Australian venture funding, tracked

Sydney startup Parcelpoint delivered $4.5 million to accelerate ongoing growth spurt

CRDC in the news: Canopy temperature sensors improve irrigation scheduling (19 June 2019)

A CRDC-funded canopy sensor built by CSIRO researchers at Narrabri will reach the market via Goanna Ag, helping growers fine-tune irrigation without losing yield; FarmOnline ran the coverage.

Australian FinTech company profile #25 – Radium Capital

Question-and-answer profile of Radium Capital, a Perth fintech advancing quarterly R&D tax refunds, recalling a sell-down to US fund Brevet Capital that lifted its ownership to 50%.

New neobank to list on the ASX and challenge the Big 4 ASX banks

Neobank Douugh is reportedly planning an ASX listing within about a month, hoping to raise $10 million, with founder Andy Taylor previously co-founding P2P lender SocietyOne.

“You never stop learning”: Foodtech startup raises $9 million from Aconex co-founders and Canva investor

Foodtech platform Fresho raised $9 million from private investors including Aconex co-founders Rob Phillpot and Leigh Jasper, the Tarascio family, Geoff Tarrant and Andrew Sypkes, to fund growth and hiring.

Airbnb property management startup Hometime just scored $6 million from a new VC fund that offers debt

Sydney startup Hometime secured a $6 million debt and equity deal from OneVentures, the inaugural investment of its new $100 million venture credit fund run with Israel's Viola.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

“Recession proof”: Booktopia beats the retail blues, looking for $300 million in five years

Booktopia's crowdfunding via Equitise drew only $900,000 in commitments, missing its floor, with the money to be refunded; CEO Tony Nash is now negotiating with a high net-worth investor while pushing growth plans.

Give a dog a carrot stick: Meet the startup developing a weight loss app for chubby pups

Profile of WAGSTA, a Cairns startup building a canine weight-loss app, whose founder received a $100,000 Queensland government Ignite Ideas grant and may pursue venture funding later.

Leading Airbnb Property Management Company, Hometime, announces $6M funding round with OneVentures, in inaugural venture debt deal

Airbnb property management startup Hometime closed a $6 million venture debt and equity round via OneVentures' 1V Venture Credit Fund, the fund's first investment, ahead of a planned Series A in early 2020.

‘I want to be transformative’: Meet CEO Michelle Gallaher

Interview with Michelle Gallaher on her appointment as CEO of ASX200-listed health technology company ShareRoot, covering her leadership ambitions and her advocacy for women declaring their careers openly.

Flu-diagnostics startup Ellume raises $5 million as it gears up for IPO

Brisbane diagnostics company Ellume has raised $5 million to commercialise its products and prepare for a future ASX listing, though its investors remain undisclosed.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany

Thorney, Perennial back Microba’s gut feeling

Gut health biotech Microba has raised $10 million in its Series B round, backed by Thorney Investments, Perennial Value and Alium Capital, following Macrogen's separate $4.1 million investment announced the prior week.

Australia’s leading medicinal cannabis startup is on target to raise $2 million from crowdfunding

Gold Coast medicinal cannabis clinic CDA Health passed its minimum goal on PledgeMe, drawing roughly $1.258 million from 414 investors as its equity crowdfunding campaign neared its close.

Slack heading for a $23 billion valuation, following a quarter of ripper revenue growth

Slack's direct listing, reportedly set for June 20, is expected to value the workplace messaging company at more than A$23 billion; the piece also recalls its $617.8 million Series H from August 2018.

Kmart owner Wesfarmers to buy Catch Group for $230 million in bid to bolster e-commerce

Wesfarmers has agreed to acquire e-commerce company Catch Group for $230 million, pending regulator approval, to strengthen Kmart and Target's online and fulfilment capabilities.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily

How Arctic Intelligence is revolutionising RegTech to transform compliance

Profile of RegTech firm Arctic Intelligence and founder Anthony Quinn, covering its compliance platforms, Stone & Chalk membership, client growth, and an August 2018 raise of $2.8 million for expansion.

Queensland budget delivers $250 million to kick-start CleanCo

Queensland's 2019 budget commits $250 million to its new state-owned generator CleanCo for renewable energy projects, alongside hydrogen export funding and leadership appointments drawn from the energy sector.

