Blackstone

From prison to billionaire data centre operator, the incredible story of Oliver Curtis

Analysis tracing Oliver Curtis from an insider trading prison term to his central role in Firmus's planned $7.2 billion Australian sharemarket listing, with Blackstone and Nvidia among its existing backers.

AI boom powers new raise for energy-trading firm Xpansiv

Xpansiv has wrapped a growth equity round with Blackstone, Macquarie, CBA, Goldman Sachs, Aware Super and Aramco Ventures among its backers, as the IPO hopeful looks to fund expansion in Australia and globally.

NextDC raises $790M in convertible notes, its third capital raise in four months

NextDC, an Australian operator of data centres, announced a A$1.1 billion convertible note offer, following April equity and May debt raises, to bankroll local expansion.

Bain Capital bankers up for Blackstone's $1b Nucleus Network

Bain Capital, advised by Lazard banker Campbell Ray, is readying a bid for clinical trials provider Nucleus Network, which current owner Blackstone has listed for sale at a hoped $1 billion.

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

SafetyCulture has a new name – and an insurance bet to match

SafetyCulture, an Australian unicorn selling workplace-safety software, has rebranded as Mitti. Luke Anear, who founded it, is chief executive again, and insurance plus AI now anchor its growth plans.

SafetyCulture has a new name – and an insurance bet to match

Forbes Australia reports the workplace-safety unicorn's new name and its expanding insurance arm, with founder Luke Anear back as chief executive.

Sia significantly expands Australian footprint with Seven Consulting deal

Global consultancy Sia has acquired Seven Consulting, an Australian business transformation firm, roughly quadrupling Sia's local headcount and adding major banking, government and retail clients.

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #173, 9th August 2026

Weekly roundup: Firmus completes its $2.85b round; Procore acquires DroneDeploy; Atlassian rebounds while Canva cuts guidance; plus fresh raises for Zabidou, BioScout, Vexev, Enrola, Spacetalk and others.

Also Dealroom·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

Sia's Australian Gambit: Snags Seven Consulting in Push for AI Dominance

French consulting group Sia has bought Australian business transformation firm Seven Consulting, adding roughly 130 consultants and East Coast offices. The deal follows Sia's earlier acquisitions and Blackstone's minority investment earmarked for expansion.

Also consultancy.com.au

Sia accelerates its expansion in Australia with the acquisition of Seven Consulting

Consulting group Sia has bought Seven Consulting, an Australian transformation consultancy, adding Sydney and Melbourne offices, a Perth presence and major clients across banking, government and retail.

Also Dealroom·Dealroom·sevenconsulting.com·briefglance.com·melbourne-insider.au·cfotech.com.au·consultancy.com.au

HSBC exits Australian retail lending after 35 years via $36 billion portfolio sale to Blackstone

HSBC is selling its Australian home and personal loan book to Blackstone and shutting local retail banking, with Pepper Money appointed servicer; no purchase price disclosed.

Also AFR Technology

Sierra Raises $950M at $15B, Locking 40% of the Fortune 50 Into Its Agent Platform Before the Labs Go Direct

Analysis of Sierra's $950 million raise at a $15 billion valuation with Tiger Global and GV at the lead, weighing its revenue multiple, Fortune 50 customer lock-in, and competition from OpenAI and Anthropic's ventures.

Australia's Firmus raises $505M from Coatue and Nvidia at $5.5B valuation ahead of $2B IPO

Firmus, an Australian builder of AI data centres, has banked $505 million from Coatue and Nvidia at a $5.5 billion valuation, with a $10 billion debt facility already secured and a sharemarket float planned.

Also Startup Daily

Blackstone invests $250 million in UAE despite war disruption

Blackstone has put $250 million into Abu Dhabi-based payments platform Advanced Digital Gaming Technology, the first private-equity inbound Gulf deal since the Iran conflict began, Reuters reports.

Opportunity Fund Launch Drives $2.9B Morgan Stanley Raise

Morgan Stanley's property arm has held an initial close on its latest North Haven real estate fund, gathering $2.9 billion toward a $4 billion goal for US and European deals.

Hillhouse's $7 Billion Signal: Is Asia's Private Equity Market Waking Up?

