Eight-year-old Sydney cloud data centre startup AirTrunk is set to be acquired by US private equity firm in a deal worth a reported $20 billion. The Financial Times reports that the cloud computing and artificial intelligence business, founded by CEO Robin Khuda, who immigrated to Australia from Bangladesh when he was 18, has been part… Read more »
Sydney software proptech Sitemate has acquired fellow Startmate alumni software startup Nomad Fleet in a deal worth $2 million. Surprisingly, it’s the first time in Startmate’s 13-year history that two of the 250 startup to emerge from the accelerator program have teamed up in an M&A deal. Both Sitemate cofounder Hartley Pike and Nomad founder Will… Read more »
Shant Kradjian, the owner of consumer electronics retailer digiDirect, has acquired the assets of failed ASX-listed Booktopia in a deal that will bring the online bookseller back online and out of administration. The sale price, which has not been disclosed, will not see a return to shareholders. Booktopia racked up debts of around $60 million,… Read more »
The acquisition hunger of cashed-up Australian tech companies has continued with link-in-bio platform Linktree scooping up social media scheduling platform Plann for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 2016 by former ad exec Christy Laurence, Plann was named Startup Daily’s Startup of the Year. She left her corporate job after suffering a brain injury. Initially told… Read more »
Brisbane-based electric vehicle charger manufacture Tritium will live, but under new Indian owners. New Delhi-based EV charger manufacturer Exicom has scored a bargain, snapping up the rival business, at one stage worth $2 billion before it was handed to administrators in April, for $45 million (US$30m). The acquisition will save around 300 Australian jobs, but will… Read more »
Online retail deals marketplace Little Birdie will spring back to life two months after its sudden shuttering after being acquired by cashback sales platform Cashrewards The terms of the deal were not disclosed. But Little Birdie’s resurrection is undoubtedly is a big win for ANZ’s venture team, 1835i, over rival CBA. CommBank was part of… Read more »
Neither Canva nor Leonardo.AI or its backers wanted to talk about the dowry paid for their marriage, but documents from key investor Blackbird Ventures suggest the acquisition deal cost is north of $320 million. Details are beginning to emerge about what when down following the surprise announcement this week that the Sydney-based generative AI startup… Read more »
The generative AI company many believed would become a tech unicorn is instead being acquired by one, with design platform Canva snapping up content and research startup, Leonardo.AI. The deal price and terms have not been disclosed, so it’s not not how much is cash and/or Canva shares ahead of its IPO plans, but it’s… Read more »
Three years ago amid the BNPL goldrush, fintech Limepay was hoping to list on the ASX. It wasn’t to be for the white label buy-now-pay-later platform, founded in 2016, which billed itself as Australia’s first enterprise payments fintech. But Limepay, which rebranded in 2022 as April Solutions, will become a listed company after being swallowed… Read more »
Women’s jobs site Freelancing Gems has been acquired by regional community and Women’s Awards program Beam in Business. Freelancing Gems cofounders Fleur Madden and Kirsty Jackson launched the site in 2020, as Covid hit, using AI-driven matching models to connect women to their next remote, part time, freelance, contract role. The site also champions women… Read more »
Sydney-based Floatspace, the ‘Airbnb for boat experiences’, has been acquired by yacht charter business Ahoy Club. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Floatspace founder Hugh Treseder, will remain as CEO of the brand under its new owners. Ahoy Club was founded in 2018 by Sydney billionaire Ian Malouf and his daughter, Ellie,… Read more »
Brisbane solar battery startup Redback Technologies is out of voluntary administration after two months with new owners in charge. Fintech Australia Ebon has put an initial $500,000 into the business after creditors approved a deed of company arrangement (DOCA) earlier this month to allow Redback, founded in 2015, to trade its way back to profitability,… Read more »
Envato, the creative marketplace that grew to generate more than US$1 billion in revenue for its users annually, is being acquired by US listed imagery company Shutterstock in a deal worth US$245 million (A$373m). It marks the end of an 18-year journey for cofounders Collis and Cyan Ta’eed, and their friend Jun Rung, having launched… Read more »
Australia’s startup industry is entitled to ask itself what are the government’s expectations when it comes to technology? While some of the government’s moves around Big Tech have been encouraging, proposed changes to mergers and acquisitions requirements will likely have a chilling effect on dealmaking and investment in our local startup industry. What’s happened? Last… Read more »
StartSomeGood, the pioneering platform helping social entrepreneurs succeed, has been acquired by social innovation business General Good, founded by media entrepreneur Piers Grove. StartSomeGood CEO and cofounder Tom Dawkins said the strategic move will continue the commitment he started 13 years ago to building a social entrepreneurship movement, partnering with circular economy accelerator Boomerang Labs under… Read more »
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