Muster farm, cattle
AI/Machine Learning

The Productivity Commission wants a light touch on AI regulation

- February 8, 2024 3 MIN READ

The government should avoid “overzealous lawmaking” and lead by example with a “stepped, gradual approach” to regulating artificial intelligence (AI), the Productivity Commission (PC) has advised in an analysis that flags AI’s potential to resolve Australia’s productivity slump. Aiming to guide the understanding of AI’s productivity benefits, regulatory challenges and implications for data policy, the trilogy of… Read more »

CarbonHQ Allen Fan and Eugene Datsky
Funding

Former Canva engineer’s carbon credits startup banks $600,000 pre-Seed round

- February 7, 2024 2 MIN READ

Climate startup CarbonHQ, has raised $600,000 in pre-Seed capital to bring transparency and accountability to carbon credits. The raise was backed by early-stage VC funds Galileo Ventures and Investible. CarbonHQ aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of carbon projects and address the $3 billion voluntary carbon market (VCM). They are currently developing a digital platform… Read more »

canaria technologies founders at nasa
AI/Machine Learning

Brisbane’s Canaria Technologies shoots for the moon with NASA-approved AI for astronauts

- February 6, 2024 3 MIN READ

Having broken new ground in health tech for high-risk situations, Canaria Technologies is taking its next giant leap – to infinity and beyond. The Brisbane-based startup is gearing up to take its pioneering tech in predictive biometrics to the next frontier: outer space. Canaria’s wearables, which combine data about how the human body functions with… Read more »

AMSL Aero chief engineer Andrew Moore, chair Chris Smallhorn, and COO Siobhan Lyndon
Business

Hydrogen aircraft startup AMSL Aero lands its first customer

- February 6, 2024 2 MIN READ

Sydney startup AMSL Aero, which has designed and built a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft powered by hydrogen, has sold its first 10 aircraft to a commercial client. Aviation Logistics, which operates spanning regional passenger services, charter, freight and aeromedical flights, paid deposits on 10 aircraft, with the option to buy 10 more,… Read more »

Adatree, Shane Doolan. Jill Berry
Business

Open banking startup Adatree acquired by payments fintech Fat Zebra

- February 6, 2024 2 MIN READ

Open banking facilitation startup Adatree has been acquired by Sydney small business payments provider Fat Zebra for an undisclosed sum. The Sydney regtech platform was the first early-stage startup approved to take part in Australia’s open banking system as Accredited Data Recipient (ADR) for the Consumer Data Right (CDR). Adatree helps fintechs gain access to… Read more »

EV charger EVOS
Climate Tech

GLOBAL CHARGE: Brisbane clean tech startup EVOS Energy breaks into India with export grant

- February 6, 2024 3 MIN READ

Brisbane electric vehicle charging startup EVOS Energy is one of 35 exporters backed with funding and support from Trade and Investment Queensland’s Go Global Export Program. EVOS Energy is taking its Australian-made EV home chargers and fleet energy management to the world with a little help from the Queensland Government. The sixth round of Trade… Read more »

Bronwyn Le Grice
Funding

The Medical Research Future Fund backs 4 digital health startups with $3.25 million

- February 2, 2024 2 MIN READ

The Australian government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), has invested a combined $3.25 million in four digital health startups through the commercialisation program ANDHealth+. ANDHealth backed two AI-based startups with non-dilutive funding: Baymatob, which developed a wearable monitor for pregnant women that uses AI to analyse to their vital signs for risks of birth complications; and… Read more »

Mark Zuckerberg
Social Media

‘Blood on their hands’: US politicians rip into social media bosses over child sexual abuse concerns

- February 1, 2024 3 MIN READ

Social media firms are offering “a product that’s killing people” and their CEOs have “blood on their hands” for failing to protect children from online predators, a US senator has told five tech executives during vitriolic hearings in which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was forced to apologise to angry families of victims of online child grooming.… Read more »

Gentrack CTO Mark Rees with Amber's Chris Thompson, his boss Gary Miles and Amber's other cofounder Dan Adams
Funding

Energy retailer Amber recharges with $29 million Series C

- February 1, 2024 2 MIN READ

Power retailer Amber Electric has raised $29 million in a Series C as it looks to take its battery and EV automation software offshore. ASX-listed billing and CRM provider Gentrack led the round with $12 million, building a strategic partnership with Amber to bundle its billing and customer care with Amber’s battery and EV automation… Read more »

Ivan Power
Politics

Startup mentor Ivan Power appointed CEO of $15bn National Reconstruction Fund

- February 1, 2024 2 MIN READ

The Albanese government’s signature business investment vehicle, the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, has its first boss, with veteran Macquarie Group executive Ivan Power named as CEO. Power has worked in global investment for more than 25 years alongside a strong track record in working with early-stage startups and social ventures.. UNSW director of entrepreneurship… Read more »

Rehan D'Almedia
Fintech

FinTech Australia has teamed up with Westpac and ANZ for a reverse pitch event 

- February 1, 2024 2 MIN READ

FinTech Australia has holding a reverse pitch event later this month in a collaboration with major banks ANZ and Westpac, as well as fintech investor 1835i. The initiative will see ANZ and Westpac share selected problem statements across banking-related areas such as sustainability, payments and fraud and scams for fintech startups to tackle as part… Read more »

Marama Labs cofounders Dr Brendan Darby, Dr Matthias Meyer and Professor Eric Le Ru.
Funding

Kiwi wine analysis startup skols $2.85 million Seed raise

- January 31, 2024 2 MIN READ

New Zealand wine analysis startup Marama Labs has raised €1.75m (A$2.85m) in Seed funding to expand its global footprint.  The round was led by European agritech VC The Yield Lab, supported by New Zealand Growth Capital Partners, Icehouse Ventures, Quidnet Ventures, DeepIE, Radar Ventures, NZVC, and Kiwi angel groups, plus high-net-worth’s from Ireland and Germany.… Read more »

The Nudge Group founder Steve Grace and Tank Stream Labs CEO Bradley Delamere
People

Tank Stream Labs teams up with Nudge Group to tackle startup talent recruitment

- January 31, 2024 2 MIN READ

Sydney-based startup hub Tank Stream Labs has teamed up with recruitment firm The Nudge Group to make it easier for startups to find talent. The joint venture is hoping to create more affordable, tech-based solutions to finding the talent startups and scale-ups need. Tank Stream Labs CEO Bradley Delamare said that alongside an understanding, developed… Read more »

Apple Vision pro 2
Global tech

Apple’s hoping its $5000 computer headset, Vision Pro, will be the new iPhone, but will we all walk around wearing augmented reality googles?

- January 30, 2024 4 MIN READ

Apple Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset – which the company hopes is a “revolutionary spatial computer that transforms how people work, collaborate, connect, relive memories, and enjoy entertainment” – that begins shipping to the public (in the United States) later this week. Critics have doubted the appeal of the face-worn computer, which “seamlessly blends… Read more »