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This Month

Immutable’s revenues are shrouded in a Cayman Islands mystery

Investor updates show the crypto video gaming business is making $4.6 million every month. Half seems to be “service revenue” from a Caribbean not-for-profit.

Pharmacy software entrepreneur Joe Zhou is expected to end up taking over what’s left of StrongRoom AI this week.

Collapsed pharmacy start-up StrongRoom sold, ending four-month saga

Liquidators will now have to wind up the existing company and possibly pursue its directors over alleged contraventions found in the administration process.

Brand tracking firm Tracksuit’s co-founders Connor Archbold and Matt Herbert have ditched the co-CEO model.

Blackbird-backed marketing start-up Tracksuit hits $400m valuation

The New Zealand-headquartered business helps small companies analyse their advertising spending. It will also ditch its co-chief executive model.

A pharmacy in Sydney’s Hunters Hill. StrongRoom AI was a company that helped pharmacies digitise records, but collapsed after its largest investor accused it of misleading financial figures.

StrongRoom deal sideswiped by ‘potential misappropriation’ query

The entrepreneur who struck an agreement to buy the software start-up’s assets is in dispute with his business partner, and denies any wrongdoing.

Glitch Capital team

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.

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In vitro fertilisation success rates sharply decline from age 35 onwards, Jumpstart Fertility says.

UNSW spin-off JumpStart Fertility lands US backer

JumpStart Fertility is seeking to boost embryo development and improve success rates by 60 per cent.

Misha Saul, left, the head of EVP’s Opportunities Fund, led a $17 million capital raising in StrongRoom AI, which was co-founded by Max Mito and Christopher Durre.

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.

CTO & Founder Dr Ali Fathi and Tetratherix CEO Will Knox in their Lab.

‘Next Cochlear’ launches ASX float to sell its ‘medical Lego’

Tetratherix, a medical device company backed by Xero founder Rod Drury, is set to make its ASX debut later this month with an ambitious global pitch for investors.

StrongRoom AI’s co-founders Max Mito and Christopher Durre pictured with EVP’s Misha Saul (left).

Creditors divided as StrongRoom sale D-day arrives

The fate of the disgraced pharmaceutical software start-up rests on the outcome of a high-stakes meeting on Thursday.

Former Macquarie Bank head of Australian equities Dan Ritchie is now heading up Factory Capital.

Ex-Macquarie equities boss seeks $100m for investment firm

Factory Capital has pressed play on an equity raising as it seeks to stock up its balance sheet through family offices and high-net-worth investors.

Ravio co-founders Merten Wulfert, Wilson Griffiths, Raymond Siems, Evan Martin, Roy Blanga

$125m jobs start-up says AI roles have surged 500 per cent

Australian salary comparison platform Ravio says it’s used by more than 1200 tech companies across 40 countries. Its data shows AI jobs are booming.

May

Eyal Chameides

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.

Tim Wilson has been appointed the Coalition’s spokesman for industrial relations.

Liberals’ IR man Tim Wilson wants school kids taking up ‘side hustles’

Wilson, who was punted from parliament by teal Zoe Daniel in 2022 but clawed his way back on May 3, also has his eye on Labor’s multi-employer bargaining laws.

Tim Doyle’s Eucalyptus operates online health brands Juniper, Pilot, Software and Kin, which offer digital consultations to treat a range of conditions, but is best known for offering weight loss drugs.

Eucalyptus targets unicorn status in new $150m funding round

The weight-loss pill selling healthcare business has long been one of the most talked about start-up. Now it could be on the cusp of a $1 billion valuation.

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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.

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Hanno Blankenstein, Unleash Group CEO.

He quit consulting. Now his AI start-up is worth $100m

Unleash Live, a 10-year-old artificial intelligence firm, has raised $17 million after signing up BHP, Alcoa and Chevron as clients.

Immutable Co-Founders James Ferguson (CEO), Robbie Ferguson (President) and Alex Connolly.

Executives head for the door at unicorn crypto start-up Immutable

Two senior executives on Friday announced their departure from the heavily funded tech company, which has shed a third of its staff in the past nine months.

Nick Wakim: “I want to spend more time with my family and horses now. It doesn’t mean I’m shirking my responsibilities.”

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.

Canva and Atlassian employees are unionising in record numbers over fears they’ll lose their jobs to artificial intelligence.

Canva, Atlassian employees flock to unions amid AI job fears

Workers’ fears about losing their jobs to artificial intelligence bots has led to a surge in union membership at Australia’s two highest-profile tech companies.

Immutable co-founders James Ferguson (left) and Robbie Ferguson.

Tech unicorn Immutable cuts staff as AI bots pick up jobs

One of Australia’s most funded technology companies has shed more than 70 staff over the past nine months and embraced artificial intelligence programs.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/start-ups-629