Genesis Pre-Seed Fund

🇦🇺 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.

Melbourne Uni concrete recycling spinout R2Crete raises $521,000 pre-Seed

A university spinout commercialising concrete recycling has secured pre-seed backing from Genesis Pre-Seed Fund and Uniseed to build a pilot plant, with field trials planned for early 2027.

Melbourne Uni concrete recycling spinout cements $750,000 pre-Seed

University of Melbourne spinout R2Crete, recycling waste concrete into aggregates and cement replacement, raised $750,000 pre-seed from the uni's Genesis fund and Uniseed to build a pilot plant.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily·This Week in Australian Startups

Breakthrough Victoria's university platform funds EntroMat, Excelligent and Remagine Labs

Victorian pre-seed program BVUIP, backed by Breakthrough Victoria and seven universities, has funded startups EntroMat, Excelligent and Remagine Labs, plus fellowship grants for three PhD-led ventures.

Melbourne Uni spin-out PredicTx Health, an AI-powered oncology platform, raises $1.6 million pre-Seed

A University of Melbourne spin-out using AI to tailor chemotherapy doses has banked pre-seed capital from the university's Genesis fund, plus public grant money and angels, to commercialise its oncology platform.

Also Startup Daily·Women's Agenda

Six Aussie startups that raised $13.4 million this week

Also Startup Daily

Breakthrough Victoria and ACU Co-Invest $14 Million In State's Future Growth

Australian Catholic University signs on as the seventh university in Breakthrough Victoria's co-investment platform, with matched funding pledged; the article also recaps four earlier startup investments via Melbourne's Genesis Pre-Seed fund.

Eight Aussie startups that raised $36 million this week

Weekly roundup detailing new funding for eight local startups: home lending, document verification, farm water monitoring, alcoholic drinks, freight software, leaf protein, artist content sales and organic bedding, totalling over $36 million.

Melbourne's The Leaf Protein Company raises $850,000 to turn abundant foliage into edible ingredients

Melbourne startup extracting protein from leaves has raised $850,000 in a round led by the University of Melbourne's Genesis fund, with Breakthrough Victoria, LaunchVic, Loyal VC and Big Idea Ventures also investing.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany

University of Melbourne mental health startup using psychedelics kicks off with $4.5 million

Melbourne university funds backed a psychedelic medicines startup; six campus startups were showcased, and Tanarra Capital reported $100 million committed toward its alumni founders fund target.

Six Aussie startups that raised $21.3 million this week

Roundup of the week's Australian raises: Sitemate, Kashcade, Psychae Therapeutics, MediCann Health, Refilled and Upworth together banked $21.3 million across software, lending, psychedelic medicine, cannabis and drink dispensing.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia

Melbourne Uni's new VC fund, Tin Alley Ventures, sets $200 million target after reaching $100m

University of Melbourne's Tin Alley Ventures fund has raised $100 million toward a $200 million target, backed by the university, Breakthrough Victoria and local business figures, with a second close targeted for mid-2023.

Also @AuManufacturing

Melbourne Uni launches two investment funds, worth $115 million, to back research commercialisation startups

University of Melbourne launches a $15m pre-seed fund with Breakthrough Victoria and a $100m fund run by Tanarra Capital for research commercialisation; the piece also recalls ANU's Instaclustr sale to NetApp.