Amber Electric

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #179, 26th September 2026

Weekly roundup recording a dozen raises and acquisitions, Firmus's scheduled float, a new $50m venture fund, a founder share sale, grant winners, an accelerator intake, and an AI agent's government breach.

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Investor behind Amber Electric hits $10 million under management, milestone for new fund

Climate tech fund manager Impact Ventures has passed $10m under management and taken its follow-on vehicle to a first close; its portfolio spans Amber Electric, Orkestra and Infravision.

Investor behind Amber Electric hits $10 million under management, milestone for new fund

Sydney early-stage climate tech backer Impact Ventures says it now manages $10 million and has completed the first close on its follow-on vehicle, which will keep backing its maturing portfolio companies.

ARENA-backed accelerator selects 'hardware' climate tech startups

EnergyLab unveils ten hardware-focused climate tech startups joining its 2026 Climate Solutions Accelerator, supported by $1.64 million from ARENA; alumni Infravision, Renewable Metals, Orkestra and Amber later received ARENA funding.

“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

Swiss commodity trader gets approval to buy Zen retail business and PPA deals. Will it take on Big 3?

Competition regulator approval lets Swiss trading giant Gunvor proceed with buying Zen Energy's retail arm and power purchase agreements; terms undisclosed. Article weighs whether the newcomer will challenge Australia's dominant gen-tailers.

Swiss commodity trader gets approval to buy Zen retail business and PPA deals. Will it take on Big 3?

The competition regulator has cleared Swiss trader Gunvor to buy Zen Energy's retail arm and linked PPAs; terms undisclosed. The article asks whether the deep-pocketed newcomer will challenge Australia's big three gen-tailers.

ARENA expands Amber project to accelerate vehicle-to-grid rollout in Australia

The renewable energy agency commits a further $13.6 million grant to Amber Electric's vehicle-to-grid trial, lifting participation to 1,000 households, with carmaker BYD joining to work on charging standards.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Dealroom

Recent Good News from our portfolio

Breakthrough Victoria rounds up April–May 2026 portfolio news, including grants for Number 8 Bio and Xefco, Liquid Instruments' Series C, program selections, partnerships, regulatory clearances and two new Aravax directors.

Also Breakthrough Victoria

Six months in Austin: BuildPass says the US is already 20% of revenue

BuildPass, a Melbourne construction software maker, says its American business now exceeds a fifth of revenue half a year after opening in Austin, with growth credit from Mighty Partners funding the expansion.

Australian homes get Vehicle-to-Grid ready

ARENA's media release marks a milestone in its funded project with Amber Electric: the first vehicle-to-grid charger installed in an Australian home, which the agency frames as transformative for the power system.

Breakthrough Victoria Portfolio Highlights 2025 Funding and Milestones

Breakthrough Victoria highlights portfolio achievements including Amber Electric's forty-five million dollar raise, Bygen and Diag-Nose grants, and Quantum Brilliance series A funding.

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2025 in review: Purpose and partnerships

Alberts' year-in-review post recounts its 140th anniversary, board and staff appointments, follow-on venture investments in three portfolio companies, music education advocacy, a philanthropy strategy review, and reconciliation and gender-lens finance commitments.

Also SmartCompany·Dealroom

Climate tech now employs 7000+ people and is driving Australia's economic growth, Climate Salad's annual analysis finds

Climate Salad's report says Australia's climate tech sector has passed 7,000 workers across 730 startups and drew $680 million in venture capital; Sea Forest's ASX debut and fund commitments point to investor appetite.

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.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·RenewEconomy

Breakthrough Victoria is slinging another $75 million at local VC funds

Victoria's Breakthrough Victoria has committed $75m to five specialist VC funds covering climate tech, life sciences, female founders and healthcare, each pledging a quarter of its capital to local startups.

BREAKTHROUGH VICTORIA INVESTS $75 MILLION IN VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDS TO BUILD VICTORIA'S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Breakthrough Victoria is putting $75 million into five venture capital funds, including Virescent, SYNthesis BioVentures, Scale and Galileo, each of which has pledged a quarter of its capital to Victorian startups.

Breakthrough Victoria commits $75 million across five VC funds

Breakthrough Victoria makes cornerstone investments totalling $75 million into five venture capital funds spanning climate-tech, biotech, diversity-focused and health sciences investing.

Amber Electric secures $45m raise as Australia's home battery market surges

Amber has banked a $45 million Series D, headed by ETF Partners, to push its household energy platform into Europe, while a new federal battery rebate promises to widen its market.

Renewables focused retailer Amber raises $45m in bid to accelerate global expansion and V2G

Amber Electric, a Melbourne electricity retailer, has banked $45 million from ETF Partners and returning backers to fund overseas expansion and vehicle-to-grid technology.

Also Forbes Australia·Dealroom

Investing in a Cleaner Future: Reflections from the Frontlines of Climate Innovation

The fund's authors recap two climate-investment events, weighing the massive global capital needs, mixed public-private funding models, and its clean-economy portfolio activity in Victoria.

