Medical Research Future Fund

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #179, 26th September 2026

Weekly roundup recording a dozen raises and acquisitions, Firmus's scheduled float, a new $50m venture fund, a founder share sale, grant winners, an accelerator intake, and an AI agent's government breach.

Also DealStreetAsia·Dealroom·This Week in Australian Startups·AFR Technology·AFR Technology·Startup Daily·AFR Technology·AFR Technology·ABC News Technology·iTnews

Kinoxis Therapeutics closes $6.75 million financing round

Melbourne biotech Kinoxis completed a $6.75 million round with new backer MainSequence and won a $2.5 million government-funded CUREator+ grant for dementia and pain drug development; MainSequence's Elaine Stead joins the board.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Dealroom·This Week in Australian Startups·Dynamic Business

7 startups share $15.6 million in the latest round of government-backed dementia research grants

Seven Australian health startups receive equity-free grants totalling $15.6 million in the second CUREator+ round for dementia research, backed by the Medical Research Future Fund, spanning gene editing, medicines and diagnostic tools.

Also This Week in Australian Startups

Dementia biotech Kinoxis raises $6.75 million with a $2.5m grant as cherry on top

Melbourne dementia drug developer Kinoxis secured $6.75 million equity led by Main Sequence plus a $2.5 million Medical Research Future Fund grant via CUREator+, funding trials of its agitation and pain drug candidates.

Vaccine Platform Secures Funds Against Mosquito Threats

UQ spinout Proboxis Biotechnology has received $1.5 million via the first round of the Biointelect Venturer incubator to advance a vaccine platform against mosquito-borne diseases toward human clinical development.

Ceretas triggers final $490,000 grant tranche as dementia device prototypes clear review

Australian medtech Ceretas hit a milestone in its CUREator+ program, unlocking the final instalment of a government-funded grant; the piece also recaps its A$8 million IPO and ASX listing earlier in 2026.

Funding Surge for Potential EBV Vaccine

QIMR Berghofer's Ebivanta Therapeutics wins $1.5 million plus backing from biotech incubator Biointelect Venturer's first cohort to ready its mRNA vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus for clinical testing.

Six Australian infectious disease ventures share $10.48 million in funding round

An Australian infectious-disease incubator has selected six local biotechs to divide $10.48 million from its inaugural funding round, pairing non-dilutive cash with commercialisation support; the program is backed by an earlier MRFF grant.

Six biomedtech startups share $13.5 million in CUREator+ grants to fast-track health breakthroughs

Six Australian health tech startups received non-dilutive grants totaling $13.5 million from the government-backed CUREator+ program to accelerate commercialisation of medical innovations.

Brandon BioCatalyst's CUREator+ distributes $13.5M in grants

Six Australian biomedical and health ventures receive a combined $13.5 million in non-dilutive grants through round two of the CUREator+ commercialisation program operated by Brandon BioCatalyst and backed by the Medical Research Future Fund.

Also Dealroom

CUREator+ backs six Australian startups with $13.5 million to advance new health technologies

Six Australian health tech startups received a combined $13.5 million in non-dilutive funding from the CUREator+ program, supported by the Australian Government.

Six Australian startup health innovators awarded $13.5 million through CUREator+ to accelerate breakthrough medical therapies and technologies.

CUREator+ granted thirteen point five million dollars in non-dilutive funding to six Australian health tech startups to support commercialisation of medical innovations.

An Interview with Harry Carpenter of ANDHealth+ portfolio company Corcillum

Interview with the chief executive of Adelaide heart-analytics startup Corcillum on its angiogram software, funding hurdles, and its place in the ANDHealth+ accelerator program.

An Interview with Nicky Agahari of ANDHealth+ portfolio company Australis Scientific

ANDHealth's blog interviews Australis Scientific's founder about its wearable therapy for bladder conditions, its years in ANDHealth programs, and plans to scale the device at home and abroad.

Denteric Commences a Phase I Safety Study in Patients with Early Alzheimer’s Disease

Denteric has begun recruiting early Alzheimer's patients for a Phase I trial of its gingipain-targeting therapy GPV381, with funding from the CUREator+ Dementia program and the Medical Research Future Fund.

Five Australian digital health startups share up to $9 million via ANDHealth+ accelerator

ANDHealth+ selected five Australian digital and connected health companies to receive tranched, milestone-based non-dilutive funding across two stages totalling up to $9 million.

The “Anti-Botox” Breakthrough: How a Rural Doctor is Using Tetanus to Help the World Breathe

Profile of Snoretox, a biotech using a modified tetanus toxin to strengthen weak muscles in dogs and humans, which has won a $1 million government research grant and is seeking investors.

ANDHealth proves Australian commercialisation capability

ANDHealth reported portfolio metrics including patient impact and job creation, while securing additional MRFF funding to expand its digital health commercialisation program.

CUREator+ delivers $15.7m to seven Australian BioMedTech startups tackling dementia

Government-backed CUREator+ program awards non-dilutive funding to seven Australian companies developing dementia and cognitive decline therapeutics, devices and digital health tools.

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Roundup of Australian manufacturing items: gold-nanoparticle cancer diagnostics research, a medical research endowment's ten-year mark, a footballer's ambassador role, EU research program accession talks, a pectin producer's government grant, and battle-tank trainers.

