Partner, Main Sequence Ventures

Martin Duursma

Roles

Role	Organisation	Sources
Board Member (former)	Advanced Navigation	@AuManufacturing, Our Innovation Fund
Partner	Main Sequence Ventures	SmartCompany (Tue 20 Jan 2026), Startup Daily (Tue 17 Oct 2023), SmartCompany (Tue 17 Oct 2023), SmartCompany (Fri 4 Aug 2023), Startup Daily (Fri 17 Mar 2023), @AuManufacturing (Mon 13 Sep 2021), @AuManufacturing (Tue 3 Aug 2021), TechCrunch Australia (Mon 2 Aug 2021), SmartCompany (Fri 30 Jul 2021), @AuManufacturing (Thu 10 Jun 2021), RenewEconomy, TechCrunch Australia (Mon 7 Jun 2021), @AuManufacturing (Tue 27 Apr 2021), Main Sequence, TechCrunch Australia (Mon 26 Apr 2021), @AuManufacturing (Tue 26 Nov 2019), Our Innovation Fund, Startup Daily (Wed 3 Jul 2019)

Coverage

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

2 deals

Air traffic management platform lands $120 million

Canberra startup Skykraft raised $120 million for its space-based air traffic management system, led by Foresight's Australian arm with Main Sequence Ventures and OPTrust, following an earlier $3.5 million round.

Startup Daily Tue 17 Oct 2023 Skykraft CSIRO Foresight Group Macquarie Group Adcock Private Equity Lennoxgrove Capital Main Sequence Ventures OPTrust Allan Moss Martin Duursma Dr Michael Frater

Also @AuManufacturing·Startup Daily

3 deals

Canberra-based satellite maker Skykraft raises $120 million

Canberra satellite firm Skykraft has raised $120 million to manage air traffic from space, with backing from Foresight Australia, OPTrust and Main Sequence; the round trails only Saluda Medical's this year.

SmartCompany Tue 17 Oct 2023 Loam Bio Quasar Satellite Technologies Skykraft CSIRO Gilmour Space Myriota Saluda Medical Foresight Australia Main Sequence Ventures OPTrust Martin Duursma Dr Michael Frater

Also Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·proactiveinvestors.com·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany

9 deals

Eight Aussie startups that raised $85.6 million this week

Weekly roundup reporting eight Australian startups together raised $85.6 million across mining tech, cybersecurity, waste, energy storage, health and micromobility, plus a Google.org grant for Global Sisters.

SmartCompany Fri 4 Aug 2023 Global Sisters Goterra MGA Thermal microFleet Navi Medical Technologies Plerion Plotlogic Vitable Artesian VC Australia Post BHP Brenteca Investments Cleanaway Commencer Capital CSIRO Deloitte Electric Vehicles Pty Ltd Equitise Global Founders Capital Hello Fresh Medtech Actuator Pilbara Minerals Rocket Internet Royal Women's Hospital South32 Vale Woolworths Atlassian Ventures Bentley iTwin Ventures Breakthrough Victoria Cercano Climate Venture Capital Fund DCVC Galvanise Climate Solutions Google.org GRIDS Capital Grok Ventures iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre Innovation Endeavours Main Sequence Ventures Melt Ventures Pollination Group Prosus Ventures SE Ventures Tenacious Ventures Understorey Ventures Varley Holdings Alex Newton Dr Andrew Job Dr Erich Kisi Ilyas Anane Katie Hall Larah Loutati Mandy Richards Martin Duursma Mike Rahmati Olympia Yarger Paul Garner Pierre Liddle Tom Steyer

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany

News

Local space industry is now moving fast, and that's just as well

Interview with Main Sequence partner Martin Duursma on Australia's late but accelerating space sector, his firm's space investments, sovereign capability, and portfolio companies Quasar and Gilmour Space.

@AuManufacturing Mon 13 Sep 2021 CSIRO Gilmour Space Main Sequence Ventures Quasar Sat Southern Launch Adam Gilmour CSIRO Martin Duursma

Funding announcement

“Space 2.0”: Meet the Aussie investor backing local space tech

Interview with Main Sequence partner Martin Duursma on why the deep-tech fund backs Australian space startups, the sector's commercial shift, and opportunities in satellites, launch and supporting software.

SmartCompany Fri 30 Jul 2021 Advanced Navigation CSIRO Gilmour Space Main Sequence Ventures Myriota Quasar Sat Martin Duursma

Unnamed stage $5m

Endua creates hydrogen-powered clean energy storage, using tech from Australia's national science agency

Brisbane hydrogen storage startup Endua has raised AUD 5 million from Main Sequence, CSIRO and Ampol to commercialise electrolysis technology developed at CSIRO, with Ampol as industry partner.

TechCrunch Venture Mon 7 Jun 2021 Endua Tritium Ampol CSIRO Main Sequence Ventures CSIRO Martin Duursma Matthew Halliday Dr Paul Sernia

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

Fund close $250m

Fund 2 Announcement

Australia's Main Sequence has pulled in A$250 million for its second deep tech fund, with existing backers returning and a sharpened emphasis on decarbonisation investments.

Also TechCrunch Venture·TechCrunch Venture·SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·TechCrunch Venture

Unnamed stage $20m

Aussie AI start-up raises $20m after hooking Boeing and Tesla deals

Deep tech firm Advanced Navigation, based in Sydney, has secured $20m from CSIRO's venture arm Main Sequence plus two US funds; two investors take board seats. OIF backed it earlier.

Also OIF Ventures portfolio·SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·Forbes Australia

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