Point72

🇦🇺 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

Heidi hits $1.2 billion valuation with $470 million in fresh funding

Heidi raised US$100m in a Blackbird-led Series C plus US$240m in customer-acquisition finance from General Catalyst, reaching a $1.26 billion valuation as Australia's fourth billion-dollar startup of the year.

Also Dealroom·Cut Through Venture·Startup Daily·This Week in Australian Startups·Dynamic Business·This Week in Australian Startups·Mirage News·This Week in Australian Startups·Forbes Australia

Capital returns but discipline and liquidity remain key

A retrospective on 2025 Australian venture activity: large raises at Firmus, Heidi Health, Airwallex and others, deep tech momentum, and Folklore's own backing of Hullbot and Sphere.

Also RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·Startup Daily

Six ANZ startups that raised $211.1 million this week

Roundup of six Australian and New Zealand funding rounds, headlined by Heidi Health and Octopus Deploy, also covering Nexl, OpenSolar, Lucent and PAM, with past acquisitions of Stella AI, MagicBrief and Codefresh noted.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Women's Agenda

Heidi Health's $98 million raise skyrockets its valuation to $704 million

Melbourne AI medical-notes startup Heidi Health has banked a $98 million Series B led by Point72 at a $704 million valuation, adding two senior clinical and commercial hires to its leadership.

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

Investment Notes: Heidi Series B

Blackbird's investment notes announce its backing of Heidi's Series B alongside Point72 Private Investments, describing the AI medical scribe's rapid growth, enterprise traction, and international expansion.

Also Tech Funding News - Australia

MYOB acquires the rest of HR fintech Flare

MYOB has taken full ownership of Sydney HR and payroll fintech Flare, converting its existing stake into a takeover, giving exits to venture backers who had invested over $50 million across several prior rounds.

Flare advance financial wellness vision driven by recent $21m funding

Workplace benefits startup Flare says a recent $21 million round from four investors is funding new products, executive hires and a new Sydney headquarters as it expands its employee financial wellbeing offering.

Also Reinventure Group portfolio·Startup Daily