Pet Circle

Genesis Group merges with Proudi in deal set to double revenue

Algae producer Genesis Group has merged with pet nutrition firm Proudi, a combination the company expects will double its revenue; Proudi founder Dennis King joins the Genesis board as a director.

The pet food startup behind the dog poo ad Netflix banned scoops up $67 million Series C

Pet food subscription company Lyka has closed a $67 million Series C led by New York fund LGVP, which backed its earlier raises, lifting the startup's lifetime funding to $155 million.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Airtree Ventures closes $650M fund with international backing, fueling ANZ startup growth

Sydney venture firm Airtree has completed the close of its fifth fund at $650 million, drawing backing from US institutional investors and Australian superannuation funds, with allocations set for early and growth stages.

Leigh Jasper leads a new $50 million fund backed by Australian unicorn founders

Glitch Capital, a new $50m vehicle led by Leigh Jasper and backed by exited unicorn founders, has completed its first deal, backing Melbourne edtech firm Cadmus.

The 10 biggest capital raises by Australian startups in 2023

A year-end SmartCompany roundup counting down 2023's ten largest Australian startup raises, headed by Employment Hero's $263m Series F, with investor details and commentary on fewer mega-rounds and continued under-representation of women co-founders.

DOG'S BREAKFAST: Pet Circle's $75m raise from US VC a rare highlight for Australian startups amid a 42% fall in funding for September quarter

Cut Through Ventures' quarterly analysis shows Australian startup funding down 42% year-on-year at A$739 million over 77 deals, with Pet Circle's $75 million Series D from Prysm Capital the period's largest round.

Also SmartCompany·RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing

FUNDED June 2023 – Including a Teaser of Funded FY23

Techboard's June 2023 roundup of Australian startup funding, led by Pet Circle's $75m Series D, lists raises by Stacked Farm, Lyka, In1Bank, Splend, ImmVirX, Midnight Health, Sicona and Nutromics, and teases its FY23 review.

Startup funding dropped massively in 2023, but AI and climate tech are still winners

KPMG data shows Australian startup funding fell sharply in early 2023, though AI and climate tech stayed strong, with several large raises listed and a new Main Sequence fund announced.

Also Startup Daily

Nine Aussie startups that raised $107.35 million this week

Weekly roundup detailing nine Australian startup funding rounds totalling $107.35 million, spanning pet e-commerce, quantum sensors, proptech, agtech, EV charging, sailing apparel, marketing tools, consumer goods and pregnancy wearables.

Also Startup Daily·Australian FinTech·SmartCompany·AgFunderNews

Pet Circle keeps unicorn status with $75m raise

Prysm Capital has invested a further $75 million in Sydney pet-care platform Pet Circle, keeping its valuation above $1 billion; the piece also recalls its 2021 Series C and Lyka's June raise.

Also Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia·SmartCompany·Techboard·Startup Daily·SmartCompany

Lyka raises $30 million in monster Series B round as more Australians serve up premium chow for furry friends

Pet food subscription startup Lyka closed a $30 million Series B led by Israeli investor Itai Tsiddon, with Craig Blair and Paul Wilson returning; the article also recalls its 2018 raise and Adobe's Frame.io acquisition.

Also SmartCompany·Techboard·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Business News Australia

AirTree joins leading VCs Square Peg and Blackbird in cutting Canva's valuation by a third

Australian venture firms Airtree, Square Peg and Blackbird have written down their Canva stakes, valuing the design company well below its last raise, amid wider market corrections hitting Klarna and other late-stage startups.

Subundl is helping make tailored subscription models accessible to eCommerce businesses

Profile of Subundl, a SaaS platform co-founded by Jess Wright and Jamie Turner letting eCommerce retailers build customised subscription models, after Antler backed the startup at pre-seed stage.

The final FUNDED for 2021

Techboard's year-end roundup catalogues November funding activity: big raises for Rokt, Harrison.ai and Pet Circle, five acquisitions, Investible's second fund closing at $51.6m, plus a watchlist of companies still seeking capital.

Also Australian FinTech

Ignition Lane's Weekly Wrap: Startup hatches, matches & dispatches, fresh crop of VCs, Microsoft 30.0

Weekly roundup reporting many startup funding rounds, Investible's fund close, Skalata's committed capital, hipages buying Builderscrack, Stack Sports acquiring Team App, and Level Equity's stake purchase in Eftsure.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Pets, cars and cybersecurity: 10 Aussie startups that raised a combined $372 million this week

A weekly roundup reporting ten Australian startups that together raised about $372 million, spanning pet e-commerce, marketplace software, fintech, used cars, cybersecurity, freight, data tools, genetic testing and payments anti-fraud.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Techboard

JUICY BONE: Pet Circle tossed $125 million Series C treat

Online pet supplies retailer Pet Circle announced a $125 million Series C led by Prysm Capital and TDM Growth Partners, with AirTree and new backer Baillie Gifford participating, valuing the company above a billion dollars.

Also SmartCompany·Business News Australia·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Techboard·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Business News Australia·petnews.com.au·Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia·SmartCompany

Pet Circle raises $125m to become Australia's latest unicorn

Sydney pet-care platform Pet Circle has raised $125 million in a Series C round backed by Prysm Capital, TDM Growth Partners, Baillie Gifford and AirTree Ventures, reaching unicorn status.

Also SmartCompany

Shippit rejects $5M and secures a strategic $2.2M Series A

Shipping platform Shippit took a AU$2.2 million Series A led by Aura Group, with Addventure Fund and RTL Group participating, turning down a larger oversubscribed offer to bankroll Asia-Pacific expansion and hiring.

Also TechCrunch Venture·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily