lands $2.5 million pre-Seed for his new AI fintech

Simon Thomsen - June 3, 2024 2 MIN READ

George Lucas, founder of ASX-listed fintech Raiz Invest, is back in startup land with a new idea, an AI Copilot for the financial adviser market, securing $2.5 million in a pre-Seed round to take it global. And after a bruising battle over his previous fintech, he’s off to the US to do it. YBL.AI uses… Read more »

Phonely cofounders Nisal Ranasinghe and Will Bodewes

Funding

Y Combinator backs AI-based virtual receptionist startup Phonely with $750,000

Simon Thomsen - June 2, 2024 2 MIN READ

Melbourne startup Phonely has been backed by Y Combinator, which tipped US$500,000(A$750,000) into artificial intelligence-based call receptionist. The legendary US accelerator has gone all-in on bringing Phonely to the world’s attention with posts that make it an instant rising star, generating a spectacular customer response that sets the nascent Aussie startup on the path to… Read more »

Ag tech

Victoria is offering $50,000 grants to agtech startups

Startup Daily - May 28, 2024 < 1 MIN READ

The Victorian government has put another $1 million on the table as part of a grants program for agtech startups. Agriculture minister Ros Spence said the AgTech Grants program, delivered by the government-backed startup agency LaunchVic, offers $50,000 to startups. The grant provides founders with dedicated mentoring from startup experts to build their businesses and seize… Read more »

Funding

ASX-listed VC Bailador drops $20 million on telehealth platform Updoc

Simon Thomsen - May 28, 2024 2 MIN READ

ASX-listed venture capital firm Bailador Technology Investments has backed telehealth startup Updoc with a $20 million investment. Founded in 2021 by co-CEOs Dylan Coyne and Clifton Hodgkinson, Updoc (think the old Bugs Bunny line) offers online GP consultations to deal with a range of healthcare issues including advice, online prescriptions, specialist referrals, pathology referrals and… Read more »

Funding

Mystery shopper startup Humii bags $300,000 pre-Seed round

Simon Thomsen - May 24, 2024 2 MIN READ

Mystery shoppers are not a new concept, but the move to online retail has changed the rules of the game – and hidden the goal posts for retailers. So Sydney startup Humii has raised $300,000 from Melbourne early-stage VC Skalata to bring mystery shoppers back into customer experience (CX) tracking in a new and more… Read more »

Funding

Runway May 24: The 7 startups revealing venture raises this week

Simon Thomsen - May 24, 2024 2 MIN READ

Welcome to Runway, Startup Daily’s weekly round up of capital raising in the ANZ startup ecosystem. This week it’s also worth noting a VC banking big bucks with LaunchVic investing $900,000 in Paul Little’s early-stage fund Skalata to back around 30 new Victorian startups. Meanwhile, here’s who banked Bare Funerals Founded Perth, 2019 Doing Friends… Read more »

Sam Phillips, Jonathan Ng & Hugh McCaffrey

Funding

The Ask: Fintech Reach Alternative Investments is raising $3 million

Startup Daily - May 24, 2024 3 MIN READ

Welcome to The Ask, Our column designed for founders looking for capital. It may be venture capital, crowdfunding or another path, and is designed to flag your startup to potential investors. If you’re on the hunt for cash, we’re happy to share the news with Australia’s startup community. This is your chance to pitch directly… Read more »

Funding

Hawke’s Brewing and Bare Funerals toast $1 million media-for-equity deals

Simon Thomsen - May 22, 2024 2 MIN READ

A media-for-equity fund involving some of the industry’s biggest names, including News Corp, Nova and Foxtel, has backed a Sydney mircobrewery and funeral startup in an advertising deals worth around $1 million each. The Scaleup Mediafund has backed Hawke’s Brewing and Bare Funeral Group from its third fund, worth $15 million. The new fund expands… Read more »

Skalata Venture chairman Paul Little with the fund's COO Maxine Lee and CEO Rohan Workman

Funding

Paul Little’s Skalata lands $900,000 from LaunchVic

Simon Thomsen - May 21, 2024 2 MIN READ

Melbourne VC firm Skalata has a new investor in LaunchVic, which has backed the seed fund with $900,000. Skalata, chaired by former Toll boss Paul Little, has been a highly active in early capital for nascent startups, making 70 investments across two funds since its l. LaunchVic will invest directly into the fund manager overseeing… Read more »

Funding

Waste reduction startup RecycleSmart raises $1.15 million in crowdfunding campaign

Startup Daily - May 19, 2024 2 MIN READ

A recycling startup dealing with problem products, such as soft plastics, coffee pods, blister packs and vapes, has raised $1.15 million from 1014 investors in a crowdfunding campaign. Five-year-old Sydney-based RecycleSmart plans to accelerate it national expansion with the funds. In the last 12 months, RecycleSmart has doubled its customer numbers, revenue and also seen… Read more »

Funding

Music licensing startup Melodie charts $1 million bridge round

Startup Daily - May 18, 2024 2 MIN READ

Australian music licensing startup Melodie has banked $1 million in a bridging round ahead of plans for a major raise next year. The convertible note investment will form part of the 2025 round. Melodie previously raised $1 million at a $15 million valuation just over 12 months ago, and $600,000 in September 2021. Code Barrel founder Nick… Read more »