Accelerator

The WA government is sending 12 startups to the US under a new accelerator program

- December 10, 2024 2 MIN READ

Twelve Western Australian tech companies are heading to the US as part of a new accelerator program funding by the state government. Innovation and digital economy minister Stephen Dawson said the Cook Labor government’s Global Growth Accelerator Program (GGAP) kicks off in January with a three-month course to prepare the dozen startups for an international market.… Read more »

Quantum Brilliance, Andrew Horsley, Marcus Doherty, Mark Luo.
Funding

Synthetic diamond creator Quantum Brilliance shines on with $23 million from National Reconstruction Fund & Breakthrough Victoria

- December 10, 2024 2 MIN READ

The federal government’s $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund has made its second investment, taking a $13 million equity stake in Canberra startup Quantum Brilliance. It follows $40 million for a mining tech manufacturer  announced last month. The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) funding is for QB to build Australia’s first quantum diamond foundry for its… Read more »

Black Swan, Perth
Politics

Less digging, more thinking: Western Australian startup report calls for greater support for AI, biotech and data analytics

- December 7, 2024 3 MIN READ

A report into the state of play for Western Australia’s startup sector has warned the state risks slipping behind its East Cost rivals unless there’s a great focus on reforms and funding for the sector. The report, ‘Dare to Venture: Startups and the innovation ecosystem in Western Australia’, by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre argues… Read more »

Funding

Health tech platform keeping the elderly safer at home bags $2 million

- December 6, 2024 2 MIN READ

An eight-year-old health tech startup helping elderly people live safely at home has scored $2 million in funding, led by Breakthrough Victoria. Umps Health is developing sensors and AI for proactive aged care at home. Breakthrough Victoria invested alongside Intervalley Ventures, with follow-on funding from existing investors Sprint Ventures, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, the 5Point… Read more »

Purpose Ventures partners Derek and Kylie Gerrard
Funding

Western Australia launches $150 million startup investment program, backing 7 VCs with $45m

- December 5, 2024 2 MIN READ

Seven venture capital firms will look to invest up to $150 million in Western Australian startups underpinned by a $45 million commitment from the state government’s WA Venture Capital initiative (WAVC). Premier Roger Cook announced an additional $15 million for WAVC at West Tech Fest in Perth, topping up the government’s initial $30m commitment. Cook… Read more »

Peter Leeson
Funding

Birchal’s new LaunchVic-backed investment syndicate has helped raise $1.9 million for hardware startups in 90 days

- December 5, 2024 2 MIN READ

Crowd-sourced funding (CSF) platform Birchal’s new Birchal First Syndicate has turbocharged $1.9 million in funding for Victorian hardware technology startups in 90 days since its launch. The angel syndicate, backed by a $300,000 LaunchVic grant, combines its lead investments with retail investor support on the crowdfunding platform’s equity capital raising campaigns. While battery-powered aircraft engine… Read more »

Nicola Forrest
Funding

SISTER ACT: Nicola Forrest drops $100 million into an investment fund to back women

- December 5, 2024 2 MIN READ

A new investment fund focused on and run by women has been kick-started with $100 million Western Australian philanthropist Nicola Forrest. The funds have come from the Minderoo Foundation, which Forrest established with her ex-husband, mining billionaire Andrew Forrest. The philanthropic fund has gender equality is a priority focus. Future Generation Women (FGW) will be… Read more »

Southstart
Events

Applications to pitch your startup at _SOUTHSTART 2025 close soon

- December 5, 2024 < 1 MIN READ

One of Australia’s best tech and innovation festivals, South Australia’s _SOUTHSTART, is offering 10 startup founders to take the stage for its pitch showcase in 2025 The annual 3-day event brings together founders, investors, and industry visionaries to connect, and shape the future, next year from March 4-6, in Adelaide’s Garden of Unearthly Delights, as well… Read more »

Global tech

NOT API JAN: How social media’s throttling access to news is reshaping democracy

- December 5, 2024 3 MIN READ

Just days out from the United States presidential election last month, X (formerly Twitter) suddenly crippled the ability of many major media and political organisations to reach audiences on the social media platform. Without warning, the platform, under tech billionaire Elon Musk’s stewardship, announced major changes to the main pathway these organisations use to disseminate… Read more »

Peter Treloar
Funding

Personality testing AI analysis startup Taly lands $500,000 pre-Seed from Skalata

- December 4, 2024 2 MIN READ

Melbourne startup TALY has raised $500,000 in pre-Seed funding led by Skalata to transform how companies use personality data to make better decisions.  Founder Peter Treloar said that while $4.3 billion is spent annually personality testing, but for the most part it’s poorly utilised.  “The secret of enterprise personality testing is that most of it… Read more »

BNPL, Afterpay, Klarna
Fintech

The BNPL sector is now being regulated as credit in Australia

- December 4, 2024 3 MIN READ

Financial institutions, fintechs, and regulators have welcomed new buy now, pay later (BNPL) rules that will finally treat the sector like other credit providers, with new legislation passed hours before shoppers tapped BNPL to propel Black Friday sales to record-breaking heights. The new regulations will apply corporate regulator ASIC’s National Credit Code (NCC) to a BNPL sector that has… Read more »