Simon Thomsen

Simon has been editor of Startup Daily since 2019.

He hosted the Startup Daily show on streaming service ausbiz.com.au from 2020 to 2023.

He was previously associate editor of Business Insider Australia, a national restaurant critic, editor of The Good Food Guide, and newspaper proprietor during a 30-year career in journalism and publishing.

He's also an investor in early stage startups.

Simon chaired the environment committee of industry lobby group Australian Business Ltd's (now NSW Business Chamber) during the Kyoto agreement era, debating cow farts with mining execs.

Anoulack Chanthivong
Politics

‘It’s the vibe of the thing’: NSW government opens submissions to Innovation Blueprint, seeking to ‘reset its relationship’

- February 27, 2024 3 MIN READ

Nearly a quarter of the way through its first term, the NSW government has opened submissions for its Innovation Blueprint, seeking to make its support for the sector “more collaborative”. After NSW minister for innovation, science and technology, Anoulack Chanthivong announced plans for an Innovation Blueprint last September, six months after taking on the portfolio,… Read more »

lab scientist
Other tech

Synthetic biology is a $30 billion opportunity creating 50,000 jobs according to CSIRO and its VC arm

- February 27, 2024 2 MIN READ

Synthetic biology – referred to as “synbio” by insiders – could develop industry worth billions of dollars, creating thousands more jobs that previously expected according to a new report by national science agency, CSIRO, and its venture capital fund, Main Sequence. The Synthetic Biology National Progress Report, released this week, is an update to the 2021… Read more »

Richard White
ASX

WiseTech’s results and share price are a giant F You! to the short-sellers who predicted the software giant’s death in 2020

- February 23, 2024 3 MIN READ

About this time four years ago, China-based analyst and short-seller J Capital took its third stab at ASX-listed WiseTech Global with a report headlined “WiseTech may be the first corporate death from Covid19”. This week the logistics software company (ASX:WTC) was very much alive and kicking with its share price hitting an all-time high, above $90,… Read more »

Esther Perel.
People

Relationships guru Esther Perel joins Culture Amp as advisor

- February 22, 2024 2 MIN READ

Psychotherapist and sex and relationships expert Esther Perel, who coined the term “erotic intelligence”, has joined Australian employee experience platform Culture Amp as an advisor. Perel, who in recent years turned her attention to workplace relationships with a podcast called How’s Work, to help cofounders and others work navigate the challenges thrown up in the… Read more »

People

Judo Bank cofounder Joseph Healy steps down as CEO

- February 20, 2024 2 MIN READ

The cofounder of ASX-listed business lending bank Judo, Joseph Healy, is stepping down as CEO after seven years at the helm. He’ll hand the reins over to the bank’s long-term deputy CEO and chief relationship officer, Chris Bayliss, next month. The news came as Judo (ASX:JDO) announced its half-yearly results (1H24) to the end of… Read more »

Funding

Queensland government refuels rocket builder Gilmour Space in $55 million Series D

- February 19, 2024 2 MIN READ

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies has raised $55 million in a Series D ahead of a maiden launch in Queensland later this year.   The raise was led by the state government-backed Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), an existing investor, alongside VCs Blackbird and Main Sequence, plus superannuation funds HostPlus and HESTA. The cash will fund the… Read more »

Southstart
Events

Here’s what’s happening at _SOUTHSTART this year

- February 16, 2024 3 MIN READ

The annual _SOUTHSTART gathering in Adelaide next month has revealed its 2024 program lineup. The three-day event spans more than 50+ voices across 10 venues, including South Australia’s famed wine regions, spanning 6+ streams. _SOUTHSTART co-directors Danielle Seymour and Craig Swann said they wanted this year’s event to dive deeper into the fundamental issues affecting our… Read more »

QIC Private Equity partner Nicholas Guest
Accelerator

Queensland is backing 5 accelerators, including Farmers2Founders & Energylab, to help 100s of startups get VC-ready

- February 15, 2024 2 MIN READ

More than 160 early-stage Queensland startups will be supported to become venture capital investment-ready under accelerator programs delivered through the Queensland Venture Capital Development Fund (QVCDF).  The fund, managed by Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), will support an initial five accelerators to run thematically relevant programs focused on the state’s priority industries. The accelerators are: Farmers2Founders, ​EnergyLab,… Read more »

Canva cofounders Cameron Adams, Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins.
People

Canva CFO departs suddenly

- February 14, 2024 2 MIN READ

Canva’s long-term chief financial officer, Damien Singh, has left the company after nearly 8 years, with the graphic design giant yet to name a replacement. His departure appeared to catch many by surprise last week when he broke the news to members of the Canva team on Monday, February 5. “As we move towards the… Read more »

Bede Moore and Mike Abbott, Antler
Venture Capital

Queensland government backs 5 VCs, including Antler and Main Sequence, with $130 million

- February 14, 2024 3 MIN READ

The Queensland government’s new venture capital development fund has backed five VCs: Antler, Five V Capital, Main Sequence, Mandalay Venture Partners and Salus Ventures, with a combined $130 million investment. Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the deals will give Queensland startups access to up to $200 million in new matched… Read more »