AI, underwater drones, deepfakes and online gambling are some of focus areas for the five tech recipients of the 2024 Churchill Fellowships. Fellowship awardees are granted up to $35,000 to fund four to eight weeks of overseas travel to investigate a topic or issue of national interest. “Fellows return home ready to challenge the status quo… Read more »
Startup investor, advisor and accelerator Scalare Partners made its ASX debut today, finishing the day as it began at $0.25 cents a share. The business (ASX: SCP) went public via a reverse takeover of former confectionary maker Candy Club, after banking $4.301 million of an $8 million share offer $0.25 cents a share. The raise… Read more »
Melbourne startup Viewa has raised a $300,000 pre-seed round from Skalata to bring augmented reality (AR) into the online shopping experience. An extraordinary 80% of Australians shop via their mobile, making it a challenge to create an experience that leads to sales. Viewa uses 3D, AR and generative AI to lift products from the page… Read more »
In an escalation of its battle with big tech, the federal government has announced it plans to impose a “digital duty of care” on tech companies to reduce online harms. The announcement follows the government’s controversial plans to legislate a social media ban for young people under 16 and impose tighter rules on digital platforms… Read more »
Scam ads are lucrative for scammers, but the money they steal from vulnerable people is also delivering plenty of cash to Mark Zuckerberg and his social media company Meta. The business behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has been named one of five “winners” in consumer group CHOICE’s annual Shonky Awards for trash products. The CHOICE… Read more »
Startup advisory and investment business Scalare Partners has raised just over half the $8 million it was hoping to raise as part of a backdoor listing on the ASX. The public offer raised $4.301 million at $0.25 cents a share issuing 17.2044 million fully paid ordinary shares in its reverse takeover of former confectionary maker… Read more »
Sydney retail technology startup Hivery was handed to administrators last week after nine years and nearly $63 million in venture capital. The books for Red Analytics, trading as Hivery, were handed to Christopher Johnson and Andrew McCabe at Wexted Advisors in Sydney on November 6. A first meeting of creditors is scheduled for Friday, November… Read more »
A goal matching platform that helps you find and build your community of advisors to help you succeed in work and life has raised nearly $500,000 in an angel round from high-profile female founders and LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson fund. Matched, cofounded by Jessica Box and Susan Hion-Jarvis, was backed by Modibodi founder Kristy Chong and… Read more »
Meta will make its generative artificial intelligence (AI) models available to the United States’ government, the tech giant has announced, in a controversial move that raises a moral dilemma for everyone who uses the software. Meta last week revealed it would make the models, known as Llama, available to government agencies, “including those that are… Read more »
A New Zealand retail crime reporting and surveillance platform that was being scrutinised by Australia’s Information Commissioner has raised NZ $82 million (A$74.3m) in a Series C. The raise for Auror was co-led by the Woolworths-backed retail venture fund W23 Global, Nasdaq-listed US taser and body camera manufacturer Axon Enterprise, and Westpac-supported Reinventure. Also chipping… Read more »
The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) is hoping to address the industry’s “women problem” by launching a certification framework for the sector to address equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) amid lingering tension over the organisation’s response to former board member Richard White. The TCA is gathering in Melbourne this week for the three-day National Tech… Read more »
David Fairfull, the bankrupt founder and former CEO of marketing startup Metigy, appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Friday to face six charges following an ASIC investigation into the failure of the company. Fairfull was charged with five counts making false and misleading statements contrary to the Corporations Act, plus one count of… Read more »
When CDs launched, it seemed like the end for vinyl records. But vinyl made a comeback and now it feels like using an old-school camera is set to follow in its footsteps if this week’s episode of Shark Tank is a sign. Brisbane university students Kelric Mullen and Mackenzie Salisbury were among the founders on… Read more »
Australian and international technology companies are among more than 1,200 organisations which did not pay tax in the 2022-23 financial year, according to an Australian Taxation Office (ATO) report. The ATO’s tenth corporate tax transparency report, released last Friday, showed around 30% of the 3,985 entities that lodged tax returns for 2022–23 did not pay any… Read more »
Crowdfunding platform Equitise has been handed to voluntary administrators after cofounder Jonny Wilkinson failed in his own attempts to raise a $500,000 bridging round. Administrators Damien Mark Hodgkinson and Mohammad Mirzan Bin Mansoor from Sydney firm Olvera Advisors were handed the books on October 31. An initial creditor’s meeting will be held on November 12.… Read more »
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