Founder, Glow Capital · angel in 4 deals
Every published round Kate Morris 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 Kate Morris has backed in a published round, and companies whose existing shares it bought off another holder.
| Company | What it does | First invested | Rounds | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heaps Normal | 16 Nov 2020, Accelerator | 2 | 0 | |
| Who Gives A Crap | 20 Sep 2021 | 1 | 0 | |
| Whole Kids | 29 Oct 2020 | 1 | 0 |
Fund closes reported for Kate Morris, as distinct from the investments it has made.
Companies Kate Morris has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal Kate Morris did.
Stories naming Kate Morris. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Glow Capital Partners, co-founded by Justin Ryan and Kate Morris, is acquiring a majority holding in facilities firm Menzies — its fifth investment and first since Morris's departure; she stays on as a shareholder.
Smart50 profile ranks leadership coaching firm Peeplcoach 45th, noting its Melbourne head office, founders Christine Khor and James Chisholm, and more than $3 million raised over five years from individual backers.
Startmate reflects on a decade of backing founders, profiling breakout alumni across its cohorts and describing how its mentors reinvest in newer startups, alongside its fund model and returns.
Sydney PE firm Quadrant bought a $500 million Canva stake from existing holders including Blackbird, at a US$25 billion valuation — the first deal for Quadrant's ninth fund.
TEN13 newsletter reporting Chipper Cash's US$150m unicorn round, Mr Yum's Tiger Global-led Series A, and new investments in Payhippo, Preezie, Pushas and Heaps Normal, plus portfolio updates.
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Investment house Glow Capital, started by Kate Morris and Justin Ryan, takes an undisclosed-value 51% stake in uniform maker Cargo Crew, its first deal, backed by a $55 million fund.
Giant Leap's impact newsletter rounds up CO2-eating microbes, precision fermentation, booming health tech funding, a women-in-work survey, its open Analyst role, Glow Capital's launch, Snow Entrepreneurs grants and Investible's climate tech fund.
Melbourne social impact startup Who Gives A Crap has raised its first outside capital in nine years, led by Verlinvest, with Grok Ventures, other funds and several angel investors also taking part.
Also SmartCompany·Business News Australia·SmartCompany·privateequitywire.co.uk·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·onimpact.com.au
A retrospective of Afterpay's journey from its 2014 founding and only venture raise to its ASX listing, US and European expansion, and its agreed $39 billion takeover by Square, alongside partnerships and controversies.
US angel VC The Fund launches an Australia and New Zealand chapter, backed by local founder limited partners, with a four-person investment committee intending to back around 40 early-stage startups over two years.
Australian founders and operators including Kate Morris and Alex Zaccaria have launched the local arm of angel group The Fund, targeting seed and pre-seed deals, with an aim to raise about US$3.5 million.
A roundup profiling ten Australian startups expected to grow in 2021, reporting raises by VAPAR, HealthMatch, Ovira, Heaps Normal, Vop and Outland Denim, plus grants, accelerator alumni and founders' plans.
Non-alcoholic beer startup Heaps Normal has raised $1.3 million from angel investors including founders of Adore Beauty, Culture Amp and Linktree, while its co-founders were completing the Startmate accelerator.
Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany
Commentary on women backing women: Adore Beauty's record ASX float, Kate Morris and George McEncroe investing in Whole Kids' crowdfunding raise, Pronto's campaign launch, and other recent female-led listings.
Organic kids' snack maker Whole Kids has exceeded its half-million-dollar Birchal equity crowdfunding target, drawing backers including several well-known founder-investors, with one campaign day remaining.
The online beauty retailer founded by Kate Morris two decades ago has debuted on the ASX, with the float raising $269.5 million and founders selling down shares, alongside a look back at its growth.
Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Women's Agenda
Profile of Adelaide charity-donations startup Good Thnx after Startmate's demo day, covering its Slack integration, fast enterprise sales, mentor network, a $75,000 investment and $1 million in donations facilitated.
Vinomofo and Adore Beauty are reportedly preparing ASX listings, Vinomofo tipped at a $300 million valuation. The article recalls Vinomofo's 2017 $25 million raise and Kate Morris's earlier 60% stake sale to Quadrant Private Equity.
Quad Lock agrees to sell a majority stake to Quadrant Growth Fund, whose sixth deal since closing a $400 million fund; the deal covers parent brand Annex Products.
Private equity firm Quadrant has taken majority stakes this month in three female-led companies: Love to Dream, Modibodi and Adore Beauty, after earlier in 2019 acquiring tourism operator Journey Beyond.
Also SmartCompany
Kate Morris has signed a deal selling a 60% majority stake in Adore Beauty to Quadrant Private Equity, saying the investment will help the online beauty retailer grow faster after its New Zealand launch.