Simone Joyce Paypa
Funding

Queensland govt, Mastercard back fintech Paypa Plane in $10 million Series A

- March 31, 2023 2 MIN READ

Brisbane fintech Paypa Plane, which is at the forefront of instant payments, has raised $10 million in a Series A. The round was led by the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) through the government’s $100 billion Business Investment Fund, with support from payments platform Cuscal, Mastercard and Queensland VC Sprint Ventures. Paypa Plane is hoping to… Read more »

Herik Labs rocket
Space

Queensland University engineers are entering the space race with clean, green 3D-printed rocket engines

- March 31, 2023 2 MIN READ

A team of University of Queensland (UQ) engineers who designed a sustainable and affordable 3D-printed rocket engine has won two awards for their invention Herik Labs won the Entrepreneur of the Year and People’s Choice awards at the UQ’s Ventures ilab Accelerator Pitch Night for their oxygen and hydrogen-powered engine. Made in a fraction of… Read more »

People

Regional Queensland startup founder Julia Spicer named the state’s new Chief Entrepreneur

- November 24, 2022 2 MIN READ

Goondiwindi-based businesswoman Julia Spicer has been appointed Queensland’s new Chief Entrepreneur. She will step into the year-long voluntary role, taking over from Wayne Gerard, next month. The appointment by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk comes as the state turns its attention to hosting the Olympic Games in 2032 and the opportunities it provides for innovation and business.… Read more »

Events

Queensland is showcasing its best startups and tech at Something Fest

- October 24, 2022 2 MIN READ

Brisbane turns its attention to tech this week with a series of events celebrating the best of Queensland fast-growing tech and startup sector. The week-long Something Fest, Queensland’s digital, innovation and technology festival, kicks off on Monday with the Something X, an all-day conference organised by the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur that brings together globally renowned… Read more »

Space

Virgin Orbit is going to set up a space launch base in Queensland

- September 21, 2022 2 MIN READ

Sir Richard Branson’s Nasdaq listed rocket launch company, Virgin Orbit, is setting up shop in Toowoomba, 100km west of Brisbane, taking up an offer to establish its third global launch site from local entrepreneurs the Wagner brothers. Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding  with ASX-listed Wagner Corporation (ASX: WGN), which operates… Read more »

Politics

Queensland reveals $142 million, 10-year innovation roadmap ahead of the Brisbane Olympics

- July 28, 2022 3 MIN READ

The Queensland Government has earmarked $142 million  for a new tech roadmap designed to drive innovation in the decade leading up to the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that the new Advance Queensland – Innovation for a Future Economy 2022-2032 roadmap builds on the success of our existing Advance Queensland innovation… Read more »

Susan Oliver
Investing

Susan Oliver named Angel of the Year in Techboard’s annual angel investor awards

- September 14, 2021 4 MIN READ

Scale Investors co-founder Susan Oliver has been named the Angel of the Year in Techboard’s annual Australian Angel Awards. Oliver, who early this year stepped away the governance side of Scale to chair the Alice Anderson Fund, the Victorian government’s sidecar fund, was a worthy recipient accord to Angel Awards founder and Techboard co-founder Rafael… Read more »

Topics

Dinner party marketplace Gathar raises $600,000 in seed round

- June 9, 2020 2 MIN READ

A Queensland dinner party marketplace that matches hosts with caterers – from chefs and talented home cooks – has raised $600,000 in seed funding. Brisbane-based ACAC Innovation led the raise with the FNQ Angels and the Queensland Government’s Business Development Fund as co-investors. It’s the second time FNQ Angels has supported the regional startup, having tipped… Read more »

Topics

Queensland tips $4 billion into health and economic stimulus

- March 24, 2020 3 MIN READ

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a $4 billion economic stimulus package as the state prepares to close its borders to non-residents from midnight Wednesday. Queensland reported a further 78 cases of COVID-19 today, the majority in the state’s south-east corner. Included in the Premier’s stimulus package is $1.2 billion to ramp up the state’s… Read more »