Cibby Pulikkaseril

Our investment in Zabidou: Giving heavy industry eyes it can finally afford

Main Sequence announces a follow-on seed investment in Zabidou, an industrial vision-systems startup it earlier backed at pre-seed, and recalls its previous backing of founder Cibby Pulikkaseril's LiDAR company Baraja.

Also Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia·SmartCompany·This Week in Australian Startups

Four Aussie startups that raised $2.86 billion this week (sort of)

Roundup of four Australian raises: Firmus Technologies' US$2 billion round at a $15 billion valuation, Eudaemon's $3.75 million, Zabidou's $3.5 million seed round, and Rampart's $2.3 million.

Also This Week in Australian Startups

His self-driving car startup hit $300m before crashing. Now he's back for round two.

Deep tech founder Cibby Pulikkaseril has banked a $3.5m seed for Zabidou, whose lasers inspect factory output, with Black Nova, Main Sequence and Antler backing; his earlier LiDAR venture Baraja folded.

Also SmartCompany

Factories run at full speed but quality control hasn’t caught up: Zabidou is changing that.

Profile of Zabidou, which builds laser-based AI vision systems for factory inspection without stopping production, led by a Baraja co-founder; invites readers to its upcoming Demo Day pitch night.

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.

Self-driving tech startup Baraja just shed 75% of its workforce

Sydney LiDAR maker Baraja has laid off about three quarters of its staff after a rough stretch for self-driving ventures. The piece recalls earlier backing from Veoneer, Blackbird, Main Sequence and Sequoia China.

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.

Baraja enters agreement with unnamed automotive OEM

Lidar maker Baraja has signed an advanced development agreement with an undisclosed car maker, working through its partner Veoneer to integrate its Spectrum HD25 sensor for automotive use.