Simfuni cofounders Damon O'Neill and Shaun Quincey
Funding

Kiwi insurtech Simfuni banks NZ$2.8 million in Series A

- July 20, 2023 2 MIN READ

Auckland-based insurance premium payments platform Simfuni has raised NZ$2.8 million in a Series A to save brokers time and money.  The round was led by Kiwi VC funds Icehouse Ventures and GD1, with support from K1W1 and NZVC. The insurtech platform integrates with any insurer, broker group or premium funder’s quoting and invoicing software in… Read more »

Sicona cofounders Christiaan Jordaan and Andrew Minett.
Funding

Battery materials startup Sicona charges up with $22 million Series A

- June 16, 2023 2 MIN READ

Battery materials startup Sicona Battery Technologies has raised AU$22 million in a Series A for its plans in Australia and the US. The round was led by India’s Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, Australian VC Artesian, and Electrification & Decarbonization AIE LP, a fund managed by Waratah Capital, alongside backers including Riverstone Ventures, Chaos Ventures, Investible Climate… Read more »

Canopus Network founders Vijay Sivaraman and Himal Kumar (centre) with the Konvoy VC's Josh Chapman (l) and Jackson Vaughan (r).
Funding

Broadband traffic analytics startup Canopus Networks tops up Series A with $4.5 million to improve gaming lags

- June 14, 2023 2 MIN READ

Sydney broadband network analytics firm Canopus Networks, which helps telecommunications providers deliver low-latency lag-free gaming, has raised an additional US$3 million (AU$4.5M) in its Series A to take the total value of the round to US$10.6 million (A$15.7m). The latest round was led by US VC Konvoy Ventures, a gaming industry focused investor. Managing Partner… Read more »

The Chainsmokers
Funding

The Chainsmokers, Paris Hilton pile into $23 million Series A for expat Australian online shopping startup

- May 26, 2023 2 MIN READ

Paris Hilton and electronica duo The Chainsmokers have been added to the A-lister cap table of LA-based expat Australian startup Checkmate, which has raised US$15 million (A$23m) in a Series A. The round was led by GV (formerly Google Ventures), with support from DJ duo Alex Pall and Drew Taggart’s VC fund Mantis, plus several… Read more »

Surveillance room
Funding

Internet-scanning intelligence startup lands $30 million Series A

- April 11, 2023 2 MIN READ

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) software startup Fivecast, has raised US$20 million (AU$30m) in a Series A. The Adelaide-based intelligence gathering platform scans publicly available data, including social media sites and the dark web, to identify threats ranging from extremists to terrorists, drug trafficking and organised crime. The round was led by US cybersecurity VC Ten Eleven,… Read more »

Funding

Firefighting virtual reality training startup FLAIM lands $6.7 million Series A

- April 3, 2023 2 MIN READ

A virtual reality firefighter training startup spun out of Deakin University has raised $6.7 million Series A, with the Victorian government’s investment fund Breakthrough Victoria, taking a minority stake in the business for $5 million. FLAIM Systems has developed what’s believed to be the world’s first fully immersive virtual firefighting training system, offering a safe… Read more »

Simone Joyce Paypa
Funding

Queensland govt, Mastercard back fintech Paypa Plane in $10 million Series A

- March 31, 2023 2 MIN READ

Brisbane fintech Paypa Plane, which is at the forefront of instant payments, has raised $10 million in a Series A. The round was led by the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) through the government’s $100 billion Business Investment Fund, with support from payments platform Cuscal, Mastercard and Queensland VC Sprint Ventures. Paypa Plane is hoping to… Read more »

DataMesh, Mark Nagy
Funding

Payments fintech DataMesh bags $30 million Series A

- February 22, 2023 2 MIN READ

Payments software scale-up DataMesh Group has raised $30 million in a Series A. The round was led by NAB Ventures, with new investors including  Deutsche Bank, ANZ’s VC arm, 1835i Ventures, Wunala Capital, Fifth Estate and Peregrine Corporation. NAB Ventures previously backed DataMesh in late 2021 in a $12 million pre-Series A raise. The Sydney… Read more »

Jim Fuller, Michael Fox, Fable Food
Funding

Osher Günsberg & ethicist Peter Singer back mushroom ‘meat’ startup Fable Food Co in $12.3 million Series A

- February 9, 2023 3 MIN READ

Queensland meat alternative startup Fable has raised US$8.5 million (A$12.3m) as it  ramps up its expansion in global markets. The round was led by Singapore VC 3 Ventures, supported by Better Bite Ventures, former YUM CEO Greg Creed, the expat Australian ethicist and animal rights campaigner Professor Peter Singer, SaladStop founders Frantz Braha and Adrien… Read more »

Fabrum Fabrum founders Hugh Reynolds, Christopher Boyle, and Dr Ojas Mahapatra
Funding

Andrew Forrest backs Kiwi hydrogen tech startup Fabrum in NZ$23 million Series A

- February 8, 2023 2 MIN READ

New Zealand liquid hydrogen tech company Fabrum has raised NZ$23 million (A$21m) in a Series A The round was led by London VC AP Ventures, with participation from Dr Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Future Industries, Japan’s Obayashi Corporation and New Zealand VC K1W1. The Christchurch-based venture, founded in 2004, is considered a world leader in industrialised… Read more »

Milo
Funding

Australian-founded communications startup Loose Cannon Systems raises $12 million in Series A

- January 11, 2023 < 1 MIN READ

A company that created a hands-free walk-talkie replacement for outdoor adventurers has raised A$12 million in a Series A, just months after shipping its first product. Loose Cannon Systems was founded by Peter Celinksi, the former CTO at Denon & Marantz, and was previously the founder of Avega Systems, which sold to Altec Lansing in… Read more »

Funding

Crypto exchanges Binance and Kraken back anti-fraud regtech FrankieOne in $23 million Series A top up

- November 29, 2022 2 MIN READ

Identity and fraud detection engine FrankieOne has raised an additional $23 million in a top up to its Series A 13 months on. The self-described Series A+ round was led by existing backers AirTree and US-based VC firm Greycroft, with Westpac’s VC fund Reinventure, Tidal Ventures and Apex Capital Partners also doubling down on the… Read more »