Callaghan Innovation

Eight ANZ startups that raised $373.3 million this week

Weekly roundup detailing eight trans-Tasman raises totalling A$373.3 million, headlined by Halter's Series E, spanning quantum computing, biomanufacturing, robotics, adtech and agtech, plus a recalled $2 billion founder exit.

Also Startup Daily

Four ANZ startups that raised $26.9 million this week

Weekly roundup of four ANZ raises: Conflux Technology's $11 million Series B, BuildPass's $7.5 million seed, Projectworks's US$5 million Series A alongside a CEO change, and DNAiTECH's NZ$1 million round.

Also Startup Daily

Over $15m invested in world-leading cancer immunotherapy

Auckland University spinout TamoRx has secured NZ$15.25 million to develop a new cancer immunotherapy, in a round led by Brandon Capital alongside the university's Inventors' Fund, with a Callaghan Innovation grant included.

Boosting product confidence of a world-leading RNA therapeutics start-up

Case study on how CSIRO's bioinformatics teams independently validated the cancer-target findings of Amaroq Therapeutics, a New Zealand biotech whose $14m seed round was funded by the Brandon Capital-managed MRCF and others.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio

Boosting product confidence of a world-leading RNA therapeutics start-up

New Zealand cancer biotech Amaroq Therapeutics had its lncRNA drug targets independently validated by CSIRO, according to this profile, which also recalls its $14 million seed round and support from Callaghan Innovation.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio

Kiwi agritech startup Protag raises $1m

New Zealand agritech Protag raised NZ$1 million, led by Sprout with Finistere Ventures, Fonterra and OurCrowd, for smart ear tags monitoring dairy cow health and behaviour.

Healthtech startup JunoFem lands NZ$1m seed round to tackle a massive personal problem 1-in-3 women face

New Zealand pelvic-floor device maker JunoFem raised a NZ$1 million seed round led by GD1 to pursue UK and US regulatory approval; the article also notes GD1's Fund 3 raise.

Brandon Capital leads $14m investment to develop new cancer drug

Brandon Capital's site announces it led $14m for Amaroq Therapeutics, an Otago spinout developing RNA-based cancer treatments — the firm's first deal as a government-backed incubator. The piece also recalls Kea Therapeutics' shutdown.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio

$14m invested in world-leading RNA therapy: University of Otago spinout targeting new cancer treatments

Brandon Capital led a NZ$14 million investment in Amaroq Therapeutics, a University of Otago spinout developing RNA cancer therapies, with three co-investors and a Callaghan Innovation repayable grant supporting the deal.

A New Zealand startup using AI to detect eye disease raises $3.35 million

NZ startup Toku Eyes raised NZ$3.6 million in seed funding led by Icehouse Ventures to commercialise its THEIA eye-screening AI, and has previously received about NZ$4 million in grants from NZ government bodies.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily

NZ company develops face recognition for sheep

A Dunedin startup is building sheep facial recognition software, backed by a New Zealand government grant, with an Australian startup working on a related lamb-parentage technology mentioned in comparison.