A recent change of government in the Sunshine State has not slowed the Queensland Investment Corporation’s (QIC) enthusiasm for backing venture capital firms eager to invest in local startups. QIC joined Westpac and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) as a cornerstone investor in Virescent’s new $200 million climate tech fund (Fund II), reportedly tipping… Read more »
5 finalists receive help to grow their nature-positive impact $100,000 Nature Positive Prize to the winner A $20,000 People’s Choice Prize chosen by KPMG staff A new First Nations category Two new themes: regenerative economy and sustainable food systems Applications for the annual KPMG Nature Positive Challenge for 2024 are now open to startups in… Read more »
As I reflect on the journey we’ve taken with Climate Salad, it’s with a mix of excitement and responsibility that I share a significant update about our next steps. Starting in 2025, Climate Salad will scale back to a more streamlined model — an online community, newsletters, and webinars, largely managed by me, part-time. This… Read more »
A Wollongong startup converting disused mining shafts into long-duration energy storage has raised $9 million to turn the idea into reality. Green Gravity was backed by HMC Capital, BlueScopeX, New Zealand’s Pacific Channel and SCAP H, a subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation. BlueScopeX’s hosts Green Gravity’s demonstration plant at BlueScope’s Port Kembla Steelworks facility in… Read more »
Specialist climate tech investor Virescent Ventures is halfway towards its goal of creating a new $200 million fund thanks to backing from Westpac and the government-backed Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). Virescent Ventures hit the $100 million first close of its second climate technology investment fund (Fund II), following on from the first portfolio, managed… Read more »
The path to sustainable aviation is encountering some turbulence. With Universal Hydrogen going belly up, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects stalling, and AirNZ scrapping their interim 2030 climate targets, it’s clear the sector is struggling to navigate the challenges facing this emerging field. The aviation sector currently contributes to 2.5% of global carbon emissions. Yet, as… Read more »
The Australian Senate passed the new laws last week, setting in place a new climate-related financial disclosure regime that kicks off at the start of 2025 for Australia’s biggest companies, then trickling down to others in the coming years. While the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 doesn’t sound like… Read more »
The annual Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Renewables Startup Showcase will return to Sydney in November and the hunt is now on for startups looking for investment to take part. Innovation Bay, the membership community for technology founders and investors, is collaborating with ARENA for the fifth year of the event, on Thursday, November 21.… Read more »
The wildly ambitious SunCable renewable energy project, which plans to build Australia biggest solar farm in the Northern Territory, has been approved by the federal government. Officially known as the SunCable Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink), the 12,000 hectare solar farm – that’s 3000x the MCG precinct – will be built on a pastoral station between Elliot… Read more »
Ten startups tackling emissions challenges ranging from industrial heat to passive cooling solutions, energy storage and electric aviation, having been selected for EnergyLab’s 2024 climate solutions accelerator. EnergyLab is ANZ’s largest climate tech startup accelerator and innovation network dedicated to reaching net zero emissions and has supported more than 180 startups and 125 aspiring founders… Read more »
A startup developing cheaper, copper-based solar panels, and backed by Australian tech royalty, has shed jobs and changed its executive leadership as part of a major restructure of the business SunDrive’s investors include Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, VCs Blackbird and Main Sequence, the federal government-backed Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Clean Energy Finance Corporation,… Read more »
Climate startup Goterra is continuing to kick goals in industry collaborations, with the country’s largest hotel, the 878-room Hyatt Regency Sydney, installing the modular food waste management system onsite. It’s the second version of Goterra’s compact unit, which can also be found at Melbourne Airport, where fly larvae munch through more than two tonnes of… Read more »
Electric vehicles are an increasingly common sight on Australian roads. Each one cuts carbon emissions by half compared to fossil fuel vehicles, but increases household electricity use by 50%. This extra electricity demand could be a major strain on the grid unless the charging of vehicles is coordinated. But the large batteries in electric vehicles… Read more »
The City of Sydney is hoping to turn up to 600 tonnes of food waste into animal feed and fertiliser as part of a year-long trial with climate tech startup Goterra. Goterra recycles food waste using modular maggot-based robotic systems. Founder Olympia Yarger developed the system, which uses black soldier fly larvae to eat through… Read more »
Just last year, data suggested plug-in hybrid cars were on the way out in Australia. But they’re back. New data shows plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids combined have overtaken battery electric vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2024. The trend continued during April and May. In the first quarter last year, hybrids accounted for… Read more »
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King River Capital is building a $157 million sixth VC fund to back AI 
King Richard: WiseTech Global review says founder promises to do better on ‘unacceptable’ conduct 
Worker credentials platform MyPass clocks on with $7.5 million Series A 
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