Government · 45 deals
Every published round Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) 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.
Companies Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) has backed in a published round, and companies whose existing shares it bought off another holder.
| Company | What it does | First invested | Rounds | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire Energy | Waste gasification plants producing hydrogen, power and biofuels | 12 Jan 2021, Grant | 2 | 0 |
| Accessi Group Pty Ltd | 9 Feb 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Advanced Agricultural Systems | 12 Jan 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Bestie Kitchen Pty Ltd | 9 Feb 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Black Box Trading Company Pty Ltd | 9 Feb 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Butter Insurance | 9 Feb 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Cauldron Ferm | 13 Aug 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Compassion Creamery Pty Ltd | 9 Feb 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Driveschool Enterprises Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Education Ontrack Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| EMVision | 25 Oct 2022, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Evolve Communities Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Fonz Moto Pty Limited | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Forager Automation | 12 Aug 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Future Anything Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Gilmour Space | 28 Mar 2022, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Givvable | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Grant'd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| GridCognition | 3 Sep 2021, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Hydgene | Biomass to hydrogen technology for producing fertilisers and fuels | 12 Jan 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 |
| Hypersonix | 23 Nov 2020, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Lactamo | 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Leap4ward.ai Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Life Skills Group Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Li–S Energy | 13 Aug 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Lush Organic Hair & Spa Forest Glen Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| LX Design House | 12 Jan 2021, Grant | 1 | 0 | |
| Maxme | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Meditati Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Mettleaje Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| MIIROKO Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Mineral Fox Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| MoreGoodDays | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Neomorph Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Our Trace | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Parking Spotz Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Pixii | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| The OneTwo | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| The Paw Grocer Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Theratrak | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| VAPAR | AI software for assessing pipe condition from CCTV footage | Grant | 1 | 1 |
| VETNexus Pty Ltd | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| X-Hemp | Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Zondii | Grant | 1 | 1 |
Fund closes reported for Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), as distinct from the investments it has made.
Companies Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) did.
| Name | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Helen Wilson | Deputy Secretary | Startup Daily |
Stories naming Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR). Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Advisers warn that ATO audits and years-later repayment demands are destabilising firms claiming the R&D tax incentive, citing BindiMaps' administration and sale, as the government prepares to overhaul the scheme from 2028.
ARENA's Battery Breakthrough Initiative backs its first two recipients: PowerPlus Energy gains $2.32 million to expand Victorian pack assembly, while Firebird Metals receives $2 million toward a Perth battery-materials plant.
Steve Baxter's Brisbane defence-tech fund announces it now holds unconditional early-stage venture capital registration, giving investors tax breaks; it has put A$4.45m into four companies so far.
Beaten Zone's defence-tech fund has won full ESVCLP status, unlocking tax breaks for its backers; the Brisbane vehicle has backed four companies with $4.45m and screens a deep pipeline of defence deals.
Gilmour Space Technologies has secured the maximum $5 million grant under the federal Industry Growth Program, money earmarked for its next-generation engine, even though its founder publicly attacked the national space regulator.
Also Startup Daily
Profile of Dragonfly Thinking after its win in Australia's first AI Sprint, covering its $300,000 support prize, accelerator experience and product plans, plus brief AI news including raises by TrueState and Andromeda Robotics.
News roundup: Cyclopharm's $20m placement, Eden Innovations' first Holcim orders, Rio Tinto and BHP electric haul truck trials, a hybrid boat's marine award, and a national rail procurement database launch.
Budget-day rundown for Australian startups: a quantum computing co-investment, a green manufacturing fund, AI centre money, offshore landing pads and small business measures, while most sector wishlists went unmet.
Round 3 of the Boosting Female Founders Initiative has granted $11.6 million across 34 women-led startups; the article lists each recipient, its project and its grant amount.
Round three of a federal grant program backs 34 women-led startups, with individual awards listed from $133,740 to $480,000 drawn from an $11.6 million pool run by DISR.
QuantumTX's 2022 space and technology incubator has awarded $750,000 across 30 Australian companies, half from Western Australia, working in remote operations fields including robotics, AI and satellite communications.
Adatree's founder recalls early grant and competition funding her startup won, then gives four tips for chasing government grants: research sources, check eligibility, treat applying rigorously, and partner with researchers.
Interview with Priyanka Ashraf on launching her Anyone Can program for women of colour founders, her social enterprise's growth, and earlier competition prize money it won.
Two rural research corporations ran federal-backed innovation challenges, awarding grants totalling nearly $5 million, with four agricultural technology companies advancing to million-dollar proof-of-concept funding.
Labor plans to refer $21 million in Beetaloo grants to gas company Empire Energy to the audit office over Energy Minister Taylor's involvement, but won't yet back the Greens' move to abolish the program.
Feature on Australia's growing space tech sector: an accelerator chief cites Gilmour Space's series C, space agency grants to four startups, and emerging companies in geospatial data, space medicine and orbital manufacturing.
Also @AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing
Queensland space firm Hypersonix partners with gas company BOC on green hydrogen for reusable rockets, with both companies having earlier won federal grant funding for the zero-emissions project.
Also ARENA·ARENA·RenewEconomy
Federal officials told a senate estimates hearing that no taxpayer money has been committed to a Collinsville coal plant study or to AGL's Liddell generator, despite earlier government announcements suggesting otherwise.