Business News Australia

Main Sequence promotes Elaine Stead to partner as deep tech VC builds towards Fund 4

Deep tech investor Main Sequence promotes Elaine Stead to partner while preparing a fourth fund; the piece recalls earlier fund closes and CSIRO's enlarged commitment to the Atmosphere pre-seed program.

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Identifai Genetics lists at a premium after $10m IPO to take AI prenatal blood test to US

Prenatal screening developer Identifai Genetics has joined the ASX after a $10m public offering, with proceeds earmarked for clinical validation and a first United States launch of its AI-based maternal blood test.

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Stacked Farm raising $45m to expand its US base as agtech gears up to open giant Melbourne facility

Vertical farming company Stacked Farm is seeking fresh capital for working capital amid US expansion and a Melbourne facility opening; the article recalls its closed 2022 raise of $56 million.

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FBR's first Mantis sale to US buyer becomes unconditional after welding robot trial success

Perth robotics firm FBR passed factory acceptance testing for its first Mantis welding robot, making its first US sale unconditional, and separately completed a $4 million capital raising including a $1.846 million placement to Alpine Capital.

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InDebted names former Advanced Navigation revenue chief Chris McNamara as CEO

Debt collection fintech InDebted hires Chris McNamara as CEO and Brendan Lee as CFO, while recalling its $60 million Series C led by Airtree and its acquisition of Germany's Receeve.

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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

Gold Coast startup Orbit 2 Orbit advances plans to facilitate a cargo service network in space

A Gold Coast venture that raised seed funding this year is building an in-orbit freight and servicing network, and a pathway for testing hardware in space, while the council weighs a defence precinct.

Also This Week in Australian Startups

Elixinol Wellness strikes $3.5m deal to acquire personalised vitamin platform Vitable

Elixinol has agreed an all-share takeover of supplement subscription platform Vitable at a $2.5 million headline value plus earn-out, while shareholder Ben McHarg commits a convertible note; the piece also recaps Vitable's earlier raises.

Fintech startup OpenDebt raises $2m to deploy AI debt collection agents and explore US partnerships

Sydney fintech OpenDebt, which automates debt recovery with AI agents, has closed a pre-seed round backed by Blackbird and Antler, and will grow its team while pursuing US partnerships.

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Amber closes $78.5m Series E to push energy tech platform into European markets

Melbourne energy tech firm Amber has banked a $78.5m Series E led by Morgan Stanley-backed climate fund 1GT, with E.ON, ETF Partners and Innovation Victoria joining, to fund growth and European expansion.

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Telix Pharmaceuticals strikes $3.3b merger with German radioisotope giant ITM

Melbourne's Telix Pharmaceuticals will merge with German radioisotope maker ITM in a deal worth as much as $3.3 billion, keeping about 76 per cent ownership with existing Telix shareholders once completed.

Also Biotech Dispatch

Savic opens the door for strategic investment to globally scale Australia's first electric motorbike

Melbourne electric motorcycle maker Savic has launched a process seeking acquirers and strategic investors; the article recounts its earlier crowdfunding, capital injection and government grant, though no new funding is confirmed.

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Drone-based maritime intelligence firm Overwatch Technologies eyes ASX float to track 'dark fleets'

Perth drone-intelligence startup Overwatch Technologies is preparing an ASX float planned for October to support maritime surveillance services for government customers, having earlier raised seed capital of $2.35 million.

Cycling safety camera maker Cycliq raises $1.5m to build inventory ahead of peak sales season

Cycliq, a Perth-based bike camera maker, has closed a $1.5 million placement that CPS Capital Group led, with two directors committing funds, to stock inventory for Black Friday and pursue AI work and acquisitions.

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Netwealth snaps up AI-powered advice platform Paradino in a deal worth up to $39 million

Netwealth has agreed to buy advice-automation startup Paradino for as much as $39 million, combining upfront cash and shares with earn-outs and a product investment pledge, aiming to build Australia's leading AI wealth platform.

