Ledger. Australian venture funding, tracked

Company

Boeing

Parent company of drone maker Insitu.

Coverage

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

Unnamed stage ~$2.5m

Palmer Luckey: From Oculus Founder to Anduril Defense Tech Leader

Profile of Palmer Luckey tracing his Oculus VR venture, its multibillion-dollar Facebook acquisition, his co-founding of defense tech firm Anduril Industries, and his gaming hardware venture ModRetro.

3 deals

Beaten Zone Venture Partners Congratulates Arkeus on A$25M Series A as Portfolio Company Reaches Inflection Point

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

2 deals

Our investment in Arkeus

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

Key hire

Michelle Toscan appointed APAC head at Advanced Navigation

Advanced Navigation has hired Michelle Toscan to lead its Asia-Pacific operations, tasking her with defence and government engagement as the navigation systems maker supplies primes including Rheinmetall and Boeing.

News

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Roundup of manufacturing news: Archer Materials' biochip results with IMEC, Resmed's CPAP mask launch, Boeing's RAAF P-8A upgrades, Breakthrough Victoria's $75m across venture funds, an Avalon Airport freight facility, and Sleeptite's FlexiSense.

2 deals

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Manufacturing roundup: Legrand buys NZ cable firm MSS; ClearVue lands a $4m placement; Nova Systems appoints Dean Rosenfield CEO; Diraq, having recently raised $29m, advertises 14 roles.

Also SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Early VC·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily

2 deals

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Manufacturing briefs: Victoria backs a skills program, Titomic supplies an Air France subsidiary, a pool-technology firm hires a sales chief, Bod Science banks a tax rebate, and Amaero completes a placement.

3 deals

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Manufacturing roundup covering Cyclopharm's tax incentive payment, Carbon Revolution's government grant payments, CEFC's wind farm debt commitment, Adbri's land sales, a Monash energy report and a Wollongong research showcase.

Unnamed stage $5m

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Roundup of Australian manufacturing news: Orbital UAV's $5m placement with UIL backing, Nufarm's record earnings, a Hazer–Mitsui graphite agreement, Baraja's patent milestone, the new skills agency, and a university research grant.

Series B $108m

KKR backs Aussie robotics company in blockbuster $108m raise

US giant KKR joined navigation-technology maker Advanced Navigation's $108 million Series B, alongside returning local backers; the company also bought ANU spin-out Vai Photonics, and two KKR staff will join its board.

Also @AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Techboard·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia

5 deals

Funding roundup May 1 - May 5: $65m for Shippit in B2 raise

A weekly roundup reporting Shippit's $65 million Series B2, several startup raises, Chrysos Corp's ASX listing, and Shopify's acquisition of Deliverr.

Also Startup Daily·Techboard

Funding announcement

Advanced Navigation acquires ANU tech spin-out

Robotics firm Advanced Navigation, backed by publisher OIF, is buying ANU spin-out Vai Photonics in an all-scrip deal of up to $40m; Vai's navigation tech is in talks with NASA.

Also OIF Ventures portfolio·Startup Daily·Dynamic Business·Startup Daily

Series A $20m

Turnbull's AI robotics bet taps investors for blockbuster raising

Advanced Navigation, with Malcolm Turnbull on its board, is seeking $80-135 million; the piece recalls its 2019 $20 million Series A and Minderoo's strategic investment.

Also @AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia

Series B $37m

Axion's Mission & Series B: Harnessing AI to Help American Manufacturers Bring Products to Market that Customers Love

Axion founder Daniel First announces a $37 million Series B with Salesforce Ventures leading, lifting total raised to $64 million, and describes the company's AI platform for resolving product quality issues in manufacturing.

Also axion.com

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