This Month
Australia’s AI gold rush is heading offshore, and we’re digging
Australian investors pouring money into US AI companies, such as Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab, is no cause for celebration.
Brandon Capital defies VC funding drought to close $439m biotech fund
Labor’s $15b manufacturing fund and superannuation giants have piled into a VC fund backing start-ups with promising drug and medical device inventions.
Court says Seek can’t kick Employment Hero off platform, for now
The billion-dollar human resources start-up has alleged it was being unfairly targeted by the ASX-listed giant, which is both an investor and competitor.
A 17-year-old who sent Paul Bassat a cold email now has a $2m cheque
Irish teenager Liam Fuller came to Sydney for a holiday with his dad and left with cheques from several investors, including a big one from Square Peg Capital.
New York VC takes stake in Aussie start-up promising longevity
Everlab has secured $15 million in seed funding in a round led by global growth equity firm Left Lane Capital.
Employment Hero sues Seek, an investor and rival, over platform access
The fast-growing human resources start-up is now valued at $2 billion and has been increasingly competing with the recruitment platform, which remains a backer.
Only 3 women are on the Rich Bosses list. There might be a reason
The dearth of female leaders among the ASX’s wealthiest executives may say less about the glass ceiling and more about company ownership structures.
Waiting to get rich from biotech? Don’t hold your breath
Regulatory upheaval in the US and a venture capital drought are dampening investor appetites, but there are still diamonds in the rough.
Square Peg emerges with stake in hot AI start-up Thinking Machines
The local venture capital co-founded by Paul Bassat has secured an investment in the AI business, in one of the largest ever funding rounds in Silicon Valley.
Start-up dealmaking hits $2.9b this year, almost equal to entire 2024
For two years, a listing on the ASX has been an unattractive option for many of the funds backing early-stage businesses. Now there’s hope this will change.
Hostplus-backed electric aircraft start-up launches $30m capital raise
AMSL Aero has tapped Allunga Advisory’s Matt Rogers to launch its Series B equity round.
Breakthrough Victoria cuts staff, but sees tech as the future
The future of state-owned Breakthrough Victoria will likely be determined by a review, but new CEO Rod Bristow’s mission is to make the VC fund self-sustaining.
Sydney start-up says $4.6m flying cars will be on the market by 2030
AMSL Aero has appointed a former Silicon Valley executive to run the business and is preparing to ask investors for more money as it nears take off.
Surprise fall in tech start-up funding as deals dry up
Deals fell to their lowest level in 18 months in the June quarter, as VC firms kept their powder dry and funding for female founders reached record lows.
The ex-AFL player who became an influencer vet to sell dog food
Will Maginness quit AFL to become a vet. Now he’s turning 135,000 Instagram followers into a growing dog food company with a potential $20 milllion valuation.
CSIRO start-ups merge to create $150m company
Two technology start-ups spun out of the CSIRO have raised $11 million from wealthy investors to combine the two businesses.
Former rock star and banker Kim Jackson wants to be the next Buffett
A Google search will say she’s Atlassian billionaire Scott Farquhar’s wife. But this veteran dealmaker has plenty of main character energy.
AirTree-backed Grow Inc back on fund-raising trail after $70m Series D
Grow Inc’s cash call comes weeks after HESTA, a $94 billion superannuation fund went live with its technology.
June
AI start-ups sealing more deals than other tech companies
VC firms invested nearly $1 billion across 100 deals over 2025’s first three months and 92 of those companies incorporated AI into their product offering.
Smart collar for cows could abolish the need for farm fences
Halter, a New Zealand technology start-up that allows farmers to control their cattle via solar-powered electronic collars, has a $1.5 billion valuation.