More than 10 bids were submitted to the voluntary administrators of failed startup StrongRoom AI, hoping to snap up the value left in the business, despite it being mired in legal action over allegedly faked revenue figures and a VC investor wanting its $10 million back. Final offers for what remains of StrongRoom are due… Read more »
Qantas and European plane manufacturer Airbus have jointly committed to invest AUD$15 million into local VC Climate Tech Partners (CTP), in the hope it will accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other aviation decarbonisation solutions. Qantas is using the Airbus A350-1000 for its “Project Sunrise”, with plans to launch non-stop flights to… Read more »
A UK investor with close ties to one of the defendants in legal action against besieged medtech startup StrongRoom AI has come out swinging against Sydney VC EVP, which is fighting to get its $10.4 million investment back. Aaron Michelin, a director of Tyson & Blake – named after founder Chris Tornblom’s dogs – has… Read more »
The NSW Innovation Blueprint finally dropped on Monday – 18 months after innovation, science and technology minister Anoulack Chanthivong first announced it in September 2023. And if you’re wondering if it was worth the wait, the feeling is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Minns government needs to get cracking, and quickly. It has lost ground to make up… Read more »
UNSW chancellor David Gonski and Simon Sheikh’s impact investment fintech Future Super are among the investors in a new US$100 million fund to back artificial intelligence (AI) startups. King River Capital said it’s nearing the final close of its latest A$157 million fund, which continues its ongoing strategic focus on AI-driven software startups both here… Read more »
The Victorian government’s $2 billion investment fund, Breakthrough Victoria has appointed Rod Bristow as its new chief executive officer. Bristow previously spent four years as CEO of early stage and climate-tech VC Investible, building out its Asian presence, and as well as raising a $32 million climate tech fund a $51.6m 2nd early-stage fund, and a new… Read more »
Brisbane-based specialist defence technology venture capital firm, Beaten Zone Venture Partners, has secured more than $10 million in commitments, to call first close on the fund. The figure takes the fund to its final condition for ESVCLP (Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships) status, with its first capital call underway this week. Founder and… Read more »
You can argue over the state of investment for women until the (100% female) cows come home – surprise, surprise, it was shit again in 2024 – but there’s other data in The State of Startup Funding Report 2024 that suggests all is not well in the state of venture capital. More than half (55%)… Read more »
Victorian startup agency LaunchVic is offering grants of up to $300,000 to venture capital funds and angel groups to set up in Victoria and back local startups. To qualify, they’re either just kicking off or “new to Victoria”, which means interstate VCs looking to put boots on the ground in the southeast can apply for… Read more »
New Zealand’s most active venture capital firm, Icehouse Ventures, has closed its second growth fund, with NZ$122 million (A$111m) in commitments to back later-stage scaleups. The record raise for Growth Fund II, closed at the end of 2024, and will be used to back up to 20 Kiwi tech scaleups, with several investments already made.… Read more »
Early stage investment company Antler in Australia recently backed a new cohort of startups as part of its ongoing residency that builds great local tech companies. Startup Daily is sharing the details of each venture in the “Antler Investor Memos” series, which is designed to give you a quick, sharp understanding of the startups and… Read more »
A who’s who of Australian investors have backed a new sports VC fund by Tennis Australia’s AO Ventures, committing around $49 million to its first close. They include Mark Nelson from Caledonia, Tanarra’s John Wylie, Melbourne-based businessman Mark Healey, Ashok Jacob from Ellerston Capital and Robyn and Victoria Denholm’s family office, Wollemi Capital Group. International… Read more »
A report into the state of play for Western Australia’s startup sector has warned the state risks slipping behind its East Cost rivals unless there’s a great focus on reforms and funding for the sector. The report, ‘Dare to Venture: Startups and the innovation ecosystem in Western Australia’, by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre argues… Read more »
Seven venture capital firms will look to invest up to $150 million in Western Australian startups underpinned by a $45 million commitment from the state government’s WA Venture Capital initiative (WAVC). Premier Roger Cook announced an additional $15 million for WAVC at West Tech Fest in Perth, topping up the government’s initial $30m commitment. Cook… Read more »
Crowd-sourced funding (CSF) platform Birchal’s new Birchal First Syndicate has turbocharged $1.9 million in funding for Victorian hardware technology startups in 90 days since its launch. The angel syndicate, backed by a $300,000 LaunchVic grant, combines its lead investments with retail investor support on the crowdfunding platform’s equity capital raising campaigns. While battery-powered aircraft engine… Read more »
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