Octopus Ventures

Six Aussie startups that raised $197.4 million this week

Roundup of six Australian funding deals: AutoGrab, Applied EV, Checkbox, Hometime, Factory and On the House, with amounts, investors, and Hometime's past acquisitions and raise history detailed.

Also Startup Daily

AI-based car valuation platform hits top get with $80 million Series B

Melbourne car-data platform AutoGrab has closed an $80 million Series B valuing it at $230 million, co-led by Octopus Ventures and Movac, to fund expansion across Britain, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Car data startup AutoGrab wheels away with $80 million investment

Vehicle-data platform AutoGrab has raised $80 million led by Octopus Ventures and Movac, valuing the company at $230 million, alongside Premier Capital Partners and existing backers EVP and Ten13.

Also Startup Daily·inspirepreneurmagazine.com·paintandpanel.com.au·autoworldjournal.com·autotalk.com.au·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

AI-powered healthcare transcription platform prescribed $12 million

Melbourne AI medical scribe Lyrebird Health raises $12 million from Five V Capital, Octopus Ventures and Startmate at a $50 million valuation; Five V partner Chris Gillings joins its board.

Also Startup Daily·Forbes Australia

Pendula, the freaky engagement platform making a bid for ailing Whispir

Profile of Pendula, whose AI-driven platform personalises upselling for telcos and insurers, as it prepares a takeover offer for ASX-listed Whispir, whose board urged rejecting Soprano Design's bid.

Eight Aussie startups that raised $149 million this week

Weekly roundup of eight Australian startups together securing $149 million: One Model, SafetyCulture, Hysata, Pendula, Marqo, Medigrowth, Curiious and Zena Sport, spanning HR analytics, safety tech, hydrogen, AI, medicinal cannabis, VR and sportstech.

Also Startup Daily·thebusinesstimes.com.au·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia

Christmas comes early for 14 Aussie startups that raised $260 million this week

Weekly roundup covering 14 startup raises totalling over $260 million, headlined by Synchron's $110 million round, plus Roller's shareholder liquidity payout, Partly's record New Zealand Series A, and several government grants.

Also GrainCorp Ventures·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Techboard·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·Startup News (WA)·Startup News (WA)

The Carlyle Group to acquire Calastone

Calastone says Carlyle Group has agreed to buy a majority stake from shareholders including Octopus Ventures and Accel, with management keeping a minority; terms undisclosed, regulatory approval pending.

NAB just led a $10 million raise for a US cybersecurity startup

NAB's ventures arm led a $10 million round for US digital risk protection firm Digital Shadows, with earlier backer Octopus Ventures also participating; two NAB executives take observer seats on the startup's board.