Funding

Mortgage broker fintech Effi raises $1.2 million seed round

- February 15, 2021 2 MIN READ

Fintech startup Effi has raised $1.2 million in seed funding as part of its push to become Australia’s leading mortgage broker platform.    The round was led by Australian seed investment group Investible, US-based Hustle Fund and several mortgage industry leaders and brokers.  Mandeep Sodhi, founder and CEO of the AI-powered company said he’s now looking to… Read more »

solar panels
Other tech

CBA is launching cheap green loans for home renewables

- February 15, 2021 2 MIN READ

The Commonwealth Bank is launching a CommBank Green Loan for its home loan customers to purchase and install renewable technology, offering an interest rate of just 0.99%. CBA Group Executive Angus Sullivan said the move was part of the bank’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. “The CommBank Green Loan offers an historically low… Read more »

Alex Scandurra - Stone & Chalk
Cyber security

Stone & Chalk takes over AustCyber in merger

- February 15, 2021 2 MIN READ

AustCyber will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of startup hub Stone & Chalk in a merger deal to ensure the future of the government-backed cyber-security group. Launched in 2017, as part of the federal government’s “innovation nation” program, AustCyber was funded through government grants that end in 2022. Among its key achievements during that time were… Read more »

Space

Australian space company Fleet is launching its 5th nanosatellite next month

- February 10, 2021 < 1 MIN READ

Fleet Space Technologies will launch its fifth nanosatellite, Centauri, 3 next month as part of Rocket Lab’s latest mission, taking off from New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula. Fellow South Australian satellite venture Myriota will also launch its first satellite in the same Rocklet Lab payload. Centauri 3 is part of a planned 140-strong constellation offering satellite… Read more »

Politics

Labor leader Anthony Albanese is pushing for more protections for gig economy workers

- February 10, 2021 3 MIN READ

Anthony Albanese will risk a backlash from employers when he releases an industrial relations policy promising a Labor government would substantially increase the legal rights and protections for Australians in insecure work. Wednesday’s policy unveiling will ensure industrial relations is a major political battleground in coming months, with the opposition already declaring it will vote… Read more »

Other tech

Fractional property investment platform Bricklet raises $3 million in series A backed by News and REA Group

- February 9, 2021 2 MIN READ

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and REA Group are among several high profile investors backing a $3 million Series A round by fragmented property platform Bricklet, valuing the startup at $28 million after just 18 months. Original investors Lakeba, Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR), Stockland (ASX: SGP) and Mihubb also joined the round, along with property investment… Read more »