Robot lawyer in a trial
AI/Machine Learning

AI is set to transform how we get legal advice, but it could still leave people without access to justice

- January 9, 2024 3 MIN READ

The legal profession has already been using artificial intelligence (AI) for several years, to automate reviews and predict outcomes, among other functions. However, these tools have mostly been used by large, well established firms. In effect, certain law firms have already deployed AI tools to assist their employed solicitors with day-to-day work. By 2022, three… Read more »

Danny Molyneux Daniel Willis Jade Axford
Funding

The CEO of ad agency Claxon has launched a new VC and growth advisory firm, One03 Ventures

- January 9, 2024 2 MIN READ

A new venture capital and growth advisory firm to help startups move to scale-up has been launched by the chairman and CEO of advertising agency Claxon, Daniel Willis. One03 Ventures will focus on providing venture capital and/or growth advisory services to Australian businesses and brands with annual revenue between $2.5 million and $25m. Willis has… Read more »

SparkLabs
Accelerator

Applications for the SparkLabs Cultiv8 cleantech accelerator are open

- January 9, 2024 2 MIN READ

Agri-food tech accelerator, SparkLabs Cultiv8 has opened applications for its sixth agri-food tech accelerator. The first cleantech program ran last year. SparkLabs Cultiv8 partner Malcolm Nutt said that with momentum for the sector was increasing rapidly, both in Australia and globally, they plan to focus once again on cleantech agri-food companies in 2024. The program… Read more »

Funding

Kiwi product development insights platform Ideally lands $2 million Seed round

- January 8, 2024 2 MIN READ

New Zealand customer insights innovation platform Ideally has raised $2 million in a Seed round as it looks to expand its presence in the Australian market. Auckland VC Icehouse Ventures backed Ideally, which emerged from TRA Labs and Previously Unavailable – the partnership behind brand tracking phenomenon Tracksuit. Ideally’s self-service platform tests product-market fit, delivering… Read more »

Sally-Ann Williams
Business

Cicada Innovations finds partnerships are as important to deep tech as funding when it comes to success

- January 4, 2024 3 MIN READ

The biggest impediment to Australia shifting from a services-based industry to one based on science and engineering is a longstanding deep tech “scaleup problem” according to a new report from incubator Cicada Innovations. The inaugural “Cicada x Tech23 2023 Insights” report is based on data from 128 deep tech applicants to Cicada x Tech23 2023,… Read more »

Ghazaleh Lyari and Johanna Young
Funding

Australian Business Growth Fund backs skin cancer prevention clothing brand Solbari with $10 million

- January 3, 2024 2 MIN READ

The federal government-backed Australian Business Growth Fund (ABGF) has backed it second business run by a woman, tipping  $10 million into  clothing brand Solbari, which produces clothing, hats and accessories focused on sun protection. Founder and CEO Johanna Young launched Solbari in 2014, having moved to Melbourne from Europe in 2011 following a career in… Read more »

robot typing
Politics

myGov is getting rid of passwords as part of its upgrade

- January 1, 2024 3 MIN READ

MyGov will be modernised with passwordless logins and a new Digital Inclusion Standard, the federal government has announced in responding to a scathing audit that warned current legislation “impedes service delivery” through the underfunded platform. The government’s response to the myGov user audit – an election promise that began in September 2022 as a “myGov revolution” and handed down its findings in… Read more »

Lauren Swidenbank, Jess Ruhfus
Business

Brand collaboration platform Collabosaurus acquired by Cali Social founder

- December 31, 2023 < 1 MIN READ

Bootstrapped brand collaborations startup Collabosaurus has been acquired by marketing guru Lauren Swidenbank. The terms of the M&A deal were not disclosed. Swidenbank is CEO and founder of Cali Social, a performance marketing agency specialising in female-first brands. She said the acquisition as a strategic move to expand into tech and leverage Collabosaurus’s unique position… Read more »

Fleet Space Technologies
Global tech

Ignition Lane’s 2023 wrap

- December 29, 2023 5 MIN READ

Welcome to Ignition Lane’s Tech Wrap, where they cut through the noise to bring you their favourite insights from the technology and startup world.  Ignition Lane works with ambitious business leaders to apply the Startup Mindset to their technology, product and commercialisation problems.  This wrap goes out free to subscribers. Here’s their review of all the big news… Read more »

Birchal directors Kellie Morton, Matt Vitale Kate O’Keeffe and Adam Vise
Funding

Birchal raises $2.39 million on its own crowdfunding platform

- December 22, 2023 2 MIN READ

More than 1,100 investors have backed crowd-sourced funding (CSF) platform Birchal in its own CSF campaign, raising $2.39 million. Alongside a range of retail investors, the cap table includes existing investor Dom Pym, cofounder of Up; Mckeage Cole Foundation MD Connie Mckeage; Giant Leap venture partner Peter Cameron; TodayPay founder Peter Cameron; Doshii founder Sean… Read more »

Twitter, X, rebrand, Elon Musk
Social Media

Australia’s eSafety commissioner launches legal action against Elon Musk’s X Corp

- December 21, 2023 2 MIN READ

Australia’s online safety regulator, the eSafety Commission, has launched legal action against the Elon Musk’s rebranded Twitter company, X Corp, for its alleged failure to comply appropriately to requests to explain how the social media site was dealing with child sexual exploitation and abuse material. The civil case in the Federal Court of Victoria follows… Read more »

LaunchVic Kate Cornick
Other tech

Victoria has a $100 billion startup ecosystem

- December 21, 2023 2 MIN READ

Victoria’s startup ecosystem has grown in value by $12 billion to surpass $100 billion according to a new report from LaunchVic. The size and scope of their success is revealed in the Victoriaʼs startup ecosystem report 2023, produced in partnership with dealroom.co, which found the combined value rose from $91 billion to $103bn in the… Read more »