Ledger. Australian venture funding, tracked

Startup · $155m raised

Loam Bio

Agtech company developing microbial soil-carbon technology and farmer carbon projects

Orange, NSW

Coverage

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

19 deals

Data snapshot: From ‘lightning in a box’ to microbial carbon capture, agrifoodtech investment moves upstream in Australia as investors focus on climate mitigation

A data review of 2023's ten largest Australian agrifoodtech raises, topped by Loam Bio's US$73.2 million Series B, showing funding down 33% as capital concentrated in upstream climate-mitigation startups.

Funding announcement

Mike Cannon-Brookes names former Macquarie banker Tan Kueh as Grok's CEO

Mike Cannon-Brookes' investment vehicle Grok Ventures has hired Tan Kueh, ex-Macquarie, UBS and BlackRock, as CEO, joining CIO Jeremy Kwong-Law, as it sharpens its strategy around climate investing.

20 deals

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

6 deals

Australia's climate tech industry is booming, but it could bust without funds

Feature on Australia's fast-growing climate tech sector, recounting raises at companies including Neara, Loam Bio, Goterra and Great Wrap, and warning that scarce growth capital and limited foreign investment could stall the industry.

12 deals

The 10 biggest capital raises by Australian startups in 2023

A year-end SmartCompany roundup counting down 2023's ten largest Australian startup raises, headed by Employment Hero's $263m Series F, with investor details and commentary on fewer mega-rounds and continued under-representation of women co-founders.

3 deals

Canberra-based satellite maker Skykraft raises $120 million

Canberra satellite firm Skykraft has raised $120 million to manage air traffic from space, with backing from Foresight Australia, OPTrust and Main Sequence; the round trails only Saluda Medical's this year.

Also Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·proactiveinvestors.com·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany

4 deals

Startup funding dropped massively in 2023, but AI and climate tech are still winners

KPMG data shows Australian startup funding fell sharply in early 2023, though AI and climate tech stayed strong, with several large raises listed and a new Main Sequence fund announced.

Also Startup Daily

3 deals

CommBank plants funding in $220 Series A for climate change investor Wollemi Capital

Wollemi Capital, the Sydney climate investor, has closed a $220m raise, past its initial $100m goal, backed by CBA, Trawalla and others; the article recalls its bets on Loam Bio, Pluton Bio and Pachama.

2 deals

Cauldron brews $10.5 million to globalise its precision fermentation platform

Regional NSW precision fermentation startup Cauldron has raised a $10.5 million seed round led by Main Sequence Ventures, following an earlier Queensland government investment, to expand its pilot facilities.

Also Women's Agenda·@AuManufacturing·AgFunderNews·SmartCompany·AgFunderNews·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany

12 deals

The Week in AgriFoodTech: GrainChain raises $29m, Brigad bags $30m, AeroFarms & iFarm head to MENA

Weekly agrifoodtech roundup reporting numerous funding rounds including Loam Bio's Series B and SwarmFarm's Series A, plus partnerships, OrderEZ acquiring FoodRazor, and vertical farming expansion into the Middle East.

Also SmartCompany

Series B $105m

Loam Bio raises $105m Series B to boost soil carbon sequestration

Soil-carbon startup Loam Bio has secured a A$105 million Series B and is bringing its CarbonBuilder inoculant and SecondCrop offerings to Australian growers, its backer Virescent Ventures reports.

Also Main Sequence Ventures portfolio·AgFunderNews·@AuManufacturing·AgFunderNews·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia·TechCrunch Australia·AgFunderNews·AgFunderNews·Crunchbase News

Seed £1.6m

Downforce Technologies draws investor support with innovative soil carbon solution

Soil carbon measurement startup Downforce Technologies closed a $3 million seed round backed by CEFC's Clean Energy Innovation Fund, Perivoli Innovations and Tiverton, with Australia as its first target market.

35 deals

CTV Funding News - October 2021

Cut Through Venture's November newsletter rounds up October 2021's record deal count for Australian startups, listing raises across climate, fintech, cybersecurity and legal tech, plus Startmate Demo Day graduates and active investors.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Women's Agenda·Forbes Australia·Startup News (WA)·Forbes Australia·rnz.co.nz·Dealroom·insolvencyinsider-au.com·Forbes Australia

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