Dr Dr Kate Cornick

Record Investment Fuels Victoria’s Startup Surge

LaunchVic and dealroom.co report Victorian startups raised a record $2.4 billion in 2025, driven by late-stage deals despite early-stage declines.

LaunchVic announces new Grant Round for AI and DeepTech startup support

Autism startup Kite Therapy secures $750,000 to help more children and their parents

Melbourne autism therapy startup Kite Therapy has raised $750,000 in a pre-seed round from Flying Fox Ventures, LaunchVic's Alice Anderson Fund, Startmate and an angel, while LaunchVic secured a $40 million budget refunding.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·LaunchVic

Nine ANZ startups that raised $60.3 million this week

Roundup of the week's funding news: nine companies across Australia and New Zealand secured investment spanning clean energy, construction logistics, legal tech, coaching, research tools, creator media, medtech and marketing software.

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

Melbourne AI startup set for global expansion after $12.5 million raise

AI search startup Marqo has landed a $12.5 million Series A and is relocating its headquarters to San Francisco, while LaunchVic statistics show Victoria's ecosystem grew in value despite a funding drop.

Eight Aussie startups that raised $81.5 million this week

Roundup of eight local raises totalling roughly $81.5 million: generative AI, sustainable packaging, VR medical training, optical radar, drinks, preventive health and wholesale retail software.

Also Ten13·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Forbes Australia

LaunchVic reveals $1 million Hugh Victor McKay fund for agtech startups

LaunchVic and Agriculture Victoria introduced a $1 million fund backing early-stage agtech startups, and revealed seven companies as recipients of $50,000 equity-free grants.

Also LaunchVic·LaunchVic

Flying Fox, Jump Start receive $600,000 in VIC government funding to boost women-led startups

LaunchVic commits $600,000 funding to support women in startups

Victoria's startup agency is giving Flying Fox Ventures and Jumpstart Studio $300,000 each to run pre-accelerator programs for women founders, alongside continued backing of the Alice Anderson Fund.

Startmate secures $300,000 from LaunchVic to welcome over 320 students into fellowship program

LaunchVic has granted Startmate $300,000 to run its Student Fellowship, a three-week program training at least 320 Victorian university students in startup skills over two years.

Urban analytics startup Neighbourlytics raises $1.3 million in pre-Series A

Melbourne urban analytics firm Neighbourlytics has secured a $1.3 million pre-Series A led by ALIAVIA Ventures, with LaunchVic's Alice Anderson Fund and four existing backers participating, to fund hiring and product development.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily

ReciMe, the shared recipes app you need for the perfect meal, just chowed down on $500,000 in pre-Seed funding

Also Startup Daily·LaunchVic

Victoria’s Alice Anderson fund backs female-focused crowdfunding platform Lift Women

LaunchVic's Alice Anderson Fund and AXA Asia chief Gordon Watson have invested an undisclosed amount in Lift Women, an Australian crowdfunding platform helping female founders raise capital.

3 angel investing groups just scored $900,000 in Victorian government grants

Victoria granted $900,000 across three new angel networks to back early-stage startups, while LaunchVic grant recipient Archangel Ventures has launched a $25 million venture capital fund.

Also Techboard·LaunchVic·LaunchVic

LaunchVic’s Alice Anderson Fund backed 11 female-led startups in its first year

LaunchVic's sidecar fund for women-led startups has deployed co-investments across eleven companies in year one, with Telecare, Age Up Health and Conserving Beauty named, and targets 60 founders by 2024.

Also Startup Daily·LaunchVic·LaunchVic

Female-founded healthtech Age Up banks Alice Anderson funding

Victorian aged-care startup Age Up Health has received investment from LaunchVic's Alice Anderson Fund for women-led founders. The piece profiles founder Grace Petherick and notes earlier backing from Skalata Ventures and a Melbourne grant.

Apartment delivery solution One Key Access raises $1 million in pre-Seed round

Melbourne parcel-access startup One Key Access has raised a seven-figure pre-seed round, with Antler following its initial backing and LaunchVic's Alice Anderson Fund investing, to grow the team and expand to other states.

Also Dynamic Business

Victorian MedTech Actuator program gets $2.4 million, three-year funding increase

Victoria is adding $2.4 million over three years to the MedTech Actuator accelerator via LaunchVic, letting it double its startup intake, with wearable-diagnostics firm Nutromics cited as a program success story.