Startups

In Australian venture capital, three firms stand tall: Square Peg, Airtree and Blackbird. But Square Peg has charted a different course to its peers, one that stretches beyond Australia's shores.

Pete Shadbolt defended the government's controversial $940 million investment into his startup but said it won't cover the cost of building a useful quantum computer – which he calls a "species-level challenge."

When COVID hit, payments startup Zeller had just raised its seed round. It had to learn some quick and hard lessons on hiring and building in a new environment.

The VC arm of one of the world's most prolific internet investors has revealed it is scouring the Australian startup market for deal opportunities.

OpenAI and Google are pushing their AI ‘fine-tuning’ services. The founders of Sydney's Unsloth AI think the increased attention to the space can only be a good thing.

The new platform, led by Grace Bird, aims to turn research into venture-scale businesses by providing crucial early-stage support and funding.

A new report claims up to 50% of funding deals in the fintech sector, worth $684 million, were not announced or publicly reported on last year. And a few different factors are behind it.

A clash of opinions between two Australian design champions over generative AI reflects a broader debate in global tech markets.

The Square Peg founder has launched public policy lobbying initiative Amplify, but remains committed to venture capital as his biggest time investment.

The Australian founder behind one of the iPad's most popular paid apps says his team doesn’t “jam” new tech into its products “for the sake of it".

Australian recycling startup Samsara Eco partners with global nylon leader NILIT to develop the world's first nylon 6,6 textile-to-textile recycling facility.

In-Q-Tel invests in tech for intelligence and defence. In five years in Australia, it has backed nearly 20 local startups.

Super funds, once vital to local VC growth, now face disincentives as tough regulations discourage investing in riskier ventures with higher potential returns.

The startup, which was established in 2012 and raised $108 million in 2022, creates navigation tools that can be used below sea level and above the atmosphere.

From sleepless nights in Townsville to leading a $2.7b unicorn, SafetyCulture's Luke Anear shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey including a critical backend rebuild that nearly brought down the company.

Promising an evolution in WiFi technology, Morse Micro raised a huge $170 million round in 2022. Now, it has a product in the market and a long-term goal of going public.

The Main Sequence-backed startup plans to build a unique facility here in Australia, though US incentives are also tempting, says CEO Michele Stansfield

A dwindling number of young founders, along with broader economic challenges affecting small businesses, has sparked a push for new tax offsets.

The Australian startup has been building satellite-tracking tech for years. Now, it’s ready to make sales — but to a different customer than originally planned.

Australia has proven capable of producing cutting-edge startups. The challenge is keeping them here.

The customer service software industry is both large and uniquely ripe for AI disruption. Australian startups like Brainfish are hoping to do just that.

Startup M&A happens more often than is reported. While VCs tell us an exit is an exit, Flippa's CEO says he's been told not to publicise them because they don't fit the narrative.

The deal, where Google acquires talent and licensing rights but not equity, reflects a growing trend between Big Tech giants and aspiring AI startups.

The graphic design unicorn is facing disruption from smaller, AI-driven rivals – which may have prompted its acquisition of Leonardo.Ai.

The acquisition of Leonardo.Ai gives the Australian design software company its own foundational model, a roster of AI talent and a bulwark against its competitors.

Founded in December 2022, Leonardo.Ai has over 19 million users and its very own foundation AI model.

Filings show that the company has appointed a lobbyist in Australia amid increased scrutiny of AI by the ACCC and the Attorney-General’s office.