Green360 low-carbon cement clocks 500 truckloads across Melbourne's biggest infrastructure projects

Green360 reports its MKX cement substitute has now been used in over 3,500 cubic metres of concrete across Victorian infrastructure projects, with Holcim Australia and Eifers among purchasers and June-quarter sales of $3.3 million.

Crimson Consulting ups the ante in hostile $38m bid for Kip McGrath with conditional price bump

Crimson Consulting has raised its hostile bid for tutoring company Kip McGrath to a conditional 74c a share and pushed the deadline out, with several big shareholders accepting or signalling support.

Darwin chemical recycler Global Resource Recovery secures $55m from National Reconstruction Fund

A Darwin chemical recycling firm has landed a $55 million debt facility from the federal National Reconstruction Fund to build out port-side storage and logistics, adding temporary and permanent roles.

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Sekisui Chemical snares 51pc stake in Queensland homebuilder Ausbuild for $335m

Japan's Sekisui Chemical has agreed to buy a controlling 51 per cent of Brisbane homebuilder Ausbuild for $335 million, valuing the group near $670 million, with settlement due January 2027.

Blobfish appoints former Coca-Cola executive to spearhead US expansion in $4b sampling market

Former MYOB executive appointed DroneShield CFO as full-year committed revenue tops $250m

DroneShield names Rebecca Lowde, previously at MYOB and Afterpay, as finance chief, succeeding Carla Balanco, while revealing a $251 million full-year order book and an initial sale of its RfRecon detection device.

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Battle heats up for Austal’s US shipbuilding arm with $1.7b rival bid from Wildcat syndicate

Austal has received an indicative US$1.25 billion offer from a Wildcat Infrastructure-led syndicate for its US shipbuilding arm, outbidding Hanwha, while heavy US losses weigh on the group.

Hearing Australia acquires ear wax removal clinic network Earworx in push for integrated care

Australia's national hearing services provider has bought Earworx, a nurse-led ear wax removal clinic group founded in Tasmania, adding ear wax removal to its integrated care offering.

Gilmour Space and Hypersonix join forces to build sovereign hypersonic flight-test capability

Gilmour Space and Hypersonix have partnered to offer hypersonic flight testing to defence customers, with both firms' recent raises recapped.

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FBR raises $4m to fund commercialisation of robotic welding and bricklaying technology

Perth-listed robotics firm FBR announced a $4 million equity raise, mixing a share placement with a shareholder purchase plan, to finish testing its Mantis welder, roll out Hadrian bricklaying tech and repay debt.

Also Business News Australia

Melbourne biotech ImmunoBiota progresses $5m seed raise for world-first oral Type 1 diabetes therapy

Melbourne biotech ImmunoBiota courts investors for its still-open seed round around an oral Type 1 diabetes therapy; its recent Diabetes Australia award is recorded, while the flagged Series A and listing remain plans.

Eftsure acquires US vendor data firm Relish to build global payment assurance platform

Australian payment-fraud prevention company Eftsure has bought US vendor-data firm Relish, its third international expansion in about a year following backer Level Equity's earlier purchase of France's Sis ID; terms undisclosed.

Slades Beverages takes first equity stake in oat milk brand OMG as plant-based group raises $1.5m

Plant-based food maker OMG Group has locked in a $1.5 million placement, with beverage manufacturer Slades Beverages taking a cornerstone stake and becoming its oat milk production partner as sales grow.

Steve Baxter's defence tech VC firm Beaten Zone closes debut fund at $26 million

Steve Baxter's Brisbane defence-tech venture firm Beaten Zone has wrapped its first fund at $26 million, with Baxter the largest backer at $6 million of his own money.

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals eyes Nasdaq switch and ASX delisting after decade of unbroken profit

Melbourne pharma Clinuvel is weighing a restructure into a US holding company listed only on Nasdaq and an ASX exit, weeks after completing a Nasdaq ADS uplisting, alongside a tenth straight annual profit.

