Trevor St Baker

🇦🇺 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.

Ampol to buy EV charging scaleup Evie Networks for $225 million

Fuel retailer Ampol has proposed acquiring EV charging network Evie Networks for $225 million, pending regulator approval, while the article recalls the charging company's seed, Series A, government grant and debt funding history.

Ampol powers up its EV strategy with $225m acquisition of Evie Networks' national charging platform

Fuel retailer Ampol is buying EV charging network Evie Networks, via holding company Fast Cities Australia, for $225 million funded from debt, with completion expected in first-half 2027 pending ACCC approval.

Also This Week in Australian Startups

Tritium receivers confident of selling the business

Receivers of collapsed Australian EV charger maker Tritium say the business is stabilised and attracting buyer interest; creditor claims include CBA and shareholder Trevor St Baker.

St Baker seeks $200 million in new fund focused on EVs, flying cars and energy

Trevor St Baker is launching a second investment fund seeking $200 million from outside backers, after his first vehicle backed Tritium, Novonix, Evie Networks and other energy and mobility companies.

Solar plane and electric vertical take-off and landing technologies win Australian grants

AMSL Aero, Praxis Labs and Swinburne's Air Hub won federal grants under the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program, while AMSL Aero also recently secured $5 million from Trevor St Baker's energy innovation fund.

Also @AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing

Wisetech billionaire Richard White doubles down on $66 million series D for music licensing startup Songtradr

US music licensing marketplace Songtradr closed a US$50 million Series D backed by Australian institutions and Richard White, valuing it at US$300 million, after acquiring MassiveMusic, Tunefind, Pretzel, Song Zu and Cuesongs.

Also SmartCompany

SPAC ATTACK: Brisbane EV charging venture Tritium heads to NASDAQ listing with $1.55 billion valuation

Brisbane EV fast-charger maker Tritium is merging with US SPAC Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corp II to list on NASDAQ at an A$1.55 billion valuation, anticipating up to US$403 million in gross proceeds.

Tritium appoints former Boeing executive Jane Hunter as new CEO

Brisbane EV charging maker Tritium names ex-Boeing Phantom Works executive Jane Hunter as CEO, with founder David Finn moving to Chief Growth Officer.