Government · 8 deals
Every published round Australian Department of Defence 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.
Companies Australian Department of Defence has backed in a published round, and companies whose existing shares it bought off another holder.
| Company | What it does | First invested | Rounds | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Navigation | Navigation technology company using AI, robotics and sensing for GPS-independent position… | 12 Feb 2024, Grant | 1 | 1 |
| Aurora Labs Ltd | 6 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Cop-A-Mate Products | 2 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Currawong Engineering | 2 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Gurit Australia | 2 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Lintek Pty. Limited | 2 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Micca Holdings | 2 Jul 2026, Grant | 1 | 1 | |
| Silicon Quantum Computing | startup founded by Michelle Simmons | May 2017, Seed | 1 | 0 |
Fund closes reported for Australian Department of Defence, as distinct from the investments it has made.
Companies Australian Department of Defence has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal Australian Department of Defence did.
| Name | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Air Vice-Marshal Graham Edwards | Head of Aerospace Systems Division | @AuManufacturing |
| Pat Conroy | Minister for Defence Industry | australianmanufacturing.com.au |
| Professor Tanya Monro | Chief Defence Scientist | @AuManufacturing |
Stories naming Australian Department of Defence. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Defence tech firm Q-CTRL reports a first-at-sea trial navigating a vessel with no satellite positioning, using a quantum gravity sensor hardened by software, reaching nautical-mile accuracy and extending its navigation product line.
Devoli has hired Kent Plummer from Aussie Broadband as channel manager for Australia, tasking him with helping the provider's MSP partners simplify how they run connectivity.
Weekly roundup of seven Australian and New Zealand startup raises totalling $17 million, including two startups entering Y Combinator, plus a new QuantX Labs board director and SmartrMail's earlier sale to Relay Commerce.
Arkeus has closed a A$25 million Series A with QIC Ventures leading, as early backer Beaten Zone Venture Partners returns alongside other existing backers; proceeds fund Queensland manufacturing and a doubled team.
Also Startup Daily·Defence Connect·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia·@AuManufacturing
Folklore Ventures announces it has joined Arkeus' A$25 million Series A with QIC Ventures, R+ VC and returning backers, describing the Melbourne defence-sensing startup's technology and growth plans.
Also Beaten Zone Venture Partners portfolio·Beaten Zone Venture Partners portfolio·arkeus.com·Forbes Australia·SmartCompany·Dealroom
Main Sequence announces backing Cortisonic, a deep-tech startup coming out of stealth with phononic chips for low-power edge AI, plus an Australian defence contract and a Lockheed Martin partnership.
Also Forbes Australia
Aurora Labs raised A$5.5 million in a placement that brought drone-engine maker Sovereign Propulsion Systems in as cornerstone backer, and signed SPS to test and exclusively distribute its turbine engines across AUKUS countries.
Advanced Navigation received a $306,631 grant from the Australian Department of Defence's Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority program to develop local photonic chip manufacturing; its Boreas X90 will fly on a Space Machines orbital vehicle.
Rosebank Engineering has started operating its Melbourne F-35 component repair depot, backed by a $2.26m federal grant, serving Indo-Pacific fleets; the business sits in ASDAM Group, which CPE Capital mostly owns.
The Defence Department has granted C2 Robotics a third allocation of innovation money to advance its Speartooth underwater drone toward a second-generation prototype and a deployable container system.
Startup Daily profiles Main Sequence's Bill Bartee on quantum investing, recalling past raises by QuintessenceLabs, Silicon Quantum Computing, Quantum Brilliance and Q-CTRL, plus government support for Australia's quantum sector.
Also @AuManufacturing·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Forbes Australia·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing
Cydarm Technologies, a Melbourne cyber security software maker, has banked $500,000 with Right Click Capital leading, money earmarked for market validation and hiring, while founder Vaughan Shanks eyes overseas markets within a year.