Rio Tinto

WA mining software startup CorePlan strikes $5 million

Perth-based drilling and exploration software company CorePlan raised a follow-on round led by existing investor EVP to fund global expansion.

Mine drone mapping scaleup Emesent raises $15 million

Brisbane drone mapping firm Emesent secures $15 million SAFE Note plus $10 million venture debt from federal government's National Reconstruction Fund.

Verona Capital buys control of Dredge Robotics in 3.4x exit for Acorn

Perth family office Verona Capital has bought majority control of mining-robotics maker Dredge Robotics, giving early investor Acorn Capital a 3.4x return, while the founders retain significant stakes and stay in charge.

Mine drone mapping scaleup Emesent raises $15 million

Brisbane drone-mapping firm Emesent has raised $15 million via a SAFE note plus $10 million in venture debt from the National Reconstruction Fund — the fund's first such deal — four years after its Series A.

Australian company says its magnetic technology could be key to green steel ambitions

Adelaide magnetic-technology venture DryFlow Magnetics, freshly backed by a $10 million seed round, will trial its waterless ore-extraction system at Peak Iron's Hawks Nest site, targeting premium iron for green steel.

Eight ANZ startups that raised $373.3 million this week

Weekly roundup detailing eight trans-Tasman raises totalling A$373.3 million, headlined by Halter's Series E, spanning quantum computing, biomanufacturing, robotics, adtech and agtech, plus a recalled $2 billion founder exit.

Also Startup Daily

QIC backs $8m Series A for rail maintenance robotics startup

Brisbane robotics firm Future Maintenance Technologies has secured an $8 million Series A, with QIC Ventures leading and Brighter Super plus Taronga Group participating; its robots inspect rail networks and aircraft for global operators.

Also Startup Daily

CorePlan raises $5 million to expand its mining software platform

Perth-based mining software firm CorePlan has secured $5 million in a follow-on raise, with existing backer EVP leading, to grow its team and push into drilling and geology workflows; BHP is a user.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany

Global mining giant makes $35m bet on Australian green steel technology

Rio Tinto has signed a $35m-plus agreement backing Calix's green-iron demo plant in Western Australia, a project that earlier won an ARENA grant of as much as $44.9 million.

Also RenewEconomy

Radium Capital surpasses $1 billion in innovation funding

Radium Capital's R&D lending has passed $1 billion across 1,000-plus companies since 2017; case studies recall WeMoney's $12 million Series A and ElectraLith's $27.5 million Main Sequence-led round.

Also Startup Daily·Australian FinTech·SmartCompany·Fintech News Australia·Fintech News Australia

Edify to accelerate giant solar and battery hybrid projects after $1.1 billion buyout by Canada's La Caisse

Canadian investor La Caisse has agreed to buy Australian solar and storage developer Edify Energy for $1.1 billion, aiming to fast-track two major hybrid projects, subject to regulatory approvals.

Also RenewEconomy

Investment Notes: Why We Invested in SprintSuite

EVP sets out its case for backing SprintSuite, an operations platform for mining and engineering service firms co-founded by Fredy Galindo Jr. and Sandra Harris, citing insider credibility and strong early growth.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany

Investment Notes: Why We Invested in SprintSuite

EVP's investment note reflects on its backing of SprintSuite, built for mining-sector service companies by founders with industry roots, citing insider credibility, rapid growth and a large untapped market.

Five Aussie startups that raised $85 million this week

Roundup of five Australian raises totalling $85 million: National Renewable Network's Series A, plus Syenta, Cuttable, SprintSuite and Bitwise Agronomy, with lead investors and expansion plans for each.

Applications for WA’s Nature Tech Accelerator for biodiversity startups are open

Founders Factory is seeking applicants for the next intake of its Western Australian biodiversity startup program, which begins in August 2025 with state government backing; six startups it backed earlier are named.

Fleet Space partners with quantum companies for mineral exploration

Fleet Space is partnering with three quantum sensor makers, mDetect, Nomad Atomics and DeteQt, to build next-generation exploration tools; the piece also recalls its HiSeis buyout and Series D round.

Arena gives $20m for key project designed to show Pilbara iron ore can be used for low carbon steel

ARENA commits $19.8 million to NeoSmelt, a low-carbon steelmaking venture backed by BHP, Rio Tinto, BlueScope, Woodside and Mitsui; the pilot project near Perth earlier secured $75 million from Western Australia.

Industry giants collaborating to seek to decarbonise steel

Also RenewEconomy

Miner South32 lands government funds for electrification and emission cuts in alumina refining

ARENA is funding South32 to study electrifying steam production at its Western Australia alumina refinery, having previously backed similar decarbonisation trials by Alcoa and Rio Tinto.

South32 to explore emission reductions options in alumina refining.

Government agency ARENA is granting $4.4 million for a pre-feasibility study into steam electrification at South32's Western Australian alumina refinery, with earlier backing of Alcoa and Rio Tinto also recalled.

How old is that sheep? Edify floats another solar and battery project amid reports it is fishing for buyers

Edify Energy has referred its Brewongle solar farm and battery project for federal environmental assessment, its third such entry in two months, while reportedly preparing a possible sale with Lazard Australia seeking buyers.

