Funding announcement
Australian SAF startup raises $22M with Qantas, Airbus backing
Qantas and Airbus backed an unnamed Australian company's A$30 million raise to advance a Queensland plant that would make lower-carbon jet fuel.
Corporate / CVC · 3 deals
Airbus
Aerospace company partnering with Conflux on the ZEROe project
Disclosed deals
Every published round Airbus took part in, and every parcel of existing shares it bought off another holder. Deals we hold but haven't published yet are not counted.
| Company | Stage | Announced | Amount | Role | Alongside | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire Energy | Unnamed stage | 6 Jul 2026 | $2m | Participant | Startup Daily, Dealroom, Climate Tech Partners portfolio | |
| HAMR Energy | Series A | 4 Aug 2026 | $10m | Participant | Startup Daily (5 Aug 2026), Startup Daily (13 Feb 2026), SmartCompany | |
| Jet Zero Australia | undisclosed | 18 Mar 2024 | $29m | Participant | Dragonfly Enviro Capital, Early VC |
Portfolio
Companies Airbus has backed in a published round, and companies whose existing shares it bought off another holder.
| Company | What it does | First invested | Rounds | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAMR Energy | Converts plantation forestry residues into low-carbon methanol fuels for aviation and shi… | 4 Aug 2026, Series A | 1 | 0 |
| Jet Zero Australia | 18 Mar 2024, undisclosed | 1 | 0 | |
| Wildfire Energy | 6 Jul 2026 | 1 | 0 |
Funds
Funds Airbus has money in
This is a stake in the fund itself, money that the fund's manager invests, not a stake in the fund manager.
Portfolio companies acquired
Companies Airbus has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal Airbus did.
People
| Name | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Forshaw | Chief Representative in Australia | Startup Daily (5 Aug 2026), Startup Daily (6 Jul 2026), Dealroom, wildfireenergy.com.au, Startup Daily (11 Feb 2026), SmartCompany |
Coverage
Stories naming Airbus. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Grant
$18.6m
Wildfire Energy secures Queensland government funding for Bulwer Island Biofuels Hub
Wildfire Energy receives an 18.56 million dollar Queensland government grant for its Bulwer Island Biofuels Hub, with the article recalling earlier ARENA funding and a Climate Tech Partners investment.
2 deals
Qantas, Airbus back $2M raise for Wildfire's waste-to-fuel tech
Wildfire Energy, a Brisbane waste-to-fuels startup, secured A$2m from Qantas, Airbus and Climate Tech Partners, plus an A$3.15m government grant, to scale technology that turns waste into low-carbon fuels.
Also Startup Daily
2 deals
Climate Tech Partners invest into Wildfire Energy
Wildfire Energy, an Australian waste-to-energy developer, received $2 million from Climate Tech Partners, Qantas and Airbus, plus a separate $3.15 million ARENA grant for bio-methanol production work.
15 deals
Cheque-in: 10 ANZ startups raised nearly $193 million this week
Weekly roundup of ten Australian and New Zealand startup raises totalling nearly $194 million, topped by Neara's $90 million round at a $1.1 billion valuation, with Splose, Operata, HAMR Energy and Adora also covered.
Series A
$10m
Qantas and Airbus back $10 million Series A for methanol startup
Methanol venture HAMR Energy has secured ten million dollars in Series A backing from Qantas, Airbus and Thyssenkrupp Uhde for its Victorian renewable fuel projects.
Series A
$10m
HAMR Energy lands $10 million runway from Qantas and Airbus
HAMR Energy, an Australian low-carbon fuels company, has closed a $10 million Series A backed by Airbus, Qantas and Thyssenkrupp Uhde to advance its sustainable fuel projects in Victoria.
undisclosed
$10m
AR 2024/25: Breakthrough Victoria's J-Curve Moment
Breakthrough Victoria's CEO reviews its 2024/25 year: growing capital base, strong co-investment leverage, portfolio milestones including Amber's $10m raise, first fellows awarded, and projected economic impact ahead.
3 deals
Series A-focused climate tech VC hits $50 million for fund’s 1st close
Climate Tech Partners has reached a $50 million first close on its debut climate tech fund, backed by Australian Ethical, the CEFC, Qantas, Airbus and Daniel Besen's family office.
Fund close
$15m
Qantas and Airbus tip $15 million into VC Climate Tech Partners for aviation emissions reduction startups
Qantas and Airbus have committed A$15 million to Climate Tech Partners, a local VC, to back startups in sustainable aviation fuel and aviation decarbonisation, drawing on their 2022 US$200 million SAF partnership.
2 deals
ARENA backs Jet Zero for sustainable aviation fuel
Government energy agency ARENA announced $9 million in funding for Jet Zero Australia's Townsville sustainable aviation fuel project, with Queensland adding $5 million toward the FEED study; Qantas, Airbus and Idemitsu Kosan are consortium partners.
2 deals
Oceania Biofuels pulls $500m Gladstone project as another bubble bursts
Oceania Biofuels withdraws its planned Gladstone refinery from federal approval; the article surveys a biofuels sector in retreat, from Fulcrum's US collapse to Carnarvon abandoning a WA plant and Jet Zero's new backers.
