July

July founders pour $2 million into Memobottle for a 20% stake

July's two cofounders personally bought a fifth of bottle maker Memobottle for two million dollars, valuing it at ten million, and will join its board.

July founders take 20% stake in Memobottle at $10 million valuation

Two founders of a luggage brand have bought a fifth of a water bottle maker at a ten-million-dollar valuation, with the money going into growth rather than to sellers, and a new bottle launching soon.

Six Aussie startups that raised $56.7 million this week

Weekly roundup detailing six Australian startup raises announced this week, covering Heidi Health, Instant, Esper, Trusst AI, Flowing Bee and GonGlobal, with investors, founders, valuations and earlier rounds.

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‘When Lachlan calls, you answer’: Inside this Murdoch-backed luggage giant

Profile of luggage brand July, built by Melbourne founders Athan Didaskalou and Richard Li with backing including Lachlan Murdoch, covering its pandemic pivot, Olympic team supply deal and retail expansion.

LaunchVic's hunt for the next wave of tech unicorns is on again

LaunchVic reopens expressions of interest for its 30×30 program aiming to create 30 Victorian unicorns by 2030, recalling last year's nine participants, while July appoints Joanne Smith as its first chief financial officer.

Luggage startup July nabs Little Birdie’s Joanne Smith as its first CFO

Victorian luggage retailer July has hired Joanne Smith away from Little Birdie as its first chief financial officer, after its leadership team completed LaunchVic's 30×30 scaleup program.

Zero Co, Ofload and Mad Paws: The startup winners of the 2022 Smart50 awards

SmartCompany names its 2022 Smart50 winners: July tops the list, Ofload ranks second after a $60 million raise, and Mad Paws, Zero Co, Code Like a Girl and Hero Packaging take out category awards.

FUNDED August 2022

Techboard's monthly roundup tallies August 2022 private funding at $207m across 22 deals, listing the month's raises, BlackRock's acquisition of Akaysha Energy, One Click Life's reverse takeover listing, and several fund closes.

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“We thought that we were on a rocket ship”: How July co-founders bounced back after 95% loss in revenue

Profile of luggage brand July, whose founders rebuilt after a 95% revenue drop in 2020; the article recalls an early $250,000 angel investment and notes over $10 million raised to date.

Melbourne startup July named as official luggage suppliers for 2022 Australian Commonwealth Games team

Melbourne luggage brand July will supply cases for Australia's 2022 Commonwealth Games team, after a similar Winter Olympics deal. The profile recalls its $10.5 million raise and pandemic-era revenue slump.

The startup funding round: Hospitality tech, Kiwis going global, and Blumenthal's bet on plant-based meat

Roundup of recent raises: a New Zealand legaltech Series A, plant-based meat seed funding with a celebrity chef tie-in, hospitality software capital, and battery materials funding, plus board additions.

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From revitalising retail to liquidising almonds: Nine breakaway Aussie success stories of 2019

SmartCompany's year-end roundup profiles nine businesses that scaled rapidly in 2019, including Shebah's record equity crowdfunding and follow-up round, July's Strandbags-led raise, and Louis Mittoni's revival of the Toys 'R' Us brand.

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MONEY BAGS: Luggage startup July raises $10.5 million

Melbourne luggage maker July has secured a Series A led by accessories retailer Strandbags, which contributed equity and debt, to fund product development and expansion into Asia-Pacific markets.

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Melbourne direct-to-consumer luggage startup July launches with an eye on China