AI/Machine Learning

A photographer trolled an AI art competition with a real photo – and won

- June 21, 2024 2 MIN READ

A photographer disqualified after winning an AI image competition with a real photo says playing a trick on the judges proved “nature still outdoes the machine”. Miles Astray’s photo ‘FLAMINGONE’ won the People’s Vote and a Jury Award after he entered it into the artificial intelligence category of the 1839 Awards for photography this month, but was… Read more »

Business

Beam in Business acquires jobs for women networking startup Freelancing Gems

- June 21, 2024 2 MIN READ

Women’s jobs site Freelancing Gems has been acquired by regional community and Women’s Awards program Beam in Business. Freelancing Gems cofounders Fleur Madden and Kirsty Jackson launched the site in 2020, as Covid hit, using AI-driven matching models to connect women to their next remote, part time, freelance,  contract role. The site also champions women… Read more »

Edward Craven and Bijan Tehrani
Business

Crypto gaming billionaire Ed Craven dangles $100,000 sign-on carrots to lure engineers away from Canva, Atlassian and Australia’s top tech companies

- June 20, 2024 2 MIN READ

The overheated tech salary days of 2022 may be set to return, in engineering at least, if crypto gaming billionaire Ed Craven has his way. Craven, 28, and his cofounder Bijan Tehrani at online casino Stake.com and live-streaming platform Kick, are offering sign-on bonuses for senior and principal software engineers and engineering managers of between… Read more »

Funding

Breakthrough Victoria’s latest $15 million investment is bringing another US company to Melbourne

- June 19, 2024 2 MIN READ

Breakthrough Victoria, the state government’s $2 billion tech investment fund, is backing California-based Liquid Instruments with $15 million to bring the test equipment manufacturer to Melbourne. The 10-year-old firm, headquartered in San Diego, began life in Canberra, and builds cutting-edge test and measurement instruments used by engineers, scientists, and students, which can be reconfigured, saving… Read more »

Josh Griggs
People

ACS gives interim CEO Josh Griggs the gig

- June 19, 2024 < 1 MIN READ

After stepping into the breach as interim CEO of IT professional association ACS following the sudden departure of Chris Vein during the Christmas break, Josh Griggs is taking the helm officially to start the new financial year. Griggs has been appointed CEO from July 1 after serving six months in an interim capacity. He comes… Read more »

Floatspace founder Hugh Treseder and Ian Malouf.
Business

‘Airbnb for boats’ startup Floatspace acquired by billionaire Ian Malouf’s luxury yacht charter business

- June 19, 2024 2 MIN READ

Sydney-based Floatspace, the ‘Airbnb for boat experiences’, has been acquired by yacht charter business Ahoy Club. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Floatspace founder Hugh Treseder, will remain as CEO of the brand under its new owners. Ahoy Club was founded in 2018 by Sydney billionaire Ian Malouf and his daughter, Ellie,… Read more »

Daniel Mookhey
Business

Small business disappointed by NSW budget

- June 18, 2024 3 MIN READ

The centrepiece of the NSW government’s business support in the 2024-25 Budget is the expansion of the Service NSW Business Bureau. However, the lack of substantial assistance to counter the rising cost of doing business has left business advocates scratching their heads. To further the reach of the Service NSW Business Bureau initiative, the government has… Read more »

energy
Climate Tech

Global investors are fighting for a slice of Australia’s $7bn green bond. Here’s why that’s a good news

- June 17, 2024 3 MIN READ

You might think government debt is bad, but it actually plays a crucial role in modern finance. Back when he was treasurer, Peter Costello famously declared that April 21 2006 would be known as Australia’s “Debt Free Day”. On this day, he proclaimed, the Commonwealth would eliminate its net debt and “pay off the mortgage”.… Read more »

Linkby founders Andrew Chak, Chris Wirasinha & Adrian Fagerlund
Funding

Adtech startup Linkby banks $4 million Series A

- June 17, 2024 2 MIN READ

An ad tech platform that helps publishers monetise product mentions has raised $4 million in a Series A as it looks to ramp up its global ambitions. The round for Linkby was led by investors Perennial Private Investments, with existing backer OIF Ventures, which led Linkby’s $5 million Seed raised in early 2022 also going again,… Read more »

R&D, science, man looking in microscope
Accelerator

ARM Hub and MTPConnect collaborate on a new AI accelerator for biomed startups

- June 17, 2024 2 MIN READ

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub and MTPConnect have teamed up to launch the Biomedical AI Sprints Accelerator (BASA) so biomedical startup can harness the power of data and artificial intelligence (AI).  BASA will offer $25,000-50,000 in matched funding and upskill high-growth startup teams in using AI and data analytics, giving them access to… Read more »

Show Her the Money
Events

The producer of the award-winning doco on backing female founders, Show Her The Money, is coming to Australia for its premiere

- June 14, 2024 3 MIN READ

The award-winning US documentary Show Her The Money, about venture funding for female founders, will have its Australian premiere later this month, with screenings in Sydney and Melbourne. The film is being presented by SheBacks.Me, a community organisation which has emerged out of SheEO to support Australian female founders and investors to close the gender… Read more »