Waave, a fintech using open banking to build a direct debit alternative to card payments, has raised $4.7 million in a Seed round. The round was backed by a range of prominent individuals, including Menulog boss Morten Belling, eCommerce pioneer Paul Greenberg and Chemist Warehouse founder Jack Gance, who joins the fintech as an advisor.… Read more »
Synthetic biology startup Cortical Labs, which is developing a new kind of artificial intelligence using human brain cells, has raised USD$10 million (A$15m). The Melbourne biotech rose to prominence in October last year when it combined 800,000 brain cells with a computer chip to learn to play the video gam Pong. The project was dubbed… Read more »
Sydney startup propeller, which uses drones for mapping and analysis of construction, quarries, mines, and other ground sites has raised US$15.35 million (A$ 22.8m) in a round led by its long-time backers Blackbird and Silicon Valley VC Costanoa Partners. Also joining the cap table are Aware Super, Canva founder Cliff Obrecht, and LaunchVic chair Leigh Jasper’s… Read more »
CommandPost, a crisis management startup designed to improve emergency response times and coordination has raised $200,000 in Seed funding from Melbourne VC Skalata $200,000. Founder Alex Rixon-Booth worked in emergency service response and decided to take things to the next level in the wake of miscommunications during the recent NSW floods and Black Summer bushfires… Read more »
Founder and host of the Female Startup Club, Doone Roisin, will make a first-ever philanthropic donation to the New Wave program at New South Wales University (UNSW). New Wave provides women-identifying students, staff, and alumni opportunities to enhance their startup skills through workshops, masterclasses with experts, and mentorship from industry leaders. This support is available… Read more »
ASX-listed venture capital fund Bailador Technology Investments Limited (ASX:BTI) has tipped $9.8m investment into people management software platform Rosterfy. The investment marks a return to backing startups for Bailador, which last year declined to invest in any new startups. Last month the VC tipped an additional $10 million into existing portfolio company InstantScript, a digital… Read more »
A New Zealand deep tech manufacturing startup helping produce cleaner hydrogen with fewer precious metals has raised NZ$2.5 million (A$2.3m) in a Seed round. Bspkl has developed a new, more sustainable way to produce catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) for the hydrogen industry. CCMs typically use platinum and iridium in solid membranes to maximise hydrogen production.… Read more »
Employee benefits platform Circle In has raised $2 million in a round led by Sydney VC Alberts Impact Ventures. The cash is earmarked for global expansion plans and to develop the platform for working families and caregivers. Existing backers Leigh Jasper, Carol Schwartz, Rob Phillpot, Andrew Sypkes, and Employment Hero’s Ben Thompson also supported the… Read more »
Western Australian startup CO-architecture has raised $330,000 in a pre-Seed round for its community platform for professional designers and creatives. The cash came from Victorian early-stage VC Skalata Ventures, with support from several local angel investors, including architect and former Perth deputy lord mayor Sandy Anghie, and Hassell director Peter Lee. CO-architecture connects independent and… Read more »
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) software startup Fivecast, has raised US$20 million (AU$30m) in a Series A. The Adelaide-based intelligence gathering platform scans publicly available data, including social media sites and the dark web, to identify threats ranging from extremists to terrorists, drug trafficking and organised crime. The round was led by US cybersecurity VC Ten Eleven,… Read more »
A Melbourne startup that’s hoping to build a mental health app to help people clear their minds has raised $800,000 despite being at least 9 months away from releasing a product. Called Modo, the startup has been backed by Archangel Ventures, Black Sheep Capital, Co Ventures, Giant Leap Fund, the female founder-focused Alice Anderson Fund,… Read more »
A Melbourne startup hoping to be the Canva of 3D presentations has raised another $5.2 million from exisiting investors. It’s the third time Rampersand and Investible have backed JigSpace, co-leading the round with Vulpes Investment Management, which previously backed the 3D and augmented reality (AR) product tool in its 2021 $6 million Series A. The… Read more »
When it comes to the size of the problem deep tech startup MRead is solving, detecting and dealing with the global humanitarian crisis caused by landmines is both larger and more horrifying than any market you’d want to address. Today, April 4, is the United Nations International Day for Mine Awareness and MRead is the… Read more »
Perth venture capital firm Purpose Ventures has demonstrated there’s plenty of cash in the west to back local startups, raising $37 million towards a $40 million target in just six weeks. The VC opened its fund to investors on February 8 – the midst of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse and attracted $37 million in… Read more »
Environmental restoration startup AirSeed Technologies is partnering with impact investment manager Conscious Investment Management (CIM) as it sets up a $200 million carbon sequestration fund. Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere or industrial emissions. AirSeed’s way of tackling the issue is through reforestation. AirSeed was cofounded… Read more »
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