This Month
Dance rolls rock as Australians’ music of choice
A major report on the local music industry found it added $2.28 billion to GDP last year, led by a bunch of men behind deejay decks.
Billion-dollar tech founders turn investors with new $50m fund
A group of successful Australian entrepreneurs who have built ‘unicorns’ including Aconex, A Cloud Guru and Go1, have joined forces to form a new VC firm.
StrongRoom AI sale takes a twist after liquidation order
StrongRoom AI will be liquidated, but its fate is still uncertain after an 11th-hour bid for the assets of the controversial pharmaceutical start-up was lodged.
May
Melbourne entrepreneur builds $3b gaming empire out of solitaire app
Meet the Aussie game designer who’s built a global company by making simple online games better than anyone else.
How this couple grew a digital photo event business from $1000 to $5m
Husband and wife team Warwick and Carla Groves have built Guestpix into a global player with customers in 100 countries. And it started in their own backyard.
Six new billionaires among 10 Rich List debuts this year
Among the 10 new faces this year is the highest-ranked debutant in its history, who quietly amassed so much wealth he debuts at No.7.
This Rich List newcomer has lost everything – twice
Phoenix Lithium founder Nick Wakim is comfortable with risk. He’s lost it all before, and then made it again. But as he nears 60, his views have changed.
How digital business cards led to the creation of a $200m business
A local start-up that lets you share a virtual business card that never goes out of date has pulled in major US investment that values the company at $200 million.
A new $25k members’ club opens in Sydney
The Pillars aims to connect entrepreneurs and investors over ice baths, fancy dinners and all-hours parties on a hidden terrace.
April
Australian fintech Demyst snapped up in $157m acquisition
Demyst, which counts ANZ, NAB and Standard Chartered among its clients, has been bought out by a private equity-backed Portuguese firm
Meet the 24-year-old Australian behind a $300m US start-up
Max Marchione moved to San Francisco to start Superpower and capitalise on the US’ under-resourced healthcare sector.
Escalante-backed WeMoney valued at $100m as it eyes ASX listing
The lending comparison start-up has raised $12 million and its founder, Dan Jovevski, says the company is preparing its path to float within three years.
Venture capital firm EVP was right to call the cops on StrongRoom
EVP committed venture capital heresy by reporting StrongRoom AI to the police. It angered fellow investors but has shown moral courage rather than selfishness.
March
Ian left to start his own business. Then the legal letter arrived
Most workers forced to sign egregious work contracts are excited about Labor’s ban on anti-competition clauses – but not all.
Albanese says more sweeteners to come for tradies, blue-collar workers
Responding to why he failed to extend the small business $20,000 instant-asset write-off for another 12 months, the prime minister hinted there would be more news to come for plumbers, electricians and other tradies.
Former PwC colleagues’ tech firm lands $445m PE deal
PSG Equity has bought out most of Protecht, a 25-year-old Sydney software company.
Small caps bulldozed by ETFs
Small and micro-cap stocks are meant to be the mid to large caps of the future. But a combination of structural and cyclical trends have some in the market questioning their long-term viability.
The stressful life of Sydney’s left-of-field distressed debt broker
Ben Madsen has long had a low profile. Now he’s found himself the centre of unwanted attention, and is fighting for his home. Can he come back from the brink?
Australia’s 75 richest women now control a record $179b
Tech, mining and a booming beauty sector helped fuel a 19 per cent surge in fortunes in the past year, as 11 new faces made the list.
Buildkite’s co-founder and CEO exits abruptly with no successor
The company says it was “unable to comment on personnel issues” but chairman praises Keith Pitt for building the software firm into a $200 million business.