New Zealand markets investment platform Sharesies has raised NZ$50 million (A$48m) in a series C that values the business at NZ$500 million (A$480m). The round was led by existing investor Amplo. The US VC firm contributed around half the raise to take a 7.5% slice of the company. New Zealand VC Icehouse Ventures also backed… Read more »
Decarbonisation startup Loam Bio, which uses microbes microbes to sequester carbon in farm soils, has raised $40 million in a series A. The round is led by Marc Benioff’s TIME Ventures. Other investors include Main Sequence Ventures, Horizons Ventures, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Acre Venture Partners, Mike Cannon-Brookes’ Grok Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, and Fiona… Read more »
Australian and New Zealand accelerator program Startmate is increasing the investment it makes in startups $75,000 to $120,000 as it goes on the hunt for its summer cohort. It’s also increased the valuations by 50% to $1.5 million, in a move that means the equity investment remains roughly the same, increasingly from 7.5% to 8.5%.… Read more »
New Zealand climate tech startup Vertus Energy has raised $1.2 million in a pre-seed funding round for its green fuel production technology. The round was led by Icehouse Ventures with support from NZ deep tech hub Outset Ventures, Startmate, and NOAB Ventures. The The new funds will enable Vertus Energy to expand its field pilots, making… Read more »
Proptech platform Inspace, which enables real estate agents to host virtual property inspections, has raised $4 million in a pre-series A as it eyes off the US and UK markets. The round was led by Our Innovation Fund (OIF) with support from Aconex co-founder Leigh Jasper, seed VC Investible and Artesian. OIF Partner Geoff Levy,… Read more »
The duo behind Stylerunner have a new startup targeting women’s fashion two years after their online activewear retail venture collaps Twins Sali Sasi and Julie Stevanja will launch a “curated shopping and discovery app”, Her Black Book, next month. The sisters founded the ecommerce site Stylerunner in 2012 with Sasi parting ways with her sister… Read more »
Novalith Technologies, a climate technology startup that’s developed a more environmentally friendly extraction process for lithium, has raised $2.5 million in a seed round. The raise was led by the CEFC’s Clean Energy Innovation Fund, which contributed $1.5 million. The US-based Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust’s Neglected Climate Opportunities LLC also joined the round. Novalith… Read more »
Digital share trading and superannuation platform Superhero has raised $15 million in a new round to support international expansion plans. The round was led by Perennial Value Management and included other high-profile investors, including Regal Funds Management, Ophir Asset Management and Alex Waislitz’s Thorney Investment Group. The fresh cash injection follows a $25 million raise… Read more »
The honeymoon is about to end for the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) sector when it comes to the fees they charge retailers. As the likes of Zip, Afterpay and Humm have stolen market share from the credit card sector, one competitive advantage they had over alternative payment methods was the support of the Reserve Bank of Australia… Read more »
AustCyber’s annual Australian Cyber Week, began today, running October 25-29. The event offers a mix of virtual and in-person sessions focused on the Australian cyber security industry and local innovation. The full event schedule is here. Highlights include 10 companies pitching on October 27, with viewers able to back them with virtual dollars and vote for… Read more »
The NSW tourism hotspot of Byron Bay is set become home to the nation’s largest Bitcoin mining operation following a deal to power the data centre using renewable energy. Nasdaq-listed digital infrastructure provider Mawson Infrastructure Group’s Byron 20MW mine – that’s enough power for around 6500 homes – will begin operations this week its first… Read more »
Encryption technology startup CipherStash has raised $3.3 million in a seed round as it looks cracking the US market. The round was led by AirTree and US VC Nexus Venture Partners, supported by Linktree CTO Zak Islam,Threatmatric co-founder Alisdair Faulkner and Buildkite’s Keith Pitt. The startup is an end-to-end, searchable encrypted data storage platform. It… Read more »
Hearing technology Hemideina has raised $10 million series A. New cornerstone investors in the round include Escala Partners, InterValley Ventures and Geoni Capital. The funds are to build the team and technology development program, with one eye on a potential IPO down the track. Research scientists Dr Kate Lomas and Dr Elizabeth Williams founded their… Read more »
Shoppers can help the Australian arts sector when they shop thanks to a new payments fintech, ArtsPay. Friends Marc Goldenfein, Lara Thoms and Alistair Webster were inspired by a desire to find a new way to support the arts, and created the payment processing startup. They partnered with global payments company Fiserv and local payment… Read more »
AustCyber’s annual Australian Cyber Week, kicks off on Monday running October 25-29. The event offers a mix of virtual and in-person sessions focused on the Australian cyber security industry and local innovation. The full event schedule is here. Ahead of Australian Cyber Week, we spoke to AustCyber CEO Michelle Price about how everyone needs to think about… Read more »
Mr Yum founder Kim Teo on why you shouldn’t take culture for granted – especially during a pandemic
Commercial property startup Inspace raises $4 million pre-series A for global ambitions
Startmate ramps up early-stage startup valuations to $1.5 million, investing $120,000 in its next cohort
Climate change agritech Loam Bio raises $40 million in series A
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