Mirugen Secures A$4.5m to Pioneer Cell (Re)programming, and Welcomes Charlotte Casebourne Stock as Executive Chair

Mirugen, a Melbourne biotech spun out of an eye research institute, has closed a A$4.5m seed round with three backers and hired Charlotte Casebourne Stock as chair and acting chief executive.

Also cera.org.au·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·insightnews.com.au

Leading digital health commercialisation program to expand with more than $30 million in new funding

ANDHealth secured a thirty-three million dollar government grant to expand its non-dilutive accelerator program for digital health startups, aiming to support fifteen companies over two years.

Life sciences investor MTPConnect injects $12 million into 14 drug and device startups

MTPConnect's government-backed accelerator program has awarded $12.07 million in non-dilutive grants to 14 Australian drug and device companies, which will also receive mentoring and support from partners including CSL and Roche Diagnostics.

Also SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing

CUREator+ Opens Second Funding Round Offering Up to $5M for Dementia BioMedTech Startups

CUREator+, backed by Brandon BioCatalyst, ANDHealth and Dementia Australia, launches second round offering non-dilutive funding to startups targeting dementia and cognitive decline.

University of Sydney launches $25 million pre-Seed fund for its home-grown startups

The University of Sydney has launched a $25 million pre-seed fund to back ventures spun out of its research, naming five initial investments across carbon capture, diabetes treatment, inhaled medicines and cardiovascular devices.

Meet Proxima Bio: Australia's next-generation biotech startup aiming to clean up cancer-causing proteins.

Profile of Australian biotech startup Proxima Bio, covering its founding, an early MRFF grant through the CUREator program, Brandon Capital's guidance, and a later larger investment that grew the team.

Breakthrough Victoria Portfolio Companies Celebrate Milestones and Global Growth

Breakthrough Victoria highlights recent achievements of portfolio companies including funding, awards, and expansions for firms like Liquid Instruments, Quantum Brilliance, and Samsara Eco.

CUREator+ Deploys $18.5 million in its First Funding Round

Eight Australian health startups received equity-free grants totaling 18.5 million dollars from the CUREator+ program, supported by government funding and delivered with partners Brandon BioCatalyst and ANDHealth.

Micro-X’s first 3D images from micro Head CT scanner

Micro-X's Head CT test bench produced its first 3D images, qualifying it for an MRFF progress payment, with US ARPA-H contracts worth $25 million announced this week supporting full-body CT development.

Also Medianet·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·Dealroom

Digital Health Businesses Receive $3.25M to Tackle Major Health Issues

Five Australian digital health startups received a combined $3.25 million in stage-two grant funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, facilitated by ANDHealth.

Brandon BioCatalyst’s CUREator Incubator Boosts Preclinical and Health Security Biotech Innovations with $1.865m in funding.

Brandon BioCatalyst's CUREator incubator has granted an extra $1.865m across four Australian biotechs working on antibiotic prescribing, schizophrenia, muscular dystrophy and autoimmune therapies, on top of their initial awards.

EMVision reveals first responder stroke scanner

EMVision has built the prototype of a lightweight brain scanner for ambulances, developed for an Australian stroke research group with federal funding, and has lodged paperwork to trigger a further milestone payment.

Australia's Leading Health Accelerator Announces Fourth Cohort

ANDHealth announced its fourth accelerator cohort, granting non-dilutive MRFF funding to six digital health startups including Cape Bionics and Healthily to support commercialisation.

CUREator+ opens first funding round for dementia innovations with up to $5 million per project

The CUREator+ incubator, backed by government funds and industry partners, launches its initial grant round offering non-dilutive capital to startups developing dementia and cognitive decline solutions.

Funding Australia’s Future Economy: CUREator Deploys $7.21 Million to Propel local Life Sciences Potential

CUREator, Brandon BioCatalyst's government-backed grant program, has awarded $7.21 million across eight Australian biotech firms in its newest round, split between clinical-stage and preclinical recipients.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Startup Daily·ausceleratesa.org

ANDHealth Welcomes Plans for Cohesive Investment into Health and Medical Research under New National Strategy

ANDHealth supports the Australian government's new national health research strategy and funding commitments, highlighting the role of its accelerator in driving digital health innovation.

Micro-X reveals details of its in-ambulance CT scanner – video

Micro-X has released footage of its portable head scanner for diagnosing strokes in ambulances, built with $8 million flowing from a government grant to the Australian Stroke Alliance; EMVision is developing similar technology.

$3 million awarded to five antimicrobial resistance-related projects

Brandon BioCatalyst's CUREator biotech incubator has allocated $3 million across five antimicrobial resistance projects, with a UWA-linked nasal spray venture, Spritz-OM, receiving $500,000 toward Phase 1 clinical trials.

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, February 19 – February 23, 2024

Weekly roundup of readers' top five stories: Gilmour Space's $55m Series D raise, a $50m MRFF grant for an artificial heart consortium, K-TIG entering administration, defence budget news, and Queensland's return to venture investing.

MRFF awards $50 million to Australian team developing artificial heart

The federal MRFF has granted $50 million to the Artificial Heart Frontiers Program, a Monash-led consortium including BiVACOR, to advance a total artificial heart; the team earlier received $1 million in 2021.

Also @AuManufacturing