As part of our summer series looking back on an extraordinary year and the one ahead, we asked Right Click Capital Partner Benjamin Chong about the good, the bad and what he learnt this year, his summer plans and for suggestions on what to read when he gets a chance to catch his breath. Here’s… Read more »
Zenify has developed two brands: Zenify Pets and Zenify Earth, which donate products that support the causes closest to the hearts of people buying their products. Founder Andonis Sakatis set out to make world a better place with his profits-for-purpose business. The Zenify Pets range includes grooming, toys, leads and feeding bowls, while Zenify Earth is all about… Read more »
Ask anyone in Melbourne, where they spent 111 days in a second major lockdown to get Covid-19 under control, about 2020 and they’ll give you a mixed reaction, including startup advisor and investor Chris Ridd. On the upside, he’s a Richmond Tigers supporter. As part of our summer series looking back on an extraordinary year… Read more »
Small business-focused neobank Judo had raised $280 million in a series D round. The company did not disclose its backers in the latest series, but the raise comes seven months after a $230 million series C and values the bank at $1.6 billion, an uplift of 60% on the May figure. Confirmation of Judo’s raise… Read more »
Access to Open Banking under the Consumer Data Right (CDR), introduced in Australia in July 2020, will be expanded next year to include more business customers after federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg approved the ACCC’s expansion plans for the roll out. From 1 November 2021, major banks will enable business customers to share their data with… Read more »
Australian design company Canva wants to spread the love on New Year’s Eve and has launched a program to send positive messages to people around the world as the clock strikes midnight. The Canva #OnAGoodNote New Years Eve challenge is inviting people share messages of hope, inspiration, and kindness using Canva designs. It’s an online… Read more »
The ACCC says it won’t accept a legally binding pledge offered by Google to address competition concerns about its proposed acquisition of Fitbit. The competition regulator says its investigation into Google’s proposed acquisition of the wearables manufacturer will continue, setting a new decision date on whether to approve the deal in Australia by March 25,… Read more »
Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes has solved the age-old dilemma of what to get a billionaire for Christmas by teaming up with fellow tech billionaire Ryan Smith, co-founder of Qualtrics, to buy the franchise to the US NBA team Utah Jazz. Smith, 42, was approved as majority owner of the Utah Jazz on the weekend in a… Read more »
Victoria will ban Sydneysiders from entering the state from midnight on Sunday, unless they undertake a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and the state’s health department have upgraded the Greater Sydney area and Central Coast to a ‘red zone’, which means anyone who lives in these communities, or visited the area 11… Read more »
Niki’s Natural Wipes take their name from the baby boy who inspired the world’s only natural baby wipes infused with organic coconut oil and Manuka honey essence. Niki was a happy and healthy baby until he ended up in hospital suffering from a urinary tract infection, and ongoing nappy rash had his parents constantly worried… Read more »
Australian satellite company Fleet Space Technologies is planning a mission to the moon as part of a consortium named Seven Sisters. The mission will launch in 2023 to search the Moon using nanosatellites and other exploration sensors for abundant and accessible water. Fleet, OZ Minerals, University of Adelaide, UNSW, Unearthed, Tyvak Australia and Fugro have… Read more »
Its been a big year for Cicada Innovations and CEO Sally-Ann Williams in her first full year as CEO. Australia’s first ever incubator celebrated its 20th anniversary, with the Sydney deep tech venture having nurtured more than 100 startups, and helped more than 300 companies raise over $450 million in venture capital and government grants.… Read more »
_Southstart, the Adelaide-based ideas and innovation festival, will be one of the country’s first major post-lockdown events in 2021, with festival director Craig Swann blocking out February 16-19 for the Emergence* festival. “In a year that has presented no shortage of challenges, we have continued to bring life to the ecosystem through virtual events. However,… Read more »
Xinja’s neobank adventure is over after just three years, with the fintech startup announcing it will hand back its banking license. The company hopes to continue with its US share trading platform, Dabble “should circumstances allow”, but that project has already been delayed indefinitely. The bank says customers won’t be able to put money in… Read more »
Humans are inherently social animals, which made 2020 one of the hardest years in living memory, especially for the closely-knit teams of small startups. Thankfully, the year is ending on a high note in Australia with infections stopped after some painfully long lockdowns and the borders reopening. Victorians will celebrate the start of 2021 by… Read more »
Unicorn dehorned: Nasdaq-listed Brisbane EV charging venture Tritium collapses into receivership 
Tassie carbon accounting startup banks $5.3 million Seed round 
‘Have I gone too far?’ How founders can beat their startup demons 
The lessons from Uber, Ola and rideshare’s disruption is that in the end, the consumer still pays 
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