News
Government · 88 deals
Federal Government
Canberra, ACT
Disclosed deals
Every published round Federal Government took part in, and every parcel of existing shares it bought off another holder. Deals we hold but haven't published yet are not counted, and a place in one of its own programs is under Cohorts.
Cohort members
Everyone Federal Government has named to a program in published coverage. A place in a program is not a raise: the cheque is the figure recorded with the place, which is the program's standard terms where we hold them, and a blank is one we don't.
| Member | Program | Announced | Cheque | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigital | Boosting Female Founders Initiative | 7 Dec 2020 | - | SmartCompany, Women's Agenda |
| Verve Superannuation | Boosting Female Founders Initiative | 7 Dec 2020 | - | SmartCompany, Women's Agenda |
Portfolio
Companies Federal Government has backed in a published round, and companies whose existing shares it bought off another holder.
| Company | What it does | First invested | Rounds | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origo farm | Remote monitoring and control devices for agriculture | 16 Dec 2019, Grant | 3 | 3 |
| Indigital | 7 Dec 2020, Accelerator | 2 | 2 | |
| University of Adelaide | 29 Jan 2019, Grant | 2 | 2 | |
| Verve Superannuation | 7 Dec 2020, Accelerator | 2 | 2 | |
| View Health – chemo@home | 3 Feb 2022, Grant | 2 | 2 | |
| Adelaide Profile Services | 8 Sep 2023, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Advanced Navigation | 8 Sep 2023, Grant | 2 | 1 | |
| AgriStart | 29 Jan 2019, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Agscent | Feb 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Aimdefence | 21 Apr 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Allume Energy | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Ausnet | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| BES (Australia) | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Bring Me Home | 8 Dec 2020, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Charge Hub Australia | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Clinic Media | 29 Jan 2019, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Curtin University | 27 Aug 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| EcoJoule Energy | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Energenze | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Epec Engineering | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Essential Energy | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Frontline Safety Australia | 8 Sep 2023, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| George Lovitt Manufacturing | 8 Sep 2023, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Gilmour Space | 28 Mar 2022, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| GridScout | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Hendon Semiconductors | May 2023, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Hunter Business Centre | 29 Jan 2019, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Jet Charge | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Karit (Australia) | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Lava Blue | 29 Nov 2022, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Metrolo | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Mineral Carbonation International (MCi) | 9 Jun 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Muir Engineering | 8 Sep 2023, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Ouroborous | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Parent TV | 8 Dec 2020, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Q-CTRL | 8 Jul 2021, Grant | 2 | 1 | |
| QuantX Labs | 8 Sep 2023, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Redline Engineering | 8 Sep 2023, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Romar Engineering | 8 Jul 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| RUAG Australia | 9 Sep 2020, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Santos | 9 Jun 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Sea Forest | 15 Feb 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| She's A Crowd | 8 Dec 2020, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| SPEE3D | 3D metal printers for on-demand part production | 8 Jul 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 |
| SYPAQ Systems | 21 Apr 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Titomic | 27 Aug 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Udrew | 16 Sep 2020, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| University of New England | 29 Jan 2019, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Vast | 29 Apr 2022, Venture debt | 1 | 1 | |
| Zeppelin Bend | 22 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| AMSL Aero | 8 Nov 2022, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Carbon Revolution | 30 Nov 2022, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Coviu | 31 Jan 2019, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| DEWC Systems | 29 Apr 2020, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Diraq | 30 Jun 2023, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Dovetail Electric Aviation | 19 Jan 2023, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Electro Cad Australia Pty Ltd | 29 Nov 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Element Zero | 2 Sep 2026, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| ENA Respiratory | Antiviral nasal spray to prevent severe respiratory viral infections | 27 Sep 2020, Series A | 1 | 0 |
| FreightExchange | 28 Mar 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 0 | |
| Functionly | 16 Jul 2020, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Gaardtech | 1 Sep 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Hypersonix | 23 Nov 2020, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| JTM Gaskets | 1 Sep 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Judo | 2 Apr 2020, Venture debt | 1 | 0 | |
| Laronix | 27 Aug 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Neighbourlytics | 28 Mar 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 0 | |
| Ojas Group | 18 Sep 2020, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Orbital Corporation | 1 Sep 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Ovira | 2019, Accelerator | 2 | 0 | |
| PhosEnergy | 7 Apr 2022, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Reejig | 25 May 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 0 | |
| Repetition Engineering | 1 Sep 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Saber Astronautics | 16 Feb 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Sicona Battery Technologies | 23 Nov 2020, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Silicon Quantum Computing | May 2017, Seed | 1 | 0 | |
| Stellar PV | 6 Aug 2025, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Tekuma | Force-based control orb module for drones and robots | 26 Mar 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 |
| Thomas Food International | 1 Mar 2022, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Trakka Corp | 1 Sep 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| VAPAR | AI software for assessing pipe condition from CCTV footage | 18 Dec 2020, Grant | 1 | 0 |
Funds
Fund closes reported for Federal Government, as distinct from the investments it has made.
