Ledger.

Angel investor · Founder, Rampart Capital

Larry Diamond

Coverage

Stories naming Larry Diamond. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.

Funding announcement

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #176, 30th August 2026

Weekly roundup: Blackbird confirms a record fund close and Galileo reaches a first close, Genesis merges with Proudi, IREN secures massive debt, and several startups report raises, grants and program wins.

Funding announcement

Two ANZ startups that raised $21 million this week

Two raises reported: Superhero has banked $20m of a hoped $30m round led by Salter Brothers at a $176m valuation, while New Zealand crime-intelligence startup Azonic took NZ$1m in a Blackbird-led pre-seed.

4 deals

Fintech Superhero's valuation jumps nearly 20% in 3 months after $11 million raise

Share trading and super platform Superhero has raised $11 million from existing backers, lifting its post-money value to $150 million, with plans to build tools that give investment advice.

Also SmartCompany

11 deals

Eight Aussie startups that raised $80 million this week

Weekly funding roundup covering eight local companies that together banked $80m, topped by twin $17m Series Bs at Safewill and Fresho, plus Celosia's $16.75m Series A and five smaller rounds.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·LaunchVic

7 deals

Quiet achievers and COVID successes: SmartCompany's 10 startups to watch in 2022

SmartCompany's year-end list profiles ten Australian startups poised for a big 2022, recalling their 2021 raises, crowdfunding campaigns, government grants and accelerator origins, from mtime and Quantum Brilliance to Zoomo and Superhero.

Also SmartCompany

Unnamed stage $2.3m

Fintech founders syndicate backs investment startup Fresh Equities in $2.3 million raise

Investment technology startup Fresh Equities raised $2.3 million, led by Archangel Ventures with Flying Fox Ventures and founders of Zip, Wisr and Synthetix Coin investing, to build an underwriting business and platform features.

Also Techboard·Startup Daily

8 deals

The startup funding round: Digital ID verification, smart insurance, and nasal spray to protect against COVID-19

Weekly funding wrap covering several raises including Honey Insurance's record seed round, OCR Labs' Series A, and Ena Respiratory's COVID-19 nasal spray funding, plus Investible's second fund first close.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany

Seed $15.5m

BNPL founders pile into record $15.5 million seed round for insurtech startup Honey

Honey Insurance has raised $15.5 million in seed funding backed by RACQ, PEXA, Metricon and founders of Zip and Afterpay, to launch its smart-home insurance offering.

Seed $15.5m

Honey Insurance launches with $15.5M AUD, the largest seed round ever for an Australian tech startup

Australian home insurer Honey Insurance launched with a A$15.5 million seed round, reportedly the country's largest, led by insurers and property firms alongside several fintech executives investing personally.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia

Unnamed stage

Zip expands into Europe and the Middle East

ASX-listed payments firm Zip Co has agreed to buy the outstanding shares of European BNPL provider Twisto and UAE rival Spotii, extending its buy-now-pay-later reach across Europe and the Middle East.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Australian FinTech·Crunchbase News·TechCrunch Venture·Startup Daily

2 deals

Superhero secures $25 million as share-trading trend gains momentum

Australian investing platform Superhero raised $25 million at a valuation above $100 million, with repeat angel backing from Nick Molnar and Larry Diamond plus Fred Schebesta, Regal Funds Management and Thorney Investment Group.

Also Australian FinTech·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

4 deals

Your (just a little bit more than) 90-second guide to the day in tech

Roundup: Split Payments promotes a new C-suite; Hubilo raises a US$23.5m Series A; Next.e.GO banks €30m; Lexer lands a $33.5m Series B; Zip posts a heavy loss; Kogan.com adds two directors.

Unnamed stage $4m

Like Afterpay, but for everything else: Sydney fintech Beforepay bags $4 million

Sydney wage-advance app Beforepay has raised $4 million in a round led by James Spenceley, following rapid user growth and a rebrand from its original name, Cheq.

Also SmartCompany·Australian FinTech·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Crikey·Startup Daily

Unnamed stage $8m

Sydney startup Superhero secures $8 million, with backing from Afterpay and Zip founders

Share-trading platform Superhero launches with an $8 million round led by Zip's Larry Diamond, with other Zip and Afterpay figures investing; Afterpay's Nick Molnar had backed an earlier seed round.

Also Australian FinTech·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany

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