Funding

Linktree clicks on $152 million in Series B extension

- March 17, 2022 2 MIN READ

Melbourne-based social media venture Linktree has $152 million (US$110m) in a raise the company describes as a Series B extension. This third round of fresh capital comes 12 months after its initial $59 million Series B. The business is claiming a $1.8 billion valuation on the back of its latest cash injection. Linktree has been… Read more »

People

Tesla chair Robyn Denholm is buying a slice of the Sydney Kings and Flames basketball teams

- March 16, 2022 2 MIN READ

Tesla chair and Blackbird partner Robyn Denholm is the latest tech titan bitten by the sports bug, buying into Australian basketball team The Sydney Kings. Denholm’s 30% share in the Kings, via her family investment office, Wollemi Capital Group (WGC), also includes Women’s NBL club Sydney Flames. Majority owner and Kings chairman Paul Smith is… Read more »

piggy bank
Fintech

The Australian government wants feedback on the next steps in open finance from the Consumer Data Right

- March 15, 2022 2 MIN READ

Consultation on expansion of the Consumer Data Right (CDR) to open finance has been kicked off by the Australian government.  A consultation paper released today calls for public input on datasets to be considered from non-bank lending providers, offering fintechs the chance to develop innovative consumer use cases.  Earlier this year, the federal government announced… Read more »

Funding

Software accessibility startup Kinde banks $10.6 million seed round

- March 15, 2022 2 MIN READ

Sydney tech startup Kinde has raised $10.6 million (US$7.55m) in seed funding. The round was led by Blackbird Ventures, supported by Californian VC Felicis Ventures, which previously backed local tech companies  Canva, Culture Amp and Dovetail. The startup hopes to “democratise” software engineering by providing the infrastructure SaaS ventures need to get started. Kinde was… Read more »

brain
Funding

Cochlear backs medtech startup EpiMinder in $16 million bridge funding round

- March 15, 2022 2 MIN READ

Melbourne-based epilepsy monitoring startup Epi-Minder has raised $16 million  bridge financing round. The raise was backed by existing shareholders including Cochlear, the Bionics Institute, the University of Melbourne and Seer Medical, as well as private investors. The venture plans to use the cash to expand clinical trials for epilepsy monitoring device, Minder, as well as… Read more »

Other tech

Hospitality marketplace Foodbomb seasons COB supplies with BNPL option

- March 14, 2022 2 MIN READ

Hospitality wholesale ordering platform Foodbomb has introduced a buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) product to help restaurateurs and cafe owners manage supplier payments. Foodbomb’s solution, BompPay, gives users 21-days of credit to pay wholesale suppliers without additional cost. Suppliers are paid immediately. Founder and CEO Paul Tory said that recent discussions with clients revealed that more than 40%… Read more »

Catalysr
Accelerator

Migrant entrepreneur accelerator Catalysr has launched a fellowship program

- March 14, 2022 < 1 MIN READ

Startup accelerator Catalysr, which helps migrants and refugees build startup businesses in Australia, is ramping up its support for “migrapreneurs” (migrant entrepreneurs)  with a new fellowship program. CEO Usman Iftikhar launched Catalysr as a solution to the difficulties he faced in getting a business off the ground as a new Australian. The shift to online… Read more »

Mastt, Doug Vincent, Jamie Cerexhe.
Funding

Construction software startup Mastt bags $9.5 million for global push

- March 14, 2022 2 MIN READ

Construction technology startup Mastt has raised $9.5 million as it looks offshore for growth. The round was led by OIF Ventures, with participation from Assignar co-founder Sean McCreanor, the company’s Chief Revenue Officer Chris Peterson and Mastt CTO David Jablonski. Existing investors Artesian, Significant Early Venture Capital, Investible and Gravel Road Ventures, also kicked in.… Read more »

5b solar panels
Funding

Cannon-Brookes, Twiggy Forrest double down on $30bn Sun Cable project in $210 million Series B

- March 14, 2022 2 MIN READ

Tech and mining billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Dr Andrew Forrest have ramped up their support for a $30 billion project to supply solar power from the Australia to Singapore, leading a $210 million Series B round into Sun Cable. Singapore-based Sun Cable’s $30 billion plan was first revealed in 2019, with Cannon-Brookes and Forrest as cornerstone… Read more »

Cryptocurrency

Online broker Stake joins crypto trading race

- March 14, 2022 2 MIN READ

Digital broker Stake is joining competitors such as Superhero and the Commonwealth Bank to offer cryptocurrency investing on its platform. The move to embrace crypto follows research commissioned by the platform last year that revealed crypto was second only to stocks in the portfolio for Australian investors under 40. Last November, CBA announced plans to… Read more »

Funding

Startup stakeholder management platform Cake Equity raises $3 million seed round

- March 12, 2022 < 1 MIN READ

Gold Coast-based equity management platform Cake Equity has raised US$2.2 million ($A3m) in seed capital. The round was co-led by California investor Jason Calacanis through Launch and its angel platform, TheSyndicate, as well as Australian VC Rampersand. Calacanis is a Cake customer. Airtasker co-founder Jonathan Lui and Practice Ignition founder Guy Pearson also chipped in. Cake… Read more »

Funding

Tiger Global backs building marketplace ArchiPro’s $32 million Series A

- March 11, 2022 2 MIN READ

Building marketplace ArchiPro has raised $32.6 million in a Series A. The round led by New York-based Tiger Global, with support from Icehouse Ventures, and Queenstown-based Liger Trading. The business previously raised $4.7 million in 2021 from Kogan.com founder Ruslan Kogan and Catch.com’s Hezi Leibovich. The new funds will be used to accelerate ArchiPro’s local… Read more »

Funding

Digital medtech startup Andi Health raises $600,000 in pre-seed round

- March 11, 2022 2 MIN READ

Sydney-based digital health startup Andi Health has raised $600,000 in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Melbourne VC Brenteca Investments. The cash is for Andi to build what it says is “the world’s first human health coach in your pocket”. Andi’s subscription-based health management platform integrates a range of health devices and analytics, combining them… Read more »