Portfolio companies acquired
Companies Federal Government has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal Federal Government did.
| Company | Bought by | Kind | Announced | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbourlytics | REA Group | Acquisition | 28 Nov 2025 | - |
| Carbon Revolution | Twin Ridge Capital Acquisition Corporation | Merger | 2023 | - |
People
Coverage
Stories naming Federal Government. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Grant
≤$26m
$26M Boost for Cleaner Aussie Iron Tech
Canberra is putting up to $26 million through ARENA behind Element Zero's Perth pilot testing whether the nation's iron ore can become low-emissions iron via a renewable-powered, molten-salt process.
News
Topic | Cybersecurity | Australian Financial Review
AFR cybersecurity topic page rounding up recent stories: Origin Energy's data breach investigation, Point Wild's planned ASX float, AI models hacking companies, and a CyberCX–Monash University cybersecurity degree partnership.
14 deals
Can EVs help get more out of the grid, for less? Two new grant winners hope to show the way
Fourteen projects won grants under the federal government's Grid Enhancing Technologies program, including EV charging firms Jet Charge and Charge Hub Australia, to show how EVs and other tech can ease grid constraints.
Also RenewEconomy
7 deals
Australian businesses win $22 million in defence development grants
Sixty Australian defence firms share over $22m in the newest round of a federal grants program; seven recipients are named, with awards for manufacturing, infrastructure and capability projects.
Funding announcement
🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #166, 21st June 2026
Weekly newsletter edition recaps seven funding deals worth $82.5m, reports Expert360 is seeking a buyer, covers Airwallex's new AgentOS product, notes a proposed capital gains tax break for startups, and unveils a redesign.
2 deals
Federal government invests in AIM Defence, SYPAQ Systems
Canberra has awarded initial contracts worth $21.3 million and $10.4 million to two counter-drone companies under a defence accelerator program, with billions more set aside for drone technology across the coming decade.
Grant
$65m
Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, April 21 – April 25, 2025
Roundup of the publication's five most-read stories of the week: a $65 million grant for the SMART regenerative-therapies CRC, QUT's flexible semiconductor research, a Lima Declaration fact-check, and Greensteel Australia's $1.6 billion mill order.
Grant
$39.8m
Australia's only silicon producer wins federal funds to cut emissions, boost solar supply chain
The federal government has awarded Simcoa Operations $39.8 million to replace coal with charcoal in silicon production, lowering emissions at its WA plant and strengthening domestic solar manufacturing.
Grant
$15m
Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, January 20 – January 24, 2025
Roundup of the week's five most-read manufacturing stories: a defence radio contract for Codan, university facility funding, a WEF white paper, ASCA missile-defence awards, and a port chair's farewell.