The article recalls a 2021 fund haul that set an Asian record and frames the firm's current capital-raising push as a gauge of whether Asia's private equity market is reviving.

Hillhouse in US$7 billion fundraising as Asia private equity revives: sources

Business Times reports Hillhouse has begun seeking US$7 billion for its sixth private equity fund as Asia-Pacific dealmaking and fundraising pick up, with KKR and Blackstone also raising and past Hillhouse buyouts recapped.

Oyo buys MadeComfy for more than $50 million in short-stay rental push

Travel giant Oyo's purchase of local rental manager MadeComfy tops $50 million; founders remain as co-CEOs, and the piece recalls earlier raises and rival sector deals.

Also Startup Daily·bwdisrupt.com·vrinsider.com·community.verified.realestate

Blackstone sees bright spot in commercial real estate debt with record $8B fund raise

Blackstone has closed a record $8 billion fund lending against commercial property, buying and originating loans as banks pull back; its BREIT vehicle also resumed honoring investor redemptions.

AirTrunk's $23 billion sale buoys the South Asian Australian startup community

Data centre company AirTrunk's multi-billion-dollar sale to Blackstone and a Canadian pension board is celebrated by founders of South Asian heritage, who see Robin Khuda's journey as inspiration for Australia's startup ecosystem.

Also Forbes Australia·ARN (ARNnet)·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia

Confirmed: AirTrunk acquired by Blackstone in $24 billion deal

Blackstone, joined by Canada's pension fund, has acquired data centre operator AirTrunk in its largest Asia-Pacific investment, valuing the company at $24 billion; the piece also recalls Macquarie's earlier backing.

The top 20 agtech deals of 2023

A year-end countdown of 2023's twenty largest agtech funding rounds, from biofuels and carbon marketplaces to farm robotics, with EcoCeres' $400 million raise at the top.

Also AgFunderNews

Blast OIF | 23 things from 2023

OIF Ventures' year in review: full Eftsure exit, Opportunity Fund close, Visory, DataMasque and Nullify backed, follow-ons at Inspace and Dataweavers, new team members and portfolio milestones.

Also OIF Ventures portfolio·OIF Ventures portfolio·OIF Ventures portfolio

Why Facebook’s co-founder has put $6m into this Aussie start-up

OIF's blog republishes an AFR report: Inspace has banked a $6 million round backed by B Capital and OIF, plans AI features and US growth, while proptech peers :Different and Yabonza have failed.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany

Joe Hockey poaches AGL executive Michelle Wood

Joe Hockey's advisory firm Bondi Partners hires AGL corporate affairs executive Michelle Wood to head its Sydney operation; the column also names clients Bubs, Digicel and Blackstone and a recent London opening.

FUNDED July 2022 Anniversary Edition

Techboard's anniversary roundup catalogues a month of Australian startup funding: megadeals, three acquisitions, large debt deals, grants, accelerator intakes, and fund news including Archangel Ventures' committed capital.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany

Alternative Investment Platform Altive Co-leads Successful Series C Financing of US$ 120 Million for Swiss Digital Asset Bank SEBA

Swiss digital asset bank SEBA completed a CHF 110 million Series C in January 2022, co-led by Altive, Ordway Selections and Summer Capital, with DeFi Technologies, Alameda Research and existing investor Julius Baer participating.

OIF, Leigh Jasper back virtual inspection play Inspace

Virtual inspection platform Inspace has secured A$4 million in fresh capital, with Our Innovation Fund leading the round alongside Leigh Jasper, Investible and Artesian. OIF partner Geoff Levy joins the board.

Also OIF Ventures portfolio·OIF Ventures portfolio·OIF Ventures portfolio

Blackstone closes $8bn real estate debt fund as market rebounds

Blackstone has finished gathering $8bn for its latest commercial property debt vehicle, BREDS V, which will buy loans and originate new ones spanning North America, Europe and Australia as banks retreat from property lending.

Apax Partners eyes $13bn Fund XI raise just a year after $11bn fund close

A year after its previous flagship vehicle hit an $11bn ceiling, Apax Partners is chasing a bigger fund, while US pension minutes reveal new commitments and the firm moves to take control of Alcumus.