‘Taking on Silicon Valley and winning’: How Brisbane startup Citrus plans to dominate a $200 billion market

Brisbane ad-platform startup Citrus has signed major retail clients including Coles and Ocado and closed a $5 million capital round as it chases the e-commerce advertising market.

Afterpay is raising $330 million to chase the US market

Afterpay announced an underwritten share placement and purchase plan to raise A$330 million for US growth, while its founders and an executive sold $100 million of existing shares to US hedge funds.

Also SmartCompany

Prospa lists on the ASX

Prospa Group has joined the ASX official list after completing its IPO, selling 29 million shares at $3.78 to raise $109.6 million, with long-term backers retaining stakes under escrow.

A Brisbane startup that wants to get kids moving has been backed by CMO Software founder James Cotton

Brisbane kids' movement software startup Moovosity has raised $300,000 in seed funding from James Cotton's VC fund Uluwatu Capital to develop its technology and expand into schools across Australia.

Ratings firm seeks funding to expand service suite

Adviser Ratings has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign for compliance and transparency services, with one million dollars already raised from existing shareholders at an eleven million dollar pre-money valuation.

“The market is just waking up”: Fintech Verrency raises $10 million to broaden its international reach

Melbourne payments fintech Verrency has raised a $10 million Series A led by Alium Capital and private investors, bringing total funding to $20 million, with a Series B planned later this year.

Also Australian FinTech

Fund manager Andrew Smith on how Perennial picks winners in private markets

A Perennial Value Management executive explains how the firm chooses unlisted investments while it raises a new private fund, pointing to profitable pre-IPO backing of two since-listed companies through its microcap trust.

Perennial Private to Public Opportunities Fund – Cornerstoned by Morgan Stanley

Perennial Value launches a wholesale pre-IPO investment fund, with Morgan Stanley expected to commit $25 million once documents are finalised, while its existing microcap trust soft closes after reaching capacity.

THE FINNIES: Here are the best fintech businesses in Australia

Afterpay, Airwallex and Up Bank took major prizes at the 2019 Finnie awards in Melbourne; Airwallex's $141 million raise won biggest raise and Liberty's purchase of MoneyPlace took deal of the year.

Melbourne agtech Agersens bags $15 million to commercialise virtual fencing for cattle farmers

Agersens, a Melbourne virtual fencing startup, raised $14.75 million led by Gallagher Group to commercialise its eShepherd cattle collars, while co-founder Ian Reilley stepped back as chief executive, replaced by co-founder Jason Chaffey.

Also @AuManufacturing

Airwallex and Afterpay clean up again at Finnies 2019

FinTech Australia's 2019 Finnies awards recognised Airwallex with three trophies including Biggest Raise, Afterpay as FinTech Organisation of the Year, plus wins for Up, Zuper, Xinja, Athena and others.

Also Square Peg Capital portfolio·Square Peg Capital portfolio·TechCrunch Venture·Techboard·SmartCompany·Australian FinTech·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Techboard·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Australian FinTech·Startup News (WA)·Australian FinTech·Australian FinTech·Australian FinTech·Australian FinTech·Australian FinTech·Australian FinTech·Forbes Australia·TechCrunch Venture·TechCrunch Venture

“The wisdom of crowds”: Why Perth startup Demand.film turned to crowdfunding for the Airbnb of cinemas

Perth cinema-booking startup Demand.film has launched a Birchal equity crowdfunding campaign targeting at least $150,000, at a pre-money valuation of about $8.9 million, having previously completed a small seed round.

Australian microfluidics leader Minifab to become part of Schott

German materials group Schott announced a deal to take over Melbourne microfluidics engineering firm MiniFAB, with joint centres of excellence planned in Australia and Germany and completion expected within months.

Also @AuManufacturing

Meet the inspiring women in BlueChilli's new SheStarts accelerator

BlueChilli has named the ten female-led startups joining the third intake of its SheStarts program, chosen from hundreds of applicants, with corporate backers supporting the venture-building effort.

MX3 Diagnostics, Which Uses Saliva To Measure Health, Is Launching Out Of Stealth

A profile of MX3 Diagnostics, launching from stealth with a saliva-based hydration testing device, as it prepares to close a seed round, with pricing comparisons to wearables rivals.

Digital Journal: Skedulo's Matt Fairhurst on Digital Transformation and Developing Technology for Baby Boomers

Skedulo promotes an interview its CEO Matt Fairhurst gave Digital Journal about digital transformation and building technology for Baby Boomers, linking to the full story.