Private equity-backed childcare operator Edge Early Learning collapses into voluntary administration

Edge Early Learning, a Brisbane childcare chain backed by HEAL Partners, Centennial Property Group and Normanby Capital, has gone into administration under KordaMentha following a rental standoff with Arena REIT, its landlord.

Blackbird closes record $1 billion Australian venture capital fund to back tech founders

Blackbird has finalised a $1.05 billion close for its sixth vehicle, the biggest Australian or New Zealand venture raise on record, adding new global institutions to long-standing local superannuation backers.

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BGH Capital gatecrashes TPG's $658m bid for EQT Holdings with higher offer

EQT Holdings faces a potential bidding war as BGH Capital's higher cash offer for the trustee group tops TPG Global's bid from days earlier; both proposals remain conditional and non-binding.

India's largest PR firm Adfactors acquires majority stake in Australian consultancy SenateSHJ

India's biggest PR agency has taken a majority stake in Melbourne communications consultancy SenateSHJ, which keeps its brand and leadership; deal terms were not disclosed.

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Guardhouse snares US patrol verification platform Mobohubb to build unified security workforce suite

Australian security-workforce software firm Guardhouse has bought US patrol-verification company Mobohubb, with growth-equity backer Sundance Growth — whose first fund closed at US$125 million last year — supporting the deal.

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ACTivate Capital leads $4m investment in Canberra defence tech company Seitec

A $4 million round for Canberra defence sensing firm Seitec is led by ACTivate Capital with UNSW and Beaten Zone co-investing; the ACT Government-backed fund earlier closed $23 million of a possible $50 million.

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TPG swoops on EQT Holdings with $658m takeover bid after First Guardian fallout hammers shares

Private equity firm TPG Global has launched a non-binding $657.7m bid for embattled ASX-listed EQT Holdings, whose stock slid amid the First Guardian collapse and ASIC litigation; the board is evaluating the proposal.

Reliance Worldwide firmly in Brookfield’s sights with boosted $4.1b bid as full-year profit slumps

Brookfield has made a $4.1 billion cash offer for Reliance Worldwide, with the board yet to recommend it, as the plumbing manufacturer reports a steep FY26 profit decline and skips its final dividend.

Sophiie AI hits $30m valuation after $5m raise to drive global growth of trades businesses platform

Gold Coast AI startup Sophiie AI has raised a $5m seed round at a $30m valuation, with five backers on board and the money set for building product and entering the US.

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Six biomedtech startups share $13.5 million in CUREator+ grants to fast-track health breakthroughs

Six Australian health tech startups received non-dilutive grants totaling $13.5 million from the government-backed CUREator+ program to accelerate commercialisation of medical innovations.

Two-time exited founder Zac Altman raises $3.5m to tackle Australia's ADHD care gap with Kantoko

Sydney ADHD care startup Kantoko has secured $3.5m in a seed round co-led by two venture firms, with Go1's founders among angel backers, to widen its clinician network and speed up product development.

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Tabcorp strikes $283m deal to acquire racing technology group BetMakers

Tabcorp has agreed a $283 million takeover of BetMakers, a Melbourne-based racing technology provider, in a cash-and-scrip deal the target's board unanimously backs, pending shareholder, court and regulator approvals.

Firmus secures $3.1b from Blackstone, Coatue and NVIDIA to supercharge AI factory rollout

Australian AI infrastructure firm Firmus has locked in a US$2 billion equity round from Blackstone, Coatue, NVIDIA and Jane Street, valuing it above US$10.5 billion, funding GPU data centre expansion across Australia and Asia-Pacific.

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STRONG Pilates strikes Central and Eastern Europe expansion with Polish fitness giant Xtreme Brands

Melbourne fitness chain STRONG Pilates partners with Poland's Xtreme Brands to enter Central and Eastern Europe; the piece also recalls bValue Fund's roughly $17.5m investment in the Polish operator.

Steadfast takeover edges closer as consortium flags readiness to sign $7.7b deal

A consortium of Amwins, Dragoneer and KKR is moving toward a binding agreement to acquire Steadfast after completing most due diligence, valuing the insurance broker at $7.7 billion; two senior executives have left.

