NSW tech startup Oceanfarmr, previously known as SmartOysters, has raised$1.45 million in a bridging round. Oceanfarmr is one of 23 impact tech startups to receive investment from Katapult VC and its accelerator program, selected from 1,900 candidates in 62 countries. The fresh capital will allow the aqua farming tech and finance startup to ramp up… Read more »
Australia is celebrating the rise of women in space with NSW-raised Dr Meganne Christian selected as part of the European Space Agency’s 2022 astronaut class. She is one of 11 reservist astronauts, alongside five career astronauts and one parastronaut chosen from more than 22,500 applicants. If she goes to space, it will be as a… Read more »
‘Chief Twit’ Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, has copped its third vehicle recall in Australia in less than a month from safety regulators, with the latest software glitch involving around 15,900 Model 3 and Model Y cars imported this year. “Due to a software error, the tail lamps on one or both sides may… Read more »
Kiwi tech company Blackpearl Group (BPG) will list on the New Zealand stock exchange next month – the only IPO for the NZX in the second half of 2022. Blackpearl builds, acquires, and markets data-driven cloud services involving productivity and demand generation applications for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB). Its proprietary data platform, the Pearl… Read more »
Goondiwindi-based businesswoman Julia Spicer has been appointed Queensland’s new Chief Entrepreneur. She will step into the year-long voluntary role, taking over from Wayne Gerard, next month. The appointment by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk comes as the state turns its attention to hosting the Olympic Games in 2032 and the opportunities it provides for innovation and business.… Read more »
The Smith Family, which helps disadvantaged kids succeed through education, is the latest target of cyber hackers in the wake of attacks on Optus, MediBank and other Australian corporates. The national charity believes the primary motive of the attack was an attempt to steal funds, but the hackers were unsuccessful. However, the personal information of… Read more »
Australian startup founders remain upbeat about the future, despite challenging conditions, according to a new survey from law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), but an overwhelming 97% say the current fundraising environment is impacting their business strategy. Despite startup failures, withdrawals from the Australian market by some global companies and down rounds in capital raises,… Read more »
Recruitment and talent analysis startup Sapia.ai, formerly known as PredictiveHire, has raised $17 million in Series A. The round was led by Macquarie Capital and W23, the venture capital arm of Woolworths Group. The capital is earmarked for continued overseas expansion, including making the platform available in multiple languages. Sapia’s artificial intelligence-powered automation platform is… Read more »
David Fairfull, founder of adtech startup Metigy, which collapsed into administration in July, just 20 months after raising $20 million in a Series B, has been declared bankrupt, amid regulator ASIC taking a closer look at potential insolvent trading in the company. AdNews reports that Fairfull went bankrupt this month – his second bankruptcy following… Read more »
The federal government has asked an independent review panel to find ways to improve diversity and increase the participation of women in Australia’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors. The Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review will be chaired by Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams. Industry and Science minister Ed Husic said the panel… Read more »
FinTech Australia and talent platform Upplft have launched a new tool to help fintechs find and retain talent. Called “The Big Match” it aims to connect fintech industry jobseekers with new roles, which the companies involved can use it to help fill roles faster with candidates who have prior experience working in an early stage… Read more »
When food delivery platform Deliveroo announced it was shutting down Australian operations last week, it cited a tough business environment, but that tough part may actually be a looming court case challenging the company’s contract work model, according to UNSW Business School lecturer Dr Greig Taylor. His view aligns with the Transport Workers’ Union, with… Read more »
UK software startup TrueLayer has halted Australian operations just 18 months after its arrival. TrueLayer’s software is an intermediary for other startups looking to use the data available under the the Consumer Data Right (CDR) and open banking regime to develop new fintech products. While the British fintech unicorn’s API platform currently processes more than… Read more »
Ethic Adviser, a sustainable investing solution for financial advisers, investment brokers and accountants, is looking to raise $1 million in Seed funding to expand the globally. The fintech was developed by Tom Culver last year, before launching in March, to give advisers a SAAS solution offering specialist sustainable investing tools and information. “With the acceleration… Read more »
A Sydney startup using robotics to assess critical infrastructure in the oil and gas industry globally has raised $15 million after doubling revenue over the past two years. Abyss Solutions previously raised $3.25 million in December 2020, with AirTree once again leading the latest investment, supported by Australian Retirement Trust. Cofounded in 2014 by four… Read more »
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