The ozone layer is on track to heal within four decades, according to a recent UN report, but this progress could be undone by an upsurge in rocket launches expected during the same period. The ozone layer protects life on Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Destruction of the ozone layer became a… Read more »
US investor and Y Combinator cofounder Paul Graham is one of the many fans of OpenAI’s new chatbot, ChatGPT. The striking thing about the reaction to ChatGPT is not just the number of people who are blown away by it, but who they are. These are not people who get excited by every shiny new… Read more »
Consulting giant Ernst & Young has named seven Australian finalists in its annual EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards. They include Chris Eigeland and Andrew Barnes, cofounders of the Queensland edtech unicorn Go1. Last year Go1 doubled its valuation to $2.8 billion after raising $140 million. Now in its 22nd year, the awards recognise people… Read more »
Lithium is the new black as demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy batteries grows, so Australia’s largest climate tech startup accelerator EnergyLab, has decided to do something about it, backing 11 startups in the space in a new program Australia produces 60% of the world’s lithium, but only represents 1% of global product value… Read more »
Fintech Zeller is taking on the big four banks to offer financial services to the small business sector, launching a new transaction account, debit card, and app. It’s a major shift in strategy for the Melbourne startup, founded by former Square exec Ben Pfisterer and Dominic Yap. The three-year-old venture launched in 2021 with a… Read more »
Fingerprint for Success (F4S), an artificial intelligence (AI)-based performance coaching startup used by tech companies such as Atlassian, AWS, Hubspot and Canva has raised $6.5 million in a second Seed round. The raise was led by local VC Investible and its syndicate group, Club Investible, supported by US firms Five V Capital, and Salesforce Ventures.… Read more »
Streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ will soon face regulations to invest in Australian content, as Australian regulations catch up to other world players. Nearly eight years since the launch of Netflix in Australia in 2015, redressing the “regulatory gap” between unregulated streaming platforms and regulated traditional television is front-of-mind for Arts… Read more »
Salesforce Ventures becomes new investor Wallabies legend John Eales also backed Q-CTRL A record A$74m was raised in the Series B Sydney quantum software startup Q–CTRL has raised US$27.4 million (A$39m) in an extension of its Series B Several new investors joined Q–CTRL’s cap table, including Salesforce Ventures, the VC arm of the US software… Read more »
Agribusiness expert and serial board member Dr Michele Allan has stepped up as chair of Australia’s leading space research centre, SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), following the sudden passing of inaugural chair Dr Peter Woodgate on Christmas eve. Dr Allan, chancellor and board chair of Charles Sturt University, also chairs the Food and Agribusiness Growth… Read more »
FinTech Australia has announced the new Positive Impact award, which celebrates social impact in fintech. They are now calling for entries for its seventh annual awards. The Positive Impact award will consider the social, environmental, and economic impact of fintech companies. They introduced the new award to honour work on this within the sector. FinTech… Read more »
University of Melbourne’s new startup venture capital fund Tin Alley Venture has raised $100 million from a who’s who of the Victorian business establishment to back alumni founders. The uni chipped in $25 million to kick off the fund, a joint venture with John Wiley’s Tanarra Capital, in June last year. Seven months later, the… Read more »
New Zealand-founded accounting fintech Hnry has raised A$35 million in a Series B as it looks to go global. The round was led by local VC AirTree Ventures, supported by existing New York-based backer Left Lane Capital, Akshay Kothari, cofounder of California software company Notion, and Athletic Ventures, the sports star investment syndicate that includes AFL… Read more »
Fast-growing Victoria retail startup July has appointed Joanne Smith as its first Chief Financial Officer. Smith moves to the luggage brand from CFO at deals platform Little Birdie. She previously held roles at KPMG Australia and UK, as well as a five-year stint at Kogan where she played a key role in the company’s IPO… Read more »
LaunchVic is on the hunt for a new wave of tech startups they can help turn into unicorns – companies worth more than $1 billion. The Victorian startup agency’s 30×30 program was developed with the aim to help 30 startups hit $1 billion valuations by 2030, and is now open for expressions of interest. LaunchVic… Read more »
The Australian venture capital arm of Salesforce is one of the victims of the tech giant’s massive job cuts, with Salesforce Ventures head of Australia Mike Ferrari among those shown the door. The VC’s local portfolio of companies will now be managed from the US. Earlier this month, the 23-year-old California-based software company announced a… Read more »
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