Sexually graphic “deepfake” images of Taylor Swift went viral on social media last week, fuelling widespread condemnation from Swifties, the general public and even the White House. The circulation of false images of Taylor Swift are alarming. We know that incidences like this disproportionately impact women and girls. @POTUS is committed to ensuring we reduce… Read more »
The Australian government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), has invested a combined $3.25 million in four digital health startups through the commercialisation program ANDHealth+. ANDHealth backed two AI-based startups with non-dilutive funding: Baymatob, which developed a wearable monitor for pregnant women that uses AI to analyse to their vital signs for risks of birth complications; and… Read more »
With _SOUTHSTART in Adelaide just six weeks away on March 5-7, we asked the festival’s co-directors, Danielle Seymour and Craig Swann, to explain how to get the best out of one of the most popular and well-loved gatherings on the startup calendar. Here’s what they said. _SOUTHSTART is Australia’s largest festival of innovation, big-thinkers and… Read more »
Social media firms are offering “a product that’s killing people” and their CEOs have “blood on their hands” for failing to protect children from online predators, a US senator has told five tech executives during vitriolic hearings in which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was forced to apologise to angry families of victims of online child grooming.… Read more »
Power retailer Amber Electric has raised $29 million in a Series C as it looks to take its battery and EV automation software offshore. ASX-listed billing and CRM provider Gentrack led the round with $12 million, building a strategic partnership with Amber to bundle its billing and customer care with Amber’s battery and EV automation… Read more »
The Albanese government’s signature business investment vehicle, the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, has its first boss, with veteran Macquarie Group executive Ivan Power named as CEO. Power has worked in global investment for more than 25 years alongside a strong track record in working with early-stage startups and social ventures.. UNSW director of entrepreneurship… Read more »
FinTech Australia has holding a reverse pitch event later this month in a collaboration with major banks ANZ and Westpac, as well as fintech investor 1835i. The initiative will see ANZ and Westpac share selected problem statements across banking-related areas such as sustainability, payments and fraud and scams for fintech startups to tackle as part… Read more »
New Zealand wine analysis startup Marama Labs has raised €1.75m (A$2.85m) in Seed funding to expand its global footprint. The round was led by European agritech VC The Yield Lab, supported by New Zealand Growth Capital Partners, Icehouse Ventures, Quidnet Ventures, DeepIE, Radar Ventures, NZVC, and Kiwi angel groups, plus high-net-worth’s from Ireland and Germany.… Read more »
Sydney-based startup hub Tank Stream Labs has teamed up with recruitment firm The Nudge Group to make it easier for startups to find talent. The joint venture is hoping to create more affordable, tech-based solutions to finding the talent startups and scale-ups need. Tank Stream Labs CEO Bradley Delamare said that alongside an understanding, developed… Read more »
Apple Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset – which the company hopes is a “revolutionary spatial computer that transforms how people work, collaborate, connect, relive memories, and enjoy entertainment” – that begins shipping to the public (in the United States) later this week. Critics have doubted the appeal of the face-worn computer, which “seamlessly blends… Read more »
Food redistribution platform Yume has raised $2 million as a Seed round as it looks to address food waste by connecting food manufacturers with surplus stock with businesses and charities that can use it. The round was led by Investible via its Climate Tech Fund, Investible’s Early Stage Fund 2 and Club Investible syndicate, with… Read more »
Plant-based leather substitute startup Alt. Leather has raised $1.1 million in an angel round to replace the alternative of petroleum-based synthetic leathers. The Melbourne-based startup, founded in 2022 by Tina Funder, was backed by Startmate, The Austin Group, Robyn Denholm’s family office Wollemi Capital Group, and LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson Fund, along with strategic angel investors. … Read more »
Queensland construction industry procurement platform ProcurePro has raised $6.15 million as it looks to take on the UK market. The company’s first external round was backed by AirTree and industry expert Leigh Jasper through his VC fund Saniel Ventures.\ The capital raised from ProcurePro’s first venture round will help accelerate growth in the UK as a key… Read more »
As AI innovation accelerates rapidly, Microsoft is bringing the local tech community up to speed over two events in Sydney this February: the Microsoft AI Tour and the startup-focused AI Deep Dive event with Startup Daily. We spoke to Andrew Boyd, General Manager, Digital Natives and Startups, about how startups can leverage Microsoft’s latest AI… Read more »
An AI-based Sydney software startup that checks sewer pipes for preemptive maintenance has raised $5 million in a Series A to ramp up its push into the US market. VAPAR, cofounded in 2018 by engineers Amanda Siqueira and Michelle Aguilar, was backed Dutch water technology specialist VC PureTerra Ventures, supported by US engineering and construction… Read more »
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