Banking-in-box fintech Constantinople has raised $50 million in a Series A. The round was led by Dutch internet investment firm Prosus Ventures, with support from existing Australian backers Square Peg and AirTree. The Sydney startup, founded in 2022 by former Westpac managers Macgregor Duncan and Dianne Challenor, previously raised US$23 million (A$32m) in a Seed… Read more »
Welcome to The Ask, Our new column on Startup Daily designed for founders looking for capital. It may be venture capital, crowdfunding or another path, and is designed to flag your startup to potential investors. If you’re on the hunt for cash, we’re happy to share the news with Australia’s startup community. This is your… Read more »
Fintech Citro has launched a rewards program for Australians around retirement age, offering savings from more than 200 retailers. AMP-backed Citro launched in 2023 and already has more than 75,000 members on its platform. They receive tailored content and insights to help them take control of their finances as they approach and manage their retirement.… Read more »
Touch Ventures, the ASX-listed VC fund initially backed by BNPL fintech Afterpay, is breaking up with its CEO, Hein Vogel, after 4.5 years. In a statement to the market on Monday, the company said the board and CEO “have reached a consensus on his departure” with Vogel handing back his swipe card on March 29… Read more »
Sydney fintech Avenue Bank has been granted a full banking licence by the financial regulator APRA. Avenue has been on what’s known as a a restricted Authorised Deposit Taking Institution (ADI) licence since mid-2021 after raising $37 million in a series B earlier that year. The granting of a full ADI by the Australian Prudential… Read more »
Disrupting a $3.5 trillion industry is difficult. Just ask fintechs like Cannon-Brookes-backed Spaceship, Superhero, and Verve Super. Australia’s superannuation industry gets a $362 billion compulsory cake from fees – more than $30 billion annually – and wants to eat it all too. Treasury put out a consultation paper titled Securing Australians’ Superannuation late last year… Read more »
FinTech Australia is launching a new event next month aimed at showcasing sustainability-focused fintech companies. FinTech for Net Zero is a panel discussion on fintech’s role in managing the challenge of climate change. It will be held at BDO’s office Sydney office at 1 Margaret St, in the CBD, from 4pm on Tuesday, March 12.… Read more »
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 »
FinTech Australia has holding a reverse pitch event later this month in a collaboration with major banks ANZ and Westpac, as well as fintech investor 1835i. The initiative will see ANZ and Westpac share selected problem statements across banking-related areas such as sustainability, payments and fraud and scams for fintech startups to tackle as part… Read more »
Listed fintech Identitii (ASX: ID8) has sold nearly half its stake in its payments subsidiary Payble for $1 million, alongside a $2.5 million raise for the startup. Identitii sold 48% of its Payble shareholding to OIF Ventures for $1 million. The Sydney VC also tipped $2.5 million in additional capital into the fintech, founded in… Read more »
An all-in-one finance and lifestyle app for international students has raised $1.6 million in Seed funding. Mist was backed by Investible, Allectus Capital, Archangel Ventures, Seedspace, and The Hunter Angels. It wants to become the go-to app for international students, offering a streamlined solution for relocating to another country to study, especially around banking and… Read more »
New Zealand funds management software startup Caruso has raised A$3 million in Seed funding as it looks to cross the ditch as establish an Australian office. The round was led by Kiwi VC Icehouse Ventures, with support from GD1, Chris Heaslip, founder of Pushpay, and the Rae family of Gull Oil. Caruso plans to add… Read more »
Artificial intelligence loans assessments platform Rich Data Co has raised $28 million (US$17.5m) in a Series B as it looks to ramp up its North America expansion The round was led by Westpac and Nasdaq-listed cloud banking firm nCino, supported by existing backer BMYG and a new investor, Singapore-based Octava Fund. The funds will be used… Read more »
Australian fintechs are looking offshore for success, hampered by the funding climate and regulatory complexity account to the latest EY FinTech Australia Census. The eighth census, a collaboration between Ernst & Young and industry group FinTech Australia, reveals a mature sector that overall is performing well. A record 88% of respondents said they are post-revenue,… Read more »
Melbourne fintech TaxLeopard, an accounting and tax app for sole traders, has acquired rival BAS and income tax return lodgement startup Airtax in a six-figure deal. TaxLeopard, founded in 2022 by accountants Selda Kaplan and Michael Kambouridis, was a recent finalist in the Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards. The platform helps sole traders, freelancers… Read more »
The lessons from Uber, Ola and rideshare’s disruption is that in the end, the consumer still pays 
Unicorn dehorned: Nasdaq-listed Brisbane EV charging venture Tritium collapses into receivership 
Here are the finalists in Fintech Australia’s 2024 Finnies awards 
Atlassian cofounder Scott Farquhar steps down as co-CEO 
Daily startup news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
