Barrenjoey

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #180, 4th October 2026

Weekly roundup reporting Australian startup funding rounds and government grants, a venture fund close, agreed acquisitions, an IPO pricing, a collapse, plus executive hires and AI policy developments.

Sarah Thompson

Street Talk roundup: Tasman Capital's new fund reaches first close, EQT buys control of an NRL club, KKR eyes a Drifter exit, PAG dealmakers jump to Jardine Matheson, Colter Bay lands a debut loan.

Also AFR Technology·AFR Technology·AFR Technology·Dealroom

Ordermentum lands $55m from Five V Capital

Sydney-based hospitality software company Ordermentum has banked $55m in a Five V Capital deal valuing it above $150m, letting earlier backers sell down; the piece revisits its Foodbomb merger and the investor's other deals.

Here are 19 startups sharing in $2.28 million as part of the Summer ’26 Startmate accelerator

Nineteen early-stage companies join Startmate's Summer '26 accelerator intake, each receiving $120,000 for 7% equity — $2.28 million overall — spanning construction, healthcare, fintech, energy and manufacturing.

Six Aussie startups that raised $197.4 million this week

Roundup of six Australian funding deals: AutoGrab, Applied EV, Checkbox, Hometime, Factory and On the House, with amounts, investors, and Hometime's past acquisitions and raise history detailed.

Also Startup Daily

Autonomous industrial EV platform drives $57 million Series B

Melbourne autonomous EV maker Applied Electric Vehicles has secured US$40 million in Series B funding, with the National Reconstruction Fund contributing $30.7 million alongside Barrenjoey, Japan Post Capital, Suzuki and St Baker.

National Reconstruction Fund’s first transport investment supports energy transition with $30.7 million equity stake in Applied Electric Vehicles

Australia's National Reconstruction Fund has put $30.7 million into Melbourne autonomous vehicle maker Applied EV as the largest slice of a US$40 million Series B alongside Barrenjoey and Japan Post Capital.

NRF bets big on driverless cars as Applied EV raises $57 million

The National Reconstruction Fund has put $30.7 million into Melbourne autonomous vehicle maker Applied EV, forming most of its $57 million Series B alongside Barrenjoey and Japan Post Capital.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily

e-commerce platform Rokt hits $5.6 billion valuation after secondary share sale

Investors bought existing Rokt shares in a tender at a higher valuation; the piece also reports the mParticle acquisition, a board addition, and past raises.

FUNDED JUNE 2022

Techboard's monthly roundup logs June 2022 Australian funding events, including GO1's Series E, Edrolo's Series B, two acquisitions, several new funds reaching closes, and accelerator intake announcements.

Also Techboard

Driverless cars

AFR's driverless-car topic hub: NRF puts $30m into Melbourne maker Applied EV, alongside Waymo's Sydney robotaxi plans, Uber's robotaxi spend, union demands and a progressing Mycar sale.