V2 AI pushes into Perth and Singapore with four senior hires as enterprise demand grows fivefold

Consultancy V2 AI hires four senior executives as it opens a Perth base and expands in Singapore; the piece also recalls its 2024 $30 million raise from Columbia Capital.

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Adelaide University researchers eye black soldier fly larvae for human consumption

Adelaide University researchers are testing black soldier fly larvae as safe human food, while Goterra, Australia's most prominent insect-farming startup, has entered liquidation after its Series B hopes fell through.

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HSBC exits Australian retail lending after 35 years via $36 billion portfolio sale to Blackstone

HSBC is selling its Australian home and personal loan book to Blackstone and shutting local retail banking, with Pepper Money appointed servicer; no purchase price disclosed.

Also AFR Technology

Energy One rejects 'opportunistic' $539m takeover bid from Norwegian software firm Volue

The ASX-listed energy software firm has turned down Volue's sweetened $17-per-share cash offer worth $539.7 million, calling it opportunistic and undervalued, and pointing to its growth momentum under new chief executive Ben Tranier.

ClearVue Technologies locks in contract to supply solar glass for Canva's new Sydney headquarters

Perth solar-glass maker ClearVue has signed a $600,000 subcontract to fit Canva's new Sydney headquarters, converting May's preliminary agreement, shortly after a $6.25 million capital raise.

Crimson Education bids $38.3m for Kip McGrath Education Centres

Crimson Education launched an unsolicited $38.3 million takeover bid for Australian tutoring franchise Kip McGrath, offering a 62 percent premium and backed by shareholder Pie Funds Management.

Aussie Angels rebrands as Ventari to capitalise on an understated market for early-stage deals

Aussie Angels, the Sydney angel-syndicate platform, has become Ventari, pivoting to fund infrastructure; it reports $75m-plus deployed and a $2 million raise in 2025.

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Agscent more than doubles valuation to $27m following $5m capital raise for livestock sensing tech

Australian deeptech startup Agscent has banked a $5 million round that lifted its worth to $26.9 million, with Tundra Capital, Scale Investors and producers among the backers of its NASA-derived livestock breath-sensing platform.

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Supply chain solutions startup Pollinate joins Y Combinator

Brisbane supply chain software company Pollinate, founded by Corey Berther and Adeep Mitra, has been accepted into Y Combinator's winter 2026 batch with US$500,000 in initial funding, after earlier University of Queensland programs.

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Biotech Ferronova boosts Series A capital raise by $6m

Adelaide biotech Ferronova added $6 million to its Series A from prior backers, lifting the round's total to $17.5 million; backer Renew's parent Ultragreen.ai floated in Singapore this month.

Also ferronova.com.au·movefm.com.au·Biotech Dispatch·Startup Daily

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$50m ACTivate Capital fund launched to back ‘great science’ and boost Canberra startups

The ACT Government has launched the ACTivate Capital venture fund, with an initial $23 million close and capacity for $50 million, to back Canberra startups and commercialise local research, led by fund manager Ken Kroeger.

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Marloo raises $4.2m as financial planners adopt its AI

Marloo, a Sydney maker of AI assistants for financial advisers, has secured pre-seed backing from Blackbird Ventures and several founder-angels to build out its product.

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Vaxxas ramps up market readiness with $89m in funding

Brisbane biotech Vaxxas has raised a combined equity and debt package to speed its patch-based vaccine technology to market, while announcing a chief executive departure and a board chair change.

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Send Payments raises $5m and appoints new CEO

Sydney fintech Send Payments has banked $5 million from iPartners and returning backers, and handed the CEO role to Matt Barr, with co-founder Paul Billing stepping aside.

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Sydney Angels sidecar fund raises $3.5m in a week on VentureCrowd

Sydney Angels' third sidecar fund raised $3.5 million on VentureCrowd in a week to back early-stage startups, while the article recalls past fund wins including Clarity Pharmaceuticals, Instaclustr and Aurtra.

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