Clean Energy Innovation Fund

Six ANZ startups that raised $568.1 million this week

Funding roundup led by Airwallex's US$330 million Series G at a $12 billion valuation, with raises from Kasada, Hnry, All G, Bless Payments and Emanda, plus earlier rounds recalled.

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Breast milk substitution biotech raises $10 million amid French deal for global push

Sydney biotech All G raised $10 million via convertible note from Agronomics, Doehler's venture arm and ID Capital, alongside a joint venture with France's Armor Protéines to push its fermented lactoferrin products globally.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Plant-based meats venture ProForm Foods in voluntary administration

KPMG administrators took control of ProForm Foods, the company behind the Meet brand, and the piece recalls earlier raises at v2food and All G Foods as the plant-based sector cools.

Burgers and acquisitions: All G Foods spins out plant-based meats in merger with Fenn Foods

All G Foods spins its Love Buds plant-based range into a merger with Fenn Foods' vEEF, forming a new entity; All G pivots to fermented dairy, with both companies' earlier raises recapped.

Macquarie Uni spinout HydGene Renewables raises $6 million

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Downforce Technologies draws investor support with innovative soil carbon solution

Soil carbon measurement startup Downforce Technologies closed a $3 million seed round backed by CEFC's Clean Energy Innovation Fund, Perivoli Innovations and Tiverton, with Australia as its first target market.

JET Charge raises $25m Series B, including $6m from CEFC (managed by Virescent Ventures)

An EV charging company has closed a Series B of over A$25 million led by RACV, with the CEFC's innovation fund, Claremont Capital and earlier individual backers taking part; its 2020 Series A is also recalled.

Also RenewEconomy·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·RenewEconomy

Fake meat startup All G scores bigger Woolies backing

Woolworths' corporate venture arm W23 has added an undisclosed multi-million-dollar investment to its backing of Sydney alt-protein maker All G Foods, which had earlier raised a $16 million seed round in late 2021.

Also Startup Daily·AgFunderNews·@AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

CEFC congratulates Gridcognition on close of seed round at nearly $4m

Energy software firm Gridcognition closed a $2.25 million seed round; CEFC committed $625,000 through its innovation fund alongside Alberts Impact Ventures, Afterwork Ventures and angel investors, taking total funding near $4 million.

Also Virescent Ventures·gridcog.com·Startup News (WA)·Startup News (WA)·Startup News (WA)

Ten climate-conscious startups that have raised millions in 2021 so far

A roundup of climate-focused startups that secured investment during 2021, led by Loam Bio's $40 million carbon sequestration round, spanning clean energy, waste, lithium, and plant-based protein companies across Australia and New Zealand.

Also SmartCompany

Novalith sets sights on global lithium industry with backing of the CEFC

Novalith raised a $2.5 million seed round backed by the CEFC's Clean Energy Innovation Fund and a Grantham trust vehicle, funding a Sydney pilot plant for its low-carbon lithium extraction technology.

Also RenewEconomy·Startup Daily·Cut Through Venture·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany

Australian made, low carbon and delicious: the All G Foods recipe for alternative proteins

All G Foods, a Sydney maker of alternative proteins, has secured $16m in seed funding, with $5m of it from the CEFC's Clean Energy Innovation Fund, and its burgers reach IGA shelves.

Also Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing

CEFC makes first hydrogen-related investment, alongside lead investor IP Group

Electrolyser developer Hysata has raised $5 million, led by IP Group with a $750,000 commitment from the CEFC through its Clean Energy Innovation Fund, to commercialise technology developed at the University of Wollongong.

Also RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing

Tenacious Ventures closes first agrifood tech fund, oversubscribed at $35m

Tenacious Ventures closed its debut agrifood tech fund oversubscribed at A$35 million, after a March 2020 first close of just over $20 million backed by the CEFC's Clean Energy Innovation Fund and Grok Ventures.

Also Startup Daily·AgFunderNews·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·AgFunderNews·evokeag.com·farmingahead.com.au·Dynamic Business·agriinvestor.com·@AuManufacturing·AgFunderNews·globalaginvesting.com·@AuManufacturing·globalventuring.com

Relectrify launches uniquely affordable 120kWh – 2MWh commercial and industrial second-life battery product

Battery technology developer Relectrify has released its ReVolve second-life EV battery storage product for commercial and industrial customers, with rollout support from ARENA; the article also recalls CEFC's earlier investments in the company.

Agriwebb secures $30 million in Series B funding, as 2021 brings fresh opportunities for Aussie agtech

Livestock management software firm AgriWebb raised a $30 million Series B at a valuation above $100 million, led by TELUS's venture arm with $5 million from CEFC, and previously acquired FarmWizard.

Also AgFunderNews·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·AgFunderNews

CEFC invests $10 million in Sunman’s “solar skin” technology

Australia's green bank put $US7 million into Dr Zhengrong Shi's Sunman, the largest share of a $US12 million round for its lightweight flexible solar panels, alongside Southern Cross Ventures and Shi's own money.

Also @AuManufacturing

CEFC and Cannon-Brookes partner in agrifood tech venture

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Cannon-Brookes family vehicle commit cornerstone capital to Tenacious Ventures, a new Australian agrifood venture fund backing early-stage startups, and recalls Sundrop Farms' sale to Morrison & Co.

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

Omni Tanker gains $4 million Clean Energy Innovation Fund investment to support export growth

Also RenewEconomy

CEFC targets transport emissions with investment in Australian freight technology

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has invested $4 million through its Clean Energy Innovation Fund in Omni Tanker, an Australian maker of lightweight carbon fibre tank containers for freight.