AI/Machine Learning

Law tech duo wants to help the 52,000 women being turned away from legal services every year

- May 19, 2025 2 MIN READ

A pair of law tech founders have joined forces to launch the I Care About Conflict campaign to give victims of family violence free access to an AI-powered separation support platform this Family and Domestic Violence Prevention Month. Angela Harbinson (the Separation Guide) and Jenny Rudd (Dispute Buddy) are urging corporate Australia to put their… Read more »

Mahesh Muralidhar
Funding

GD1-backed Kiwi VC Phase One Ventures closes early-stage fund with NZ$2.1 million backing 14 startups

- May 8, 2025 2 MIN READ

Four years after it launched, New Zealand VC fund Phase One has fully deployed its NZ$2.1 million (A$1.94m) early stage fund into 14 tech startups, including five (36%) with female founders. The fund, launched in April 2021, following the establishment of its early stage incubator community in 2020, the attracted GD1 as its anchor investor… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

Eye Thy with my AI: Australian Radio Network digitises diversity with an artificially generated Asian female presenter

- April 22, 2025 3 MIN READ

Australian Radio Network (ARN), the media company behind KIIS, as well as Gold and iHeart, used an AI-generated female Asian host to broadcast 4 hours of midweek radio, without disclosing it. The fake presenter, “Thy”, has been generated reportedly using someone in the finance department at ARN. The show broadcasts on CADA – “Australia’s home… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

Job Matched, a recruitment startup bootstrapped by a first-time female founder, is using AI to get the cultural fit right in hiring

- April 16, 2025 2 MIN READ

A recruitment platform that combines the simplicity of dating app swiping with AI-powered soft skills matching was launched in Sydney by a first-time founder this week.  Job Matched is the brainchild of Australian-American Kayla Parry, who set out to make hiring faster, smarter and more human. Parry was on Startup 360 this week, where she… Read more »

Kayla Medica, Kat Long and Jessica Baird Walsh
Climate Tech

Startup360: IWD, parenting as a founder, funding for women

- March 7, 2025 2 MIN READ

Welcome to the Startup 360 with Kayla Medica and guest cohost Cat Long from climatetech startup Trace. Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, and this year’s theme is “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. This week’s episode explores the challenges women face as founders, from funding to parenting and the self-doubt you can feel… Read more »

Leadership

Beyond Pinkwashing: How to make International Women’s Day meaningful

- March 6, 2025 3 MIN READ

International Women’s Day (IWD) is fast approaching, and with it comes the flood of well-intentioned but often superficial corporate gestures. Think pink logos, vague social media statements, and one-off panel discussions that barely scratch the surface of gender inequality. While organisations may be eager to show their support, many fall into the trap of performative… Read more »

Ed Husic
Politics

Ed Husic says the government will back all 11 recommendations in the Diversity in STEM review

- March 5, 2025 2 MIN READ

The federal government will adopt all 11 recommendations of the 2024 Diversity in STEM review, industry and science minister Ed Husic has confirmed. Husic surprised the crowd at Southstart in South Australia in announcing the government’s long-awaited response to the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review, chaired by Cicada Innovations CEO Sally-Ann Williams, who was… Read more »

Accelerator

Antler in Australia residency 13 kicks off with more than 90 founders across 3 capitals

- February 18, 2025 4 MIN READ

The Sydney Startup Hub opened to Antler in Australia’s 13th residency last week, bringing together over 90 ambitious founders from across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Over the next few months, these entrepreneurs – both experienced and new – will test, build, and launch ventures in these three cities hoping to create a new generation of… Read more »

Business

Work skills edtech HEX acquires Sydney tech training startup EntryLevel

- January 24, 2025 2 MIN READ

Future of work education startup HEX has acquired Sydney edtech, EntryLevel, to build out its skills training offering. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. EntryLevel, founded in 2020, has developed an AI-powered, cohort-based learning management systems offering online courses in areas such as data analytics, cybersecurity, UX design, Python and growth marketing. More… Read more »

Monique Conheady
Climate Tech

Flexicar founder and Wavemaker Impact investor Monique Conheady joins Hysata Board

- January 20, 2025 2 MIN READ

Clean tech founder and investor Monique Conheady has added another directorial arrow to her corporate quiver, joining the board of Wollongong hydrogen electrolyser startup Hysata.  Conheady was cofounder of the pioneering carshare startup Flexicar, acquired by Hertz Australia, and now chairs companies Energy Safe Victoria and JET Charge, as well as being a Breakthrough Victoria… Read more »

Melanie Perkins
Leadership

AI walks, meditation and rituals – the 5 things Canva cofounder Melanie Perkins does to prevent burnout

- January 8, 2025 3 MIN READ

Entrepreneur, mother and billionaire Melanie Perkins has been taking stock of her working life and goals for the year ahead, admitting that she got it wrong when she “used to work seven days a week, barely pausing to breathe, thinking it was the only way to succeed”. Perkins revealed the lessons she’d learned to maintain… Read more »