Other tech

Lessons from New Zealand’s 45-year-old home-grown and forgotten school computer: The Poly-1

- February 19, 2025 3 MIN READ

Some 45 years ago, a team of staff and students at Wellington Polytechnic designed and built a desktop computer with an operating system customised for the needs of New Zealand schools. The Poly-1 was far ahead of international competition, but New Zealand failed to capitalise on the opportunity. At the time, public investment in a… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

How deepfake technology works: an intelligence expert explains AI deception and truth

- February 18, 2025 2 MIN READ

The Emerging Tech Unpacked podcast unpacks emerging tech topics with diverse perspectives. Host Lucy Lin shares what she learnt about deepfake technologies and a life in intelligence. In our latest episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked, I had the privilege of interviewing one of the most fascinating guest I’ve ever met – Emerald Sage. He’s a… Read more »

Accelerator

Antler in Australia residency 13 kicks off with more than 90 founders across 3 capitals

- February 18, 2025 4 MIN READ

The Sydney Startup Hub opened to Antler in Australia’s 13th residency last week, bringing together over 90 ambitious founders from across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Over the next few months, these entrepreneurs – both experienced and new – will test, build, and launch ventures in these three cities hoping to create a new generation of… Read more »

Christian and Sophie Silver
Funding

A gaming edtech app for kids to learn and love maths raises NZ$1.5 million pre-Seed

- February 18, 2025 2 MIN READ

A Kiwi startup that wants to make kids love maths as much as playing Roblox has raised NZ$1.5 million (A$1.35m) in pre-Seed funding. The round for Polymath was co-led by Blackbird’s NZ office and fellow Aotearoa VC GD1. The app gamifies maths for kids, underpinned by an algorithm that adapts learning moments to each child’s progress.… Read more »

Matt Smith
Funding

Worker credentials platform MyPass clocks on with $7.5 million Series A

- February 17, 2025 < 1 MIN READ

Global contractor credentials platform MyPass has raised $7.5 million Series A. The round for the 12-year-old worker onboarding, compliance and credentials management business, which counts BHP, Shell, Woodside and UGL among its customer base, was led by Sydney VC OneVentures. The capital will be used for expansion in North and South America and accelerate product… Read more »

Cryptocurrency

Financial crime watchdog AUSTRAC is targeting crypto exchanges after shutting down several in a compliance blitz

- February 17, 2025 2 MIN READ

Australia’s financial system crimes watchdog AUSTRAC took action against 13 remittance and digital currency exchange providers as part of a year-long blitz, and says more than 50 others are “still in its sights”. The anti-money laundering regulator (the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre) said it remains concerned about money laundering risks in the digital… Read more »

Life hacks

Startup360 – the Valentine’s Day launch: workplace relationships, how to win when you fail & why the standards you set come from the ones you ignore

- February 14, 2025 2 MIN READ

Welcome to the Startup 360 product launch! We hope you like our MVP with cohosts Kayla Medica and Simon Thomsen. We want to have founder fun and find out what makes people tick – it’s not about GTM strategies and the next raise, it’s all about staying human. In our first show, Kayla and Simon… Read more »

Funding

AI agents startup for the aged care and disability services raises $2.5 million Seed round

- February 14, 2025 2 MIN READ

A Melbourne startup building AI agents for the disability and aged care sectors has raised $2.5 million in Seed funding.  The round for Minikai was led by Tidal Ventures with participation from Antler. Tigerspike founder Luke Janssen previously backed the startup with a six-figure pre-Seed investment nearly 12 months ago. Minikai’s AI agents are hoping to… Read more »