Funding

Brisbane music tech startup Splash, which created a smash hit game in Roblox, scores backing from Amazon’s Alexa fund in $27 million series A

- November 3, 2021 3 MIN READ

Splash, a Brisbane music technology startup that created a music-making game in Roblox, has raised $27 million in a Series A funding. The round was co-led by Amazon’s Alexa Fund and BITKRAFT Ventures with participation from Australian venture investor King River Capital and Khosla Ventures. In Splash, players earn fame by performing to live audiences… Read more »

First AML
Funding

New Zealand anti-money laundering startup First AML raises $30 million series B

- November 2, 2021 2 MIN READ

Anti-money laundering regtech startup First AML has raised A$28.7 million (NZ$30m) in a series B. The round was led by Blackbird Ventures, with support from new investors Headline Ventures, and existing backers Pushpay founder Eliot Crowther, US firm Bedrock Capital and Kiwi VC Icehouse Ventures.  Blackbird partner Samantha Wong will join the board. The funds… Read more »

QuintessenceLabs Vikram Sharma
Funding

Quantum cybersecurity firm QuintessenceLabs raises $25 million series B

- October 31, 2021 2 MIN READ

Canberra-based quantum cybersecurity venture QuintessenceLabs has raised $25 million in a series B. The round was led by the CSIRO’s VC fund Main Sequence Ventures and Canadian VC TELUS Ventures, with additional participation from Mizuho Financial Group-backed InterValley Ventures, which helps early stage Australian tech companies crack the Japanese market, and Capital Property Group.  The… Read more »

Mathew Cagney
Funding

Digital payment renewals business Renewtrak plants $3 million seed round

- October 29, 2021 2 MIN READ

Sydney startup Renewtrak, which automates the renewals of subscription and services contracts, has raised $3 million in a seed round. The raise was led by Sydney VC firm Tidal Ventures and supported by several existing investors, including Bridgeclimb founder Paul Cave. The cash is for global expansion plans. Renewtrak’s customer base includes leading tech companies… Read more »

Loam Bio
Funding

Climate change agritech Loam Bio raises $40 million in series A

- October 28, 2021 2 MIN READ

Decarbonisation startup Loam Bio, which uses microbes microbes to sequester carbon in farm soils, has raised $40 million in a series A. The round is led by Marc Benioff’s TIME Ventures. Other investors include Main Sequence Ventures, Horizons Ventures, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Acre Venture Partners, Mike Cannon-Brookes’ Grok Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, and Fiona… Read more »

Funding

The founder of climate tech startup Cogo explains why he wants to rewrite the rules on investing in startups to favour smaller investors

- October 26, 2021 4 MIN READ

We often hear witty comparisons being made between startups and babies. A recent, timely paper titled ‘Exit to community’ does the same. A startup is your (brain) child, a long-term commitment that needs constant love and attention. You’re going to experience significant growing pains and that ‘baby’ will cry at any hour of the day… Read more »

Superhero, John Winters
Funding

Shares platform Superhero raises $15 million as it looks to expand into New Zealand and cryptocurrency

- October 26, 2021 2 MIN READ

Digital share trading and superannuation platform Superhero has raised $15 million in a new round to support international expansion plans. The round was led by Perennial Value Management and included other high-profile investors, including Regal Funds Management, Ophir Asset Management and Alex Waislitz’s Thorney Investment Group. The fresh cash injection follows a $25 million raise… Read more »

Dan Draper
Funding

Cyber security startup CipherStash raises $3.3 million in seed round

- October 22, 2021 2 MIN READ

Encryption technology startup CipherStash has raised $3.3 million in a seed round as it looks cracking the US market.  The round was led by AirTree and US VC Nexus Venture Partners, supported by Linktree CTO Zak Islam,Threatmatric co-founder Alisdair Faulkner and Buildkite’s Keith Pitt.  The startup is an end-to-end, searchable encrypted data storage platform. It… Read more »

Elizabeth Williams, Kate Lomas
Funding

A revolutionary cochlear hearing startup has raised $10 million in a series A

- October 22, 2021 2 MIN READ

Hearing technology Hemideina has raised $10 million series A. New cornerstone investors in the round include Escala Partners, InterValley Ventures and Geoni Capital. The funds are to build the team and technology development program, with one eye on a potential IPO down the track. Research scientists Dr Kate Lomas and Dr Elizabeth Williams founded their… Read more »

Daniel Cannizzaro
Funding

Sydney fintech Parpera raises $1.3 million as it prepares to launch

- October 22, 2021 2 MIN READ

Money management fintech Parpera has raised $1.3 million as it ramps up to launch its Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) enabled offering. Earlier this week, the company announced plans for a mobile app-based business solution developed in a partnership with Railspay. The fintech, which is focused on sole traders, freelancers, and entrepreneurs as a potential target market of more… Read more »