Seven ANZ startups that raised $42.8 million this week

Weekly roundup of seven Australian and New Zealand raises totalling $42.8 million, spanning property-investment AI, workforce credentialing, allied-health practice software, conversation analytics, maths learning games, copper processing and holiday-park bookings.

Three Aussie startups that raised $46.5 million this week

Roundup of three Australian raises — ElectraLith, Coposit and Convergence Medical — plus Quantum Brilliance naming its Series A backers and Rokt's secondary share sale.

ElectraLith BREAKTHROUGH VICTORIA INVESTS IN MONASH UNIVERSTY STARTUP REVOLUTIONISING LITHIUM EXTRACTION AND REFINING

Breakthrough Victoria puts $2 million into ElectraLith, a Victorian startup whose lithium extraction technology was developed at Monash University, as part of a Series A led by Main Sequence.

Our Investment in ElectraLith: Unlocking Lithium to Power the Energy Transition

Main Sequence's post on leading ElectraLith's $27.5m Series A with Chevron, IP Group and other co-investors, backing its technology that turns lithium-bearing brines into battery-ready hydroxide in one step.

Also Radium Capital·Radium Capital·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

Investment Update: ElectraLith

Breakthrough Victoria's update describes its $2 million commitment to ElectraLith's Series A, led by Main Sequence, covering the lithium extractor's water-free refining technology, Monash ties, pilot plant plans and growing team.

Also Startup Daily

Fleet raises $150m in enormous investment round - Space Connect

Fleet Space Technologies has secured $150 million in a Series D round led by a Canadian pension fund, with existing backers Blackbird Ventures, Hostplus and Horizons Ventures also participating.

Fleet Space lands $150 million, valuation rockets to $800 million

Satellite company Fleet Space has closed a Series D backed by Teachers' Venture Growth and prior backers, lifting its valuation past $800 million, with proceeds earmarked for its mineral-exploration platform.

Also Space Connect·spaceanddefense.io·aap.com.au·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily·TechCrunch Venture·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·spaceexplored.com·Space Connect·Defence Connect·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·Forbes Australia·TechCrunch Venture

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Roundup of manufacturing briefs: Rio Tinto's quarterly output, Respiri's fresh placement, Archer's CEO exit, Amaero's US revenue, a retired UNSW satellite, Little Green Pharma's record quarter, OKA's investor group and MicroTau job ads.

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

AuManufacturing roundup of brief industry news: Wide Open Agriculture banks a $7.5 million raise, Liontown adds a lithium offtake partner, Osteopore signs Zimmer Biomet for distribution, plus quantum, defence, rail and recycling items.

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

News roundup: Cyclopharm's $20m placement, Eden Innovations' first Holcim orders, Rio Tinto and BHP electric haul truck trials, a hybrid boat's marine award, and a national rail procurement database launch.

Western Australia is getting a government-back nature and biodiversity accelerator thanks to Founders Factory

Founders Factory is launching its first Australian accelerator in Perth, a nature and biodiversity program backed by a $7.2 million WA government grant, with Rio Tinto funding a separate decarbonisation stream.

Brisbane’s Canaria Technologies shoots for the moon with NASA-approved AI for astronauts

Profile of a Brisbane predictive-biometrics wearable maker courting NASA's Artemis III mission, alongside news that it and 34 other Queensland exporters received Go Global Export Program grants.

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Roundup of Australian manufacturing news: Iluka's refinery cost estimate, a biotech placement with a founder sell-down, a CEO appointment, a retirement, an R&D refund, a distribution deal, a CRC merger and Victorian grants.

Dataweavers Secures $5.5 Million Series A Funding to Propel Operations Platform Across the Pacific

Dataweavers announced a $5.5 million Series A led by Five V Capital with QIC and existing backer OIF, funding US expansion, a near-doubling of headcount and more than 20 new Brisbane jobs.

Five Aussie startups that raised $58.5 million this week

Weekly roundup covering five Australian startups that announced a combined $58.5 million in new funding, spanning quantum computing, advertising software, mining safety technology and event rental software, alongside government grant programs.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Roundup covering Hanwha defence testing, a PPK Group CEO promotion, Immuron's sales growth, an Australian Vanadium retirement, Lumos Diagnostics' $4.75 million placement, and TAFE Queensland scholarships.

Five startups that raised $109.8 million this week

Weekly roundup of five startup raises: Fleet Space's Series C, Checkmate's Series A, Adventus's new round, Endua's hydrogen funding and Servicely's raise, with investors named.

Also Forbes Australia

Fleet Space Technologies raises another $50m - Bondi Partners

Bondi Partners reposts The Australian's coverage of Fleet Space Technologies' $50m Series C round, which Blackbird Ventures led and Bondi joined, valuing the Adelaide-based nanosatellite maker above $350m.

Also Blackbird Ventures portfolio·Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Techboard·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·Forbes Australia·satcom.digital·Space Connect·Space Connect·TechCrunch Venture·TechCrunch Venture

Lunar rover arose with $4M

WA space consortium AROSE has received a $4 million Australian Government grant under the Space Agency's Trailblazer program to design a lunar rover for NASA, leading a sixteen-organisation group including Fugro and Nova Systems.

Also SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·Defence Connect·@AuManufacturing