Ledger. Australian venture funding, tracked

Prime Minister, the federal government

Anthony Albanese

Coverage

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

Funding announcement

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #175, 23rd August 2026

Weekly roundup: Constantinople raises $62.5m; Blackbird wraps fund six above $1b; Guardhouse buys Mobohubb; SCX.ai debuts on the ASX; plus seed rounds, exits and executive changes across the ecosystem.

4 deals

AI data centre startup Firmus just raised another $2.85 billion at a whopping $15B valuation

Firmus has secured a further US$2bn at a $15bn valuation from Coatue, Nvidia, Blackstone and Jane Street, taking its 12-month capital intake past US$3bn to fund Australian AI data centre projects.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany·AFR Technology·Business News Australia·This Week in Australian Startups·AFR Technology·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Forbes Australia

5 deals

Sunshot program backs “Sun King” to bring large-scale solar panel manufacturing back to Australia

Sunman Group wins $171 million in federal and NSW funding for a Hunter Valley solar panel factory; earlier grants to Tindo Solar, Stellar PV, Solquartz and SunDrive are also recalled.

Grant $15m

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, January 20 – January 24, 2025

Roundup of the week's five most-read manufacturing stories: a defence radio contract for Codan, university facility funding, a WEF white paper, ASCA missile-defence awards, and a port chair's farewell.

3 deals

Labor bets big on quantum with $1 billion deal for PsiQuantum and multimillion-dollar Sydney Uni hub

The Australian federal and Queensland governments are investing $940m in PsiQuantum, which will open a Brisbane regional headquarters; $18.4m will fund a national quantum centre at the University of Sydney.

Also Dealroom·Forbes Australia·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Forbes Australia

2 deals

Rinehart-backed lithium and rare earths projects rake in more than $1 billion in federal funding

Canberra announces up to $840m for Arafura's Northern Territory rare earths project, while Liontown secures $550m in bank debt for its Kathleen Valley mine, with CEFC and Export Finance Australia among lenders.

13 deals

Nine Aussie startups that raised $40.5 million this week

Weekly roundup covering nine Australian startups' new capital totalling $40.5 million, across solar, quantum computing, marketing tech and crowdfunding, plus a look back at Aconex's $1.6 billion Oracle sale.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Wholesale Investor

3 deals

UNSW quantum founder Michelle Simmons wins $250,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

SQC founder Michelle Simmons receives a $250,000 science prize from the prime minister, with the article recalling the quantum company's seed round, government stakes, and July valuation jump.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily

Unnamed stage $14.7m

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Manufacturing news roundup: CSL opens a Melbourne headquarters, Hazer raises $14.7m, Iluka advances its refinery with federal loan backing, plus executive appointments at Lithium Australia, Vast Solar and CSIRO's board.

News

Holiday defence industry news briefs – stories you might have missed

A roundup of Australian defence industry items: submarine build plans reaffirmed, missile supply contracts for Kongsberg and Lockheed Martin, DroneShield purchase orders, an F-35 warehouse deal, and questions over a shipbuilding college closure.

6 deals

State and federal support key to Australia becoming a critical minerals super power

Climate Energy Finance analysts review Australian federal and state programs backing critical minerals projects, covering government grants, low-cost loans, new budget funds and the private equity raises and debt facilities they catalysed.

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