An estate planning platform that has digitised writing a will has raised $17 million in a Series B. The round for Safewill was co-led by King River Capital and existing backer Reinventure. Also doubling down were Carthona Capital and Flying Fox Ventures. Safewill previously raised a $5.5 million Series A extension in May 2023 topping… Read more »
Leading investor in university-originated deep tech, IP Group Australia, has announced a new A$125 million contribution from Hostplus to the IP Group Hostplus Innovation Fund. Hostplus has added to its existing A$310m investment to bring its total commitment to $435m, backing companies like green hydrogen pathfinder Hysata, chronic lung disease therapy biotech RAGE and sustainable… Read more »
FB10X, an angel investor syndicate comprised of seasoned executives from leading Australian companies, has announced its latest investment in Heatseeker, a pioneering market experiment platform designed for fast-growing businesses. This investment underscores FB10X’s commitment to backing innovative startups and fostering a more equitable entrepreneurial landscape. Heatseeker co-founder Kate O’Keeffe expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership,… Read more »
A group of Australian-based Harvard Alumni will fund two new scholarships to send an entrepreneur and an investor to attend the Harvard Business School Executive Education Course in February 2025. The scholarships are the brainchild of three graduates of Harvard College and senior technology industry executives: Antler Australia founding partner, Bede Moore; Unseen cofounder and… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Melbourne startup Viewa has raised a $300,000 pre-seed round from Skalata to bring augmented reality (AR) into the online shopping experience. An extraordinary 80% of Australians shop via their mobile, making it a challenge to create an experience that leads to sales. Viewa uses 3D, AR and generative AI to lift products from the page… Read more »
Startup advisory and investment business Scalare Partners has raised just over half the $8 million it was hoping to raise as part of a backdoor listing on the ASX. The public offer raised $4.301 million at $0.25 cents a share issuing 17.2044 million fully paid ordinary shares in its reverse takeover of former confectionary maker… Read more »
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 »
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 »
When CDs launched, it seemed like the end for vinyl records. But vinyl made a comeback and now it feels like using an old-school camera is set to follow in its footsteps if this week’s episode of Shark Tank is a sign. Brisbane university students Kelric Mullen and Mackenzie Salisbury were among the founders on… Read more »
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 »
Kiwi editech Crimson Education has raised NZ$67 million (A$60m) Series D that has seen the scaleup’s valuation jump by nearly 40% in just two years. The raise was previously reported in July, but the size of the round was not disclosed. It was led by NZ investor Movac, with support from existing backers HEAL Partners,… Read more »
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