Breakthrough Victoria Portfolio Companies Celebrate Milestones and Global Growth

Breakthrough Victoria highlights recent achievements of portfolio companies including funding, awards, and expansions for firms like Liquid Instruments, Quantum Brilliance, and Samsara Eco.

Energy retailer Amber Electric powers up with Charge HQ app takeover

Amber Electric has bought EV charging app Charge HQ for an undisclosed price; the piece recalls the retailer's Series A, B and C raises from Gentrack, NRMA, Commonwealth Bank, Main Sequence and Square Peg.

2024: A year of change and positive impact

Alberts' annual review records its venture arm closing its portfolio at 22 companies, topping up six holdings, co-launching a gender-equity drive, and navigating board changes after Sam Mostyn became Governor-General.

Also Startup Daily

Investment Update: Amber Electric

Breakthrough Victoria reports its $4.5 million investment in Amber Electric, a Melbourne energy software startup whose SmartShift technology optimises household electricity use, covering the company's Victorian impact, customers and hiring growth.

Batteries on Wheels: Unlocking value for customers through smarter charging

ARENA announced a $3.2 million grant to Amber Electric for a residential trial of EV smart charging and vehicle-to-grid services, with enX independently verifying the project's modelling under the Driving the Nation Fund.

South Australia leading the way with energy-smart homes

ARENA puts $6.2 million toward SA Power Networks' Energy Masters trial, equipping 500 South Australian homes with smart devices and energy management tech, alongside state government, research, retail and finance partners.

Also ARENA·ARENA·@AuManufacturing

Fifteen Aussie startups that have raised millions in 2024 to look after our planet

Earth Day roundup of fifteen Australian climate and sustainability startups that have secured funding in 2024, from RayGen's $51 million Series D down to CarbonHQ's $600,000 pre-seed round.

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Amber Electric

Breakthrough Victoria reports a $4.5 million investment in Amber Electric's $29 million Series C, led by GenTrack with Rubio Impact Ventures, funding jobs and product expansion.

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Early VC #2 - Amber Electric raises $29M. Metcash announces a $558 million triple acquisition.

Weekly Australian deals newsletter: Amber Electric's Series C, Saltwater Games' seed round, a Q-CTRL grant, CarbonHQ pre-seed, Preplocal backing, Metcash's triple acquisition plus three other deals, and a new AirTree hire.

Five Australian startups that raised at least $38.2 million this week

Roundup of five Australian startups that secured new capital this week: Amber Electric's $29m Series C, ProcurePro's $6.15m, Yume's $2m seed, Alt.Leather's $1.1m seed, plus an undisclosed Tenacious Ventures investment in Nbryo.

EnergyLab lands more funds to support next generation of renewable startups

RenewEconomy reports the national renewable energy agency's announced plan to back the climate-focused startup accelerator EnergyLab, recapping its years supporting clean energy founders and naming standout graduates.

Meet Square Peg's New Partner, James Tynan

Square Peg announces James Tynan as its newest partner, with reflections from Vow's CEO and Square Peg's investment team on his approach, plus his board roles at Partly and Neara and sector outlook.

The Ignition Lane Wrap: Sunrise. Demise. No more pies.

Ignition Lane's weekly tech roundup covering record Australian VC fund raises, several green-tech startup funding rounds, Deliveroo's administration, the FTX collapse, and takeover offers for ELMO and Nitro.

Also Techboard

FUNDED October 2022

Techboard's monthly roundup tallies October 2022 startup funding at $661m across 99 deals, listing megadeals such as Airwallex, acquisitions, Square Peg's $861m fund close and government grants to program operators.

Also @AuManufacturing

NRMA backs energy upstart as solar offerings extend to “batteries on wheels”

Energy retailer Amber Electric added NRMA as a new backer in a $13.4 million Series B extension led by existing investors, with proceeds earmarked for developing its SmartShift battery and EV charging automation technology.

Also Techboard·Startup Daily

2019 Year in Review

Square Peg's retrospective of 2019: five new portfolio companies, several large rounds it led or co-led, two acquisitions, two IPOs, new team members, and its capital deployed across new and follow-on deals.

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VC Giant Leap pioneers linking carbon reduction to startup company revenue

Impact investor Giant Leap sets a benchmark requiring its climate tech investments to avoid one kilogram of emissions per dollar of revenue, based on data from its portfolio companies.

Ignition Lane's Weekly Wrap: Tech's climate fight, another big raise week, valuations set to fall?

Ignition Lane's weekly technology roundup: climate-tech funding activity, Grok's bid for AGL, King River Capital's digital asset fund, a batch of Australian startup raises, Maropost acquisitions, GigSuper's collapse and a National AI Centre appointment.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily

2021 wrapped: a record-breaking year for fundraising and growth

Square Peg Capital's year-in-review recaps its 2021 portfolio: raises it led or joined, SPAC listing decisions, Vend's acquisition, new investment-team hires, and its newsletter and podcast output.

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