This Month
- Opinion
- Opinion
The ‘missing middle’ stopping Australia from being a deep tech force
To see bold ambitions in areas like quantum computing, robotics and AI come to fruition, Australia must match rival countries and grow the “M” of its SMEs.
- Sally-Ann Williams
BRC Capital faces crunch as investments including Hiro Brands fail
The company is a major sponsor of the Melbourne Rebels, with some directors in the portfolio receiving tax office notices over late payments.
- Zoe Samios and Jessica Sier
Koala Eco cleans up with $3m in Series A funding
The Australian company has gotten noticed in the US and will leverage that with new capital. “We are going at this market with everything we have,” said co-founder Paul Davidson.
- Lauren Sams
Men’s health player Mosh appoints adviser to explore exit options
Gavin Jacobson’s advisory firm has won the sell-side mandate to explore options for Mosh.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Aussie start-up banks $15m to build AI workers
The Funded blog is the home for news on the tech deals that are done in Australia, as soon as we hear about them.
- Updated
- Paul Smith
- Exclusive
- Venture capital
How a Sydney VC made 13 times its money on one start-up investment
OneVentures has turned an $8.8 million investment in Employment Hero into a $116 million return, as new ways of selling out of private companies pick up popularity.
- Paul Smith
- Exclusive
- Biotech
New fund targets companies battered by market doubts
Record low biotech valuations have prompted a new VC investor to start shopping with a planned $200 million fund.
- Jessica Sier
Aussie company Quasar joins the global satellite space race
Defence forces and commercial companies are seeking way to improve the tracking of space traffic.
- Matthew Cranston
Blackbird and the problem of investing in women
Australia’s most prominent VC firm self-reported data that shows funding female-led start-ups is a no-growth sector.
- Mark Di Stefano
- Exclusive
- Start-ups
This is the $4b reality of Australia’s ‘tech winter’
New data reveals VCs have invested significantly less in local tech start-ups this year compared with 2022, as a downturn in funding chills the sector.
- Tess Bennett
- Exclusive
- Venture capital
VC pitching platform helps founders find investors
It can be a nightmare for entrepreneurs to access backers for their start-ups, but some of the biggest investors in the industry are jumping on a new online marketplace.
- Updated
- Tess Bennett
- Exclusive
- AI
Millions for Australian start-up using AI to change how we see
Arkeus, an ambitious Melbourne start-up that has secured early contracts with the Defence Department for its automated optical technology, has also caught investors’ eyes.
- Paul Smith
Merger crackdown risks VC funding going overseas
The tech industry has warned that the federal government’s proposed tougher merger laws would make it harder for founders to sell their businesses, stymying start-up returns.
- Ronald Mizen and Hannah Wootton
November
Westpac dips toe back into venture capital, backs AI loan assessor
Sydney-based Rich Data Co has banked $28 million in a Series B round led by the major lender and nCino, a cloud banking provider based in the US.
- Jessica Sier
- Opinion
- Fast Starters
How to raise capital in a tough funding market
Fast-growing companies need to follow these eight tips when looking to win over investors in a difficult economic environment.
- Xavier Keary
- Exclusive
- Mergers & acquisitions
Two Australian fintech deals close as acquisition season kicks off
A Brisbane digital lender has bought out one of its rivals, while TaxLeopard has acquired a firm that provides software to help Uber drivers do their accounting.
- Paul Smith
- Exclusive
- AI
Australian AI star plans US shift as battle for humanity heats up
Start-up Akin has been struggling to close its $US50 million funding round, while staying true to its goal of building an ethical AI.
- John Davidson
- Exclusive
- Start-ups
‘Large swaths’ of staff cut at heavily backed start-up
Education tech start-up Edrolo is in an industry threatened by disruption from the rise of generative artificial intelligence, big money backers have cause for concern.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Exclusive
- HSBC
HSBC aims $200 million at Aussie start-ups
The local arm of global banking giant HSBC is hoping to exploit the release of Silicon Valley Bank’s stranglehold on the start-up sector.
- Tess Bennett
- Exclusive
- Start-ups
Aussie songwriter’s tech firm is now worth $879m
He used to write songs for Delta Goodrem. Now Paul Wiltshire has a growing band of investors including Richard White, Perennial and Epic Games supporting his platform for musicians.
- Tess Bennett
