Yesterday
Ex-KPMG consultant lands global VC funding for AI start-up
California-based venture capital firm Aliavia Ventures and No Brand Holdings led InsightWise’s $1 million oversubscribed pre-seed round.
Canva makes its pitch to take on Microsoft with an AI Excel rival
Canva has launched its biggest product update, including a move to take on the industry giant with a re-imagining of the Excel spreadsheet.
This Month
Start-up staff trade traditional public holidays for any day off
At Roller, staff have been clocking in to work on some official holidays in exchange for a day off for Lunar New Year, Diwali, or even their birthday.
StrongRoom AI attracts 10 prospective buyers despite dire finances
The near insolvent pharmaceutical start-up has made 23 of its 45 staff redundant after requests from interested parties to reduce its costs, administrators say.
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.
Ex-CBA business banking chiefs land at real estate group
Mario Saia and Andrew Hazell will establish a debt advisory arm under the HTL Group.
From a Moroccan villa to the courtroom: how StrongRoom AI’s good times went bad
Court filings that allege fraud at the tech start-up paint a picture of company funds being used to fund a lavish lifestyle of foreign trips and fine dining.
Judo Bank trio walks to set up debt advisory biz
Co-founder Nav Ganegoda ran $1 billion in funds or around 10 per cent of the challenger bank’s total lending book at its peak in 2024.
EVP claims StrongRoom founder admitted to fraud, faked accounts
Documents filed by the venture capital firm also allege one of the software start-up’s directors used company money to pay for a holiday to Morocco.
Canva shocks employees with AI-related job cuts
The design software giant has laid off 10 technical writers nine months after telling them to embrace generative artificial intelligence tools.
Teal corflute bandit could have been a medtech star
Peter Jordan’s timing at leaving dud businesses is better than his ability to get away from scenes of election poster shenanigans.
PEP dealmaker throws weight behind shareholder transparency start-up
Complete shareholder registers have historically been the purview of internal investor relations departments.
StrongRoom AI administrators launch firesale despite freezing order
HLB Mann Judd said it would seek “urgent” bids for the pharmacy software start-up’s assets this week even as it clarifies whether they can be sold.
StrongRoom investors at war as founders hit with freezing orders
A European venture capital firm has accused EVP of destroying the prospects of the pharmaceutical software start-up after reporting the company to police.
March
AI company’s IPO fizzer a warning for Canva and Australian tech stars
The biggest US technology float since 2021, for artificial intelligence firm CoreWeave, fell flat on Friday. That has implications across the Pacific.
Inside StrongRoom’s breakneck trip from hero to zero
Three months ago, the pharmacy software start-up was on top of the world. New investors, plenty of blue sky. Then came the allegations from its new backers.
StrongRoom AI goes into administration two weeks after $70m valuation
The future of the software start-up, which will be put up for sale, has been in doubt since EVP, a venture capital investor, raised doubts about its finances.
Lenders move on StrongRoom AI’s bank accounts amid police inquiries
The pharmacy software start-up was accused of financial misrepresentation by one of its newest and largest venture capital investors earlier this week.
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.
Koala schedules non-deal roadshow for IPO; $100m raising tipped
Should Koala progress with the IPO, sources said it could raise about $100 million for a circa $500 million valuation.