Topic Archives

The Cannon-Brookes-backed SunCable project wants to build a $1 billion manufacturing plant in Tasmania for its 4200km underwater power line

Simon Thomsen - November 6, 2023 2 MIN READ

The $30 billion SunCable project, backed by Atlassian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brooks, wants to build the high voltage under power cable that will stretch from Darwin to Singapore at a manufacturing facility in Northern Tasmania. Bell Bay, 50km north of Launceston, at the mouth of the Tamar River, has been named as SunCable’s preferred site for… Read more »

Quantum Computing

Australia and the UK are collaborating on quantum tech

Startup Daily - November 6, 2023 2 MIN READ

Australian industry and science minister Ed Husic and the UK secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, Michelle Donelan, have agreed to cooperate on quantum technologies, signing a joint statement on collaboration between the two nations during the AI Safety Summit in England. Husic said the arrangement will open channels for more investment between UK… Read more »

Cryptocurrency

Sam Bankman-Fried’s conviction for fraud at FTX is a reminder of the risk of crypto trading

John Hawkins - November 6, 2023 3 MIN READ

It is not just crypto tokens that have spectacular downfalls. So can crypto personalities. Sam Bankman-Fried founded FTX, one of the world’s largest exchanges for so-called cryptocurrencies, which collapsed last year owing billions of dollars. Now he has gone from being hailed as potentially the world’s first trillionaire to a lengthy term in prison. After… Read more »

Business

Online retailer Kogan.com wins ‘Shonky’ award from consumer group CHOICE for its $99 subscription

Startup Daily - November 3, 2023 2 MIN READ

ASX-lister online retailer Kogan.com has put another feather in its cap, winning a “Shonky” award from consumer group CHOICE. The annual Shonky Awards recognise products and companies that deliver a poor experience for shoppers. Kogan was called out for “tricking customers” according to CHOICE, into signing up for its $99 ‘Kogan First trial. Tech featured… Read more »

Business

Legal disputes startup Immediation placed in voluntary administration after raising $19 million in six years

Simon Thomsen - November 2, 2023 2 MIN READ

Online dispute resolution platform Immediation was placed in voluntary administration last week, seven months after the startup’s founder and CEO departed amid a $2.8 million capital injection. Joanne Dunn and David McGrath from FTI Consulting were appointed administrators to 3 Australian entities: Immediation Pty Ltd (the head company), Immediation Platform, and Disputech IP Holdco, on… Read more »

Events

Entries for the Techboard Australian Angel Awards close on November 7

Simon Thomsen - November 2, 2023 2 MIN READ

Startup investment analysis firm Techboard has extended the closing date for its annual Australian Angel Awards to November 7′ The awards celebrate the contribution Angel investors make to the startup ecosystem and overall economy and community in Australia, and this year are being supported by Angel Loop. Techboard CEO and cofounder Peter van Bruchem said Angel… Read more »

HAPPLY Andrew Weinman and Jeremy Rosen_A

Funding

Proptech startup Happly banks $1.75 million Seed round

Simon Thomsen - November 2, 2023 2 MIN READ

A new proptech startup designed to make moving less painful has raised $1.75 million in a Seed round. Sydney entrepreneur, Andrew Weinman developed Happly in early 2022, recruiting Jeremy Rosen, cofounder of mobile storage business Taxibox, as his co-CEO, 12 months ago before launching in Sydney this year. The free platform partners with the people… Read more »

SunDrive cofounder Vince Allen with PM Anthony Albanese, climate change minister Chris Bowen and company director, advisor and former MP Wyatt Roy.

Climate Tech

Solar panel maker SunDrive pockets $11 million from ARENA as PM opens new Sydney manufacturing plant

Simon Thomsen - November 2, 2023 2 MIN READ

Solar panel startup SunDrive has opened a pilot production and commercialisation facility in southern Sydney, having also landed another $11 million in funding from the government-backed Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen opened the plant in Kurnell on Wednesday. SunDrive, which has received extensive… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

US president Joe Biden is cracking down on artificial intelligence . Here’s what to could happen next

Toby Walsh - November 2, 2023 4 MIN READ

On Monday US President Joe Biden released a wide ranging and ambitious executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) – catapulting the US to the front of conversations about regulating AI. In doing so, the US is leap frogging over other states in the race to rule over AI. Europe previously led the way with its… Read more »

Atlassian, Mike Cannon-Brookes, Scott Farquhar.

Business

Atlassian gobbles up another startup – bootstrapped Melbourne IT data platform AirTrack – to build out Jira

Simon Thomsen - November 2, 2023 2 MIN READ

Workplace software giant Atlassian made a second acquisition in October, alongside its $1.5 billion M&A deal US video messaging startup Loom, snapping up Melbourne IT data quality management busines AirTrack. AirTrack helps enterprises gather, aggregate, and analyse multiple sources of data used across IT to make it easier to pinpoint and remediate any issues. The… Read more »

Business

CSIRO opens the door for its R&D funding program, Kick-Start, to larger companies

Simon Thomsen - October 31, 2023 2 MIN READ

National science agency CSIRO has expanded the qualifying criteria its Kick-Start program, which offers Australian small businesses can now access research and development (R&D) funding. Businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million are now eligible, up from the previous $1.5 million threshold. The Kick-Start program offers dollar-matched funding to access CSIRO’s research expertise… Read more »

People

Culture Amp’s Didier Elzinga wins Pearcey Foundation’s entrepreneur award as Wisetech Global’s Richard White joins Hall of Fame

Startup Daily - October 31, 2023 2 MIN READ

Macquarie Technology Group cofounders David and Aidan Tudehope have been honoured as the 2023 Pearcey Medallists for their life’s work in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. The annual awards, named after the late ICT industry pioneer Dr Trevor Pearcey, celebrated their 25th anniversary by inducting engineer Professor Jean Armstrong and WiseTech Global founder… Read more »

Venture Capital

LaunchVic is waving $300,000 cheques at VCs to get them to set up shop in Victoria

Simon Thomsen - October 31, 2023 2 MIN READ

Victoria’s startup agency, LaunchVic, is hoping to lure more venture capital to south, offering VC funds up to $300,000 in backing if they put up their shingle in the state. Eligible funds can either new or “new to Victoria,” under the incentive program, providing existing fund managers with operations elsewhere to set up local offices… Read more »

Climate Tech

Sydney’s $31 million climate tech hub, Greenhouse, is open for business

Simon Thomsen - October 31, 2023 2 MIN READ

The $31 million Greenhouse climate tech hub has opened in Sydney’s newest skyscraper, Salesforce Tower. Four years in the making – the Covid pandemic slowed its opening by two years – Greenhouse has been backed by the City of Sydney with $31 million in funding, and is being run as a subsidiary of early-stage venture… Read more »

Venture Capital

Investible doubles down on early-stage climate tech VC with Indonesian partnership

Simon Thomsen - October 30, 2023 2 MIN READ

Sydney VC fund Investible is gearing up to launch a new global climate tech fund in a partnership with Mandiri Capital Indonesia (MCI). MCI is the VC subsidiary of Indonesia’s largest financial institution, Bank Mandiri. The joint venture Mandiri-Investible Global Climate Tech Fund will support and back climate tech startups in the Southeast Asia and… Read more »