In the fast-paced world of tech, conversations around menopause may seem out of place. However, with women making up half the population and retiring on average seven years earlier than men (largely due to the effects of menopause on their health), this is not just a problem for individuals, but for business and the whole… Read more »
Australian tech has lost its director on the board of OpenAI after Helen Toner resigned from her position at the Artificial Intelligence juggernaut. While she cited fulfilling her role requirements as the reason for her departure, specific details or reasons for her resignation were not disclosed, leaving the decision somewhat unclear. The whole episode has… Read more »
The sixth annual Pause Awards were held in Melbourne, recognising Australia’s most ambitious and innovative startups and tech companies for their innovation and financial success. There were 63 finalists across five category tracks – Growth, Excellence, Operators, Good, and Culture – and 32 winners, predominantly from Victoria and NSW in sectors ranging from health, to financial… Read more »
Science agency CSIRO has announced the 12 planned deep-tech startups selected for its ON Accelerate program in 2024. The ideas span everything from global health challenges to sustainability through circularity, and advanced manufacturing. The ON program gives university researchers access to a network of industry experts and investors, to help them refine and validate their… Read more »
A generative AI content production platform that has created more than 700 million images, and trained more than 470,000 custom generative AI models, since launching a year ago has raised $47 million, The next level version of OpenAi’s DALL-E, Leonardo.Ai was backed by Blackbird, Side Stage Ventures, Smash Capital, TIRTA Ventures, Gaorong Capital and Samsung… Read more »
A virtual reality startup which has developed the medical version of a flight simulator for doctors has raised $7 million in a round described as a pre-series A. The round for Vantari VR was led by Co:Act Capital with support from Acova Capital, Significant Early Venture Capital and Sirius Capital, as well as several investors… Read more »
Australia’s startup ecosystem is maturing. We’re nearing the milestones of home grown VC funds like Blackbird reaching a decade of investing and AirTree investing in 100 companies. As a result, we’ve built a healthy roster of founders and operators with more than a few notches in their belts. Ready to expand into leadership roles but… Read more »
Another year, another Black Friday has been and gone. Black Friday is generally the shopping spree that sends consumers into a buying frenzy and businesses into a logistical tangle, but more and more we’re seeing the sale period drag away from the big day and into a month’s worth of offers for savvy shoppers. For… Read more »
Today marks a decade since of of the 20th Century’s greatest figures left us. Nelson Mandela died, aged 95, on December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born into the Thembu royal family in 1918, as Rolihlahla Mandela, he lost his father aged 12, and was given the name Nelson by a primary school teacher.… Read more »
Jessy Wu, one of the most articulate, insightful and outspoken people in Australian venture capital, has been appointed partner at AfterWork Ventures. She was the first hire at the three-year-old VC, joining in 2021 as an Investment Manager and Head of Community. Founding partners Alex Khor and Adrian Petersen praised Wu as an irreplaceable team… Read more »
It seems all is not rainbows and unicorns in Australian venture capital. A bit of the green-eyed monster is emerging against market leader Blackbird Ventures, according to today’s AFR. The business paper has been talking to “industry sources”, anonymous founders and VC figures who won’t go on the record because they “need to eat”, painting… Read more »
An artificial intelligence-powered startup that helps business leaders turn their ideas into content has launched with users able to test the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) of TalkingBrands.ai for free. Cofounder Tom Finnigan, who previously managed PR at AusCyber and Stone & Chalk, developed TalkingBrands.ai to take away the fear people have when it comes to… Read more »
Chris Vein, the self-confessed American “Australophile” and former White House, and World Bank executive who became CEO of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) following its most turbulent period, is stepping down after 18 months in the role. ACS announced it “regrets” that Vein will retire at the end of the year for personal/health reasons. “As… Read more »
OpenAI, developer of ChatGPT and a leading innovator in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), was recently thrown into turmoil when its chief-executive and figurehead, Sam Altman, was fired. As it was revealed that he would be joining Microsoft’s advanced AI research team, more than 730 OpenAI employees threatened to quit. Finally, it was announced… Read more »
Tanck is a startup described as a ‘secret weapon’ for NFPs and social sector organisations when it comes to government relations and engagement. Founded in 2020 by Angus Crowther and Neil Pharaoh, Tanck is a small team of political gurus who share their political knowledge and experience with organisations who want to change the world… Read more »
Is there a bit of nark and envy creeping into Australian venture when it comes to Blackbird? 
Blackbird backs generative AI startup Leonardo.Ai in $47 million raise 
Billionaire investor Charlie Munger had some choice things to say about VCs and crypto 
Business law legaltech startup Nexl apprehends $6.6 million Series A 
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