Funding announcement
Industry and science minister Ed Husic wants you to know something is going to happen, soon
Industry minister Ed Husic told a Tech Council summit the National Reconstruction Fund is close to its first investments after asking for a $300m drawdown; the piece recaps federal tech funding moves including PsiQuantum's.
Key hire
“Shell companies for rent seekers:” Coalition attacks solar innovators, including Turnbull-backed SunDrive
A federal opposition senator attacks Labor's solar manufacturing program and SunDrive, which has cut staff and changed CEO while pursuing partnerships with AGL and Trina Solar to localise panel production.
News
ANDHealth Welcomes Plans for Cohesive Investment into Health and Medical Research under New National Strategy
ANDHealth supports the Australian government's new national health research strategy and funding commitments, highlighting the role of its accelerator in driving digital health innovation.
4 deals
Nine projects in “hard to abate” sectors share $330m of federal funds to slash emissions
Canberra has allocated $330 million from its Powering the Regions Fund to nine industrial decarbonisation projects, with named grants for Cement Australia, Adbri, Queensland Alumina and the Murrin Murrin nickel-cobalt operation.
2 deals
Rinehart-backed lithium and rare earths projects rake in more than $1 billion in federal funding
Canberra announces up to $840m for Arafura's Northern Territory rare earths project, while Liontown secures $550m in bank debt for its Kathleen Valley mine, with CEFC and Export Finance Australia among lenders.
10 deals
Defence manufacturers receive $3.4m in grants
Ten Australian defence manufacturers, including DroneShield and Advanced Navigation, have received federal matching grants totalling $3.4 million under two Defence capability programs, as announced by Minister Pat Conroy.
4 deals
Four Aussie startups that have raised $94.5 million already in January
Roundup of January 2024 funding: Futurerent, Prota Therapeutics, National Renewable Network and Getmee together secured $94.5 million across debt, equity and a government grant, with investor details for each deal.
Key hire
Grid Connections: Who’s going where in Australia’s energy transition
A rolling roundup of Australian energy-sector job moves, listing dozens of executives, directors and ministers joining or leaving utilities, regulators, developers and industry bodies between May and December 2023.
Grant
$690k
Defence backs Hendon to bolster semiconductor capabilities
Adelaide chip maker Hendon Semiconductors has received a $690,000 defence grant, matched by the company, to upgrade its integrated circuit and circuit board assembly production for the defence sector.
Also @AuManufacturing
2 deals
“New era:” SunDrive wins funds to scale up Australia made solar cell production
SunDrive secured an A$11 million ARENA grant to take its copper-metallised solar cell manufacturing from prototype to commercial scale in Sydney, with plans targeting up to 5GW of yearly capacity.
Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy
4 deals
Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed
Manufacturing briefs roundup: WA government commits $5m to space facility Fugro SpAARC; Starpharma and Micro-X receive R&D tax refunds; Bulla licenses Violet Crumble for ice cream; SCEE wins $50m in contracts.
Funding announcement
Greenham unveils new state of the art Tongala beef plant + PICTURES
Victorian beef processor HW Greenham & Sons has opened a rebuilt Tongala plant, backed by a $10 million federal grant, lifting daily cattle throughput and adding roughly 230 jobs at full capacity.
2 deals
Diraq awarded $3 million NSW Quantum Computing Commercialisation Fund grant
Quantum computing startup Diraq has received a $3 million grant from NSW's Quantum Computing Commercialisation Fund, following federal support last month through CRC-Projects round 14.
Grant
Q-CTRL dives into quantum R&D with Sydney HQ
Quantum control software firm Q-CTRL is opening a purpose-built Sydney headquarters for quantum research, product development and commercialisation, backed by NSW and federal government funding, with opening expected late 2023.
Also @AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing
Exit / M&A
Tattoo BNPL platform INKPAY collapses, claiming new credit regulations will cut too deep
Tattoo-focused buy-now-pay-later provider INKPAY has entered voluntary administration, blaming the cost of incoming rules treating BNPL like traditional credit, with an administrator appointed and a creditors meeting set for late June.
