Tech is stalling. Consumer is surging. And if you’re still waiting for the return of traditional VC exits – you’re already behind. Here’s the hard truth: liquidity has dried up in venture tech. IPOs are trickling. M&A deals have slowed to a crawl. According to PitchBook’s 2023 US VC Valuation Report, exits in the tech… Read more »
ASX-listed data centre business NextDC (ASX:NXT) will build a $2 billion tech hub in Port Melbourne as part of the Victorian government’s Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct. Named M4, it will be purpose-built for sovereign AI, high performance computing (HPC), advanced manufacturing and deep tech, with three core components: an AI factory to support NVIDIA’s Blackwell and… Read more »
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has taken centre stage across various industries. From AI-generated art to chatbots in customer service, every sector is seemingly poised for disruption. It’s not just in your news feed every day – venture capital is pouring in, while CEOs are eager to declare their companies “AI-first”. But for those… Read more »
“Is my idea VC-backable?” You probably heard this and rolled your eyes thinking “What does that mean?” So let me break down exactly what it takes to be VC-backable and explain what VCs are looking for, portfolio construction and the steps to check if it’s a fit for your company. DISCLAIMER: Not every business is… Read more »
Trans-Tasman VC Blackbird has tripled down on New Zealand-born brand tracking platform Tracksuit in a $38 million in a Series B. The round was led California consumer brands investor VMG Partners, supported by existing backers Blackbird, NZ’s Icehouse Ventures, and San Francisco’s Altos Ventures, and Footwork. Tracksuit previously raised a $20.5 million Series A in… Read more »
Disability tech accelerator Remarkable has backed one of its alumni in a $3.5 million Seed raise for Sociability, which helps people with disability discover accessible spaces. Remarkable’s investment came through its Scaler co-investment initiative, which backs disability tech startups in Australia, the UK, US, and elsewhere. The raise for Sociability was led by Britain’s Growth… Read more »
When Chris Friend rocked up to a Bondi Boardriders comp in 2016, he didn’t expect to stumble across a business idea that would soon power surf and skate comps around the world. But standing in the sand, watching organisers scramble with pens, paper, and spreadsheets, he and mate Fernando Freire, a surfer and software programmer,… Read more »
Melbourne renewables battery startup Voltavate has raised $850,000 in a pre-Seed round to make lithium-ion batteries and energy storage devices safer, more efficient and sustainable. The round was led by Artesian, with support from Investible, Electrifi Ventures, and angel investors John Wood, Christiaan Jordaan, and Steven Vassiloudis, as well as the startup’s chair, Reza Behnam.… Read more »
A blockchain financial infrastructure startup has raised $14 million in a Series A, including $11m worth in Bitcoin and the stablecoin USDT. The raise for CloudTech will fund the rollout of an institutional-grade custody solution for digital assets, as well as expansion of a broader crypto-native financial ecosystem. The funding came from several undisclosed investors.… Read more »
New research reveals the alarming state of founder mental health across all stages of business and why we must act now. If you’re reading this at 11pm while checking your emails, wrestling with cashflow projections, mulling over that staff issue, or losing sleep over your next quarter’s performance, you’re not alone. But according to new… Read more »
Finding a job is getting tougher, and more frustrating. Posting “open to work” in LinkedIn, then submitting your CV isn’t the solution, especially when you’re competing with hundreds of others for the same role. AI is adding to the complexity on both sides. But there is a way to enlist artificial intelligence to give jobseekers… Read more »
Victoria’s leading startup founders, investors, and ecosystem builders were honour at the annual Governor of Victoria Startup Awards at Government House last week. Her Excellency Professor Margaret Gardner AC recognised outstanding contributions to the state’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem Government startup agency LaunchVic helps coordinate the awards, now in their 4th year, with 4-5 startups… Read more »
Earlier this year, New Zealand launched a revamped investor visa scheme, the Active Investor Plus visa, designed to attract high-net-worth individuals by slashing minimum investment thresholds, removing English language requirements, and reducing time-onshore commitments to just 21 days over three years. In return, investors gain a clear and rapid path to permanent residency. The response… Read more »
After four months of hard work building their ideas, fresh crop of 7 new portfolio startups in the Founder Institute ANZ early stage accelerator will make their debut at Demo Day this evening, June 10. Anyone is welcome to be a part of the free online event Demo Day and startup showcase from 6pm AEST, with… Read more »
A tech platform that helps doctors transcribe medical notes faster from conversations with patients has raised $12 million, valuing the two-year-old startup at $50 million. The round for Melbourne-based Lyrebird Health was led by Five V Capital and UK fund Octopus Ventures, with support from Startmate. The AI-powered medical scribe generates clinical documentation from patient-doctor… Read more »
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