6 deals
Hydrogen Energy Is Getting A Heavy Infusion Of VC Funding
Crunchbase News surveys the recent surge in venture funding for hydrogen startups, profiling 13 companies — among them Hysata, Koloma, Electric Hydrogen, HysetCo, Tree Energy Solutions and ZeroAvia — and their latest rounds.
News
Keynote speaker announced for Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers awards event
Ahead of its 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers awards breakfast, @AuManufacturing names Advanced Navigation chief executive Xavier Orr as keynote speaker, recounting his company's gyroscope manufacturing, Botany factory and underwater exploration work.
Unnamed stage
$30m
Investment Announcement: $4m Follow-on Investment into Jet Zero
Dragonfly Enviro Capital has put a further $4 million into Jet Zero as part of the company's recently announced $30 million raise, with Qantas and Airbus also taking part.
Also Early VC
Unnamed stage
$15m
2 deals
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Manufacturing roundup: Legrand buys NZ cable firm MSS; ClearVue lands a $4m placement; Nova Systems appoints Dean Rosenfield CEO; Diraq, having recently raised $29m, advertises 14 roles.
Also SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Early VC·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily
Unnamed stage
$25m
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Roundup: Arafura Rare Earths banks $25m for its rare earths project; Incitec Pivot, Electro Optic Systems and Alpha HPA announce leadership changes; Titomic extends its MD's contract; Cobram Estate grows US olive output.
2 deals
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Manufacturing briefs: Victoria backs a skills program, Titomic supplies an Air France subsidiary, a pool-technology firm hires a sales chief, Bod Science banks a tax rebate, and Amaero completes a placement.
Funding announcement
Moon-bound manufacturer says prestige projects help remedy skills shortages
Podcast interview in which Advanced Navigation co-founder Xavier Orr discusses the company's new Botany factory, lunar landing sensors, a reported billion-dollar Series B valuation, and hiring in a tight skills market.
Grant
Q-CTRL dives into quantum R&D with Sydney HQ
Quantum control software firm Q-CTRL is opening a purpose-built Sydney headquarters for quantum research, product development and commercialisation, backed by NSW and federal government funding, with opening expected late 2023.
Also @AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing
10 deals
The Week in AgriFoodTech: Restaurant order app me&u bagged $30m, Remilk approved for Israeli markets, biomaterials bonanza
Weekly roundup reporting me&u's Series C, several agrifoodtech fundraises across Europe, Danone's stake in Imagindairy, Remilk's Israeli approval, plus partnerships, launches and layoffs.
Series B
$108m
KKR backs Aussie robotics company in blockbuster $108m raise
US giant KKR joined navigation-technology maker Advanced Navigation's $108 million Series B, alongside returning local backers; the company also bought ANU spin-out Vai Photonics, and two KKR staff will join its board.
Also @AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Techboard·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia
Funding announcement
This Aussie company is a world beater set to save lives at sea with drone rescue technology
Profile of Aeromech, a Brisbane company developing the SARGO rescue drone for maritime search and rescue, founded by Joe Bryant, which received Queensland government Ignite 8 funding in April 2022.
Venture debt
$8m
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
News roundup: Elsight locks in $8 million through convertible notes; Northrop Grumman extends its Quickstep supply agreement; Titomic grows US sales; Fleet Space to survey for Core Lithium; Venture Catalyst Space applications open.
5 deals
Funding roundup May 1 - May 5: $65m for Shippit in B2 raise
A weekly roundup reporting Shippit's $65 million Series B2, several startup raises, Chrysos Corp's ASX listing, and Shopify's acquisition of Deliverr.
Also Startup Daily·Techboard
Funding announcement
Advanced Navigation acquires ANU tech spin-out
Robotics firm Advanced Navigation, backed by publisher OIF, is buying ANU spin-out Vai Photonics in an all-scrip deal of up to $40m; Vai's navigation tech is in talks with NASA.
Also OIF Ventures portfolio·Startup Daily·Dynamic Business·Startup Daily
Series A
$20m
Turnbull's AI robotics bet taps investors for blockbuster raising
Advanced Navigation, with Malcolm Turnbull on its board, is seeking $80-135 million; the piece recalls its 2019 $20 million Series A and Minderoo's strategic investment.
Also @AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia
News
SAP to acquire leading provider of working capital management solutions, Taulia
SAP announced its intention to acquire a majority stake in working capital management provider Taulia, which will keep its brand and CEO, while J.P. Morgan maintains its alliance and equity stake. Financial terms undisclosed.
14 deals
Nine startups that raised a combined $70 million this week
Roundup of nine startup raises totalling $70 million, including Q-CTRL's Series B, Foundry Lab's round led by Blackbird, and EnGeneIC's crowdfunded COVID-19 vaccine raise, plus a new Elenium Automation board member.
Also Startup Daily·Techboard·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily
Unnamed stage
$20m
Aussie AI start-up raises $20m after hooking Boeing and Tesla deals
Deep tech firm Advanced Navigation, based in Sydney, has secured $20m from CSIRO's venture arm Main Sequence plus two US funds; two investors take board seats. OIF backed it earlier.