2 deals
CSIRO announces $10 million, six-year portable hydrogen generator project
Australia's national science agency says a new hydrogen generator demonstrator project will receive $10 million over six years from Advanced Carbon Engineering; the piece also notes Endua's recent $7.5 million raise.
2 deals
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Roundup of Australian manufacturing news: ARM Hub's anniversary, DroneShield orders, EMVision's milestone grant, SciDev results, a SEA Electric hire, ATSE's policy submission, and spaceport funding for Koonibba.
Unnamed stage
US$5m
6 deals
$3.2 million in grants awarded to defence industry SMEs
Australia's federal government awarded roughly $3.2 million in matched grants across two defence programs to six SMEs for manufacturing equipment, with amounts from about $62,000 to $1 million each.
Grant
$2.9m
GrainCorp awarded $2.9M to progress world-class sustainable livestock feed trials
GrainCorp received a $2.93 million federal grant through the MERiL program's third round to run large-scale dairy and beef trials of low-emission feed supplements, working with FutureFeed, CSIRO, University of Queensland and Agriculture Victoria Services.
Grant
$812.8k
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Roundup of manufacturing news: Fortescue's ammonia locomotive trial, Nova Eye's US regulatory delay, Wellnex completing its Mr Bright acquisition, ClearVue's research tax payment, and a photonic chip breakthrough.
3 deals
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Manufacturing roundup covering Cyclopharm's tax incentive payment, Carbon Revolution's government grant payments, CEFC's wind farm debt commitment, Adbri's land sales, a Monash energy report and a Wollongong research showcase.
Also RenewEconomy
8 deals
$28.9m in grants issued to help improve soil carbon technology
Eight projects share 28.9 million dollars in Australian government grants under the National Soil Carbon Innovation Challenge, funding cheaper technologies for measuring soil organic carbon, with ministers Bowen and Watt announcing the recipients.
Also AgFunderNews
3 deals
Solar plane and electric vertical take-off and landing technologies win Australian grants
AMSL Aero, Praxis Labs and Swinburne's Air Hub won federal grants under the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program, while AMSL Aero also recently secured $5 million from Trevor St Baker's energy innovation fund.
Funding announcement
Seaweed startup aims to stop cow burps and farts as Australia poised to back Biden methane pledge
Australia may adopt methane reduction targets, benefiting livestock feed additive startups. Sea Forest, a Tasmanian seaweed producer, previously received federal grants and counts major dairy and beef companies among its customers.
2 deals
Medtech Nutromics lands $20.5 million for wearable diagnostic device
Melbourne wearable diagnostics startup Nutromics raised US$14 million (A$20.5 million), led by Dexcom's venture arm with VU Venture Partners and Artesian, to fund clinical studies and expansion.
Grant
≤$14.6m
MCi's new Newcastle office supports CO2 capture
Carbon capture company MCi has opened a Newcastle industrial headquarters and is building a CO2-utilisation demonstration plant on Kooragang Island, backed by a federal government grant of up to $14.6 million.
Also @AuManufacturing
Funding announcement
How Lisa Vincent is tackling the skills shortage crisis and empowering people in the process
Profile of HowToo co-founder and CEO Lisa Vincent, covering the platform's 2020 launch, its growth, federal grant funding, and backing from three investors.
Funding announcement
How Lisa Vincent is tackling the skills shortage crisis and empowering people in the process
Profile of HowToo co-founder and CEO Lisa Vincent, covering her move from agency Savv-e, federal grant funding, three venture backers, and plans to expand the learning platform into the United States.
29 deals
FUNDED JUNE 2022
Techboard's monthly roundup logs June 2022 Australian funding events, including GO1's Series E, Edrolo's Series B, two acquisitions, several new funds reaching closes, and accelerator intake announcements.
Also Techboard