Deep tech incubator Cicada Innovations appoints Google exec Sally-Ann Williams as CEO

Sydney deep tech incubator Cicada Innovations has hired a senior Google Australia executive as its next chief executive from July, succeeding the outgoing CEO; the new hire also holds board roles elsewhere.

Sydney startup Cashrewards raises $5.2 million as it gears up for 2020 IPO

Cashrewards raised a $5.2 million Series A led by Alium Capital Management, its first equity funding after earlier debt, and plans an ASX listing in 2020.

HealthLeaders: WHO Recognizes Burnout As 'Occupational Phenomenon'

Skedulo promotes a HealthLeaders article in which its CEO Matt Fairhurst comments on technology's role in addressing nurse burnout, now recognised by the WHO.

“It terrified me”: Why Tessa Court believes the biggest threat to scale-ups is mediocrity

Profile of IntelligenceBank founder Tessa Court on scaling, hiring and culture, recalling her company's $5 million Series A and her earlier exit from analytics firm Hitwise.

‘Our business grew 1500% overnight’: How Shark Tank saved this business from failure

Be Fit Food's co-founder recalls a 2017 Shark Tank pitch that won Janine Allis's backing, rescuing the struggling meal program and driving rapid sales growth, as she mourns the show's indefinite shelving.

BugCrowd co-founder raises $1.4 million for new startup that takes meeting notes for you

Brisbane AI transcription startup Notiv has raised $1.4 million from three investors. The article profiles co-founders Chris Raethke and Iain McCowan, whose earlier venture Dev-Audio was acquired by Biamp in 2014.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily

Stormseal manuactures better storm recovery

Profile of Stormseal Industries, whose heat-shrunk protective film survived an alpine winter test; its Sydney and US production, and a past federal government grant that helped commercialise the product.

Australian FinTech company profile #20 – Checkbox

Profile of Checkbox, a no-code platform automating expert-driven legal and compliance processes, based in Sydney and Melbourne. It recalls a 2018 angel raise of $1.77 million and names the CEO, CTO and CRO.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Titomic taps NASA aerospace technologist for CTO role

Titomic appoints former NASA aerospace technologist Nathanael Miller as chief technology officer, with CEO Jeff Lang citing his experience as an advantage in the commercial space sector.

Six-month-old startup Mr Yum secures $1.5 million for tech putting an end to food envy

Melbourne foodtech startup Mr Yum has raised $1.5 million in seed funding from angels, Australian Venue Co and industry backers, six months after founding, to build out its digital menu platform.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany

Avenue - Initial Investment

Nightingale's post announcing its participation in Avenue's 2019 Series A, profiling the SME-focused neobank's leadership team and recalling founder Colin's earlier credit bureau, since acquired by InfoTrack.

Also Startup Daily

Mirvac taps Melbourne start-up for shared solar at new apartments

Property developer Mirvac will install Allume Energy's shared solar system in a Victorian apartment project and is assessing the technology for its wider portfolio, a partnership the young Melbourne start-up calls a major win.

Perennial Value to launch five-year pre-IPO, private raisings fund

Perennial Value plans a fund targeting pre-IPO deals and private capital raisings, with Morgan Stanley committing initial money; its microcap trust will soft-close, and earlier bets named include Atomos, Uniti Wireless and Ecofibre.

Food giant Mars has launched an accelerator and is looking for tasty startups

Mars is opening its Seeds of Change food accelerator in Australia with FIAL, offering six selected startups grants and mentoring, with applications open until July.

“We can start selling millions of these”: How Morse Micro scored $24 million from high-profile Aussie investors

Sydney IoT chip startup Morse Micro has raised a $23.8 million Series A led by Analog Devices founder Ray Stata, with Blackbird, Main Sequence and other investors aboard, and plans to double headcount.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily

The CSIRO is backing a Sydney IoT microchip startup in a $23.8 million Series A raise

Sydney chip startup Morse Micro has closed a $23.8 million Series A led by CSIRO's Main Sequence Ventures to begin mass production of its low-power Wi-Fi chips for connected devices.

Also SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily

Salesforce partner Arxxus expands into Brisbane

Cloud consulting firm Arxxus has opened a Brisbane office backed by investment from Salesforce Ventures' Australia Trailblazer Fund, hiring an account executive to lead Queensland operations and planning further expansion into Singapore.

Also Australian FinTech·SmartCompany·ARN (ARNnet)