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Stanford

Coverage

Stories naming Stanford. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.

Funding announcement

This former OpenAI exec is trying to cure chronic diseases, including her own

Profile of Fidji Simo, who left OpenAI to cofound ChronicleBio, which has raised $20 million to use AI and biological data to subtype chronic illnesses like POTS and long COVID and rescue shelved drugs.

14 deals

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #180, 4th October 2026

Weekly roundup reporting Australian startup funding rounds and government grants, a venture fund close, agreed acquisitions, an IPO pricing, a collapse, plus executive hires and AI policy developments.

Funding announcement

“Every tool in the kit:” From kerbside EV charging to microgrid building, 10 companies line up for funding, incubation

EnergyLab names ten hardware-focused climate tech companies joining its 2026 Climate Solutions Accelerator, which pairs seed investment with a six-month program. Several hold government grants, and Catch Power's 2024 purchase of Solar Analytics is recalled.

Also RenewEconomy

Unnamed stage $505m

💫 Ramplify: April Architect

Rampersand's April newsletter: an essay on AI services startups, model releases from Anthropic and Meta, Firmus Technologies' $505 million raise, Dexibit's sale to accesso, plus portfolio jobs, events and market commentary.

Also Dealroom·Cut Through Venture·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia·Business News Australia

Unnamed stage $2m+

Climate tech startup Good Heat raises $2 million to transform industrial energy

Sydney heat-battery startup Good Heat has raised over $2 million, led by Understorey Ventures with Investible and 2100VC, to replace gas-fired industrial heat with renewable-powered thermal storage, starting in Victoria.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Pre-seed $300k

Omni Biotech Raises $300k Pre-Seed Round To Make Hydration An Everyday Trackable

Hydration-tracking startup Omni Biotech, based in Perth, has completed a $300,000 pre-seed round from Skalata Ventures to develop phone- and wearable-based hydration monitoring, founders Will Poot and Zac Farrow announced at West Tech Fest.

Also Startup Daily

Unnamed stage $18.2m

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Roundup of manufacturing briefs: biotech Imugene's share plan added A$18.2 million, EVOS shifted its Brisbane head office, ANSTO won federal backing for nuclear medicine, CSIRO endowed Wollongong scholarships, plus two chief executive appointments.

2 deals

Investment Notes: Marqo

Blackbird announces it led AI search startup Marqo's seed round, joined by January Capital, The Creator Fund and angel investors, having previously backed the company's pre-seed in May 2022.

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

Seed $2m

Investment Notes: SwingVision

AfterWork Ventures explains why it joined SwingVision's $2 million seed round led by Tennis Australia's Wildcard Ventures, alongside Roddick, Blake and the MyFitnessPal co-founders; the app brings pro-grade tennis analytics to amateurs.

Also Startup Daily

Grant $551.1k

Voice replacement device maker among eight Accelerating Commercialisation grant winners

Eight companies including voice prosthesis developer Laronix have won federal Accelerating Commercialisation grants worth $3.9 million combined, with Laronix receiving $551,100 for its Bionic Voice device for larynx amputees.

Also SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

13 deals

Ignition Lane Weekly Wrap: Australian space takes off, edtech learnings, Facebook hits $1 trillion

Weekly roundup reporting Gilmour Space's raise, several startup funding rounds, KKR's Education Perfect deal, ASX listings, new funds from Accel and the Albert family, and global tech listings and acquisitions.

Also Forbes Australia

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