Mad Paws

Six ANZ startups that raised $568.1 million this week

Funding roundup led by Airwallex's US$330 million Series G at a $12 billion valuation, with raises from Kasada, Hnry, All G, Bless Payments and Emanda, plus earlier rounds recalled.

Also Startup Daily

Breast milk substitution biotech raises $10 million amid French deal for global push

Sydney biotech All G raised $10 million via convertible note from Agronomics, Doehler's venture arm and ID Capital, alongside a joint venture with France's Armor Protéines to push its fermented lactoferrin products globally.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Smart50 star Mad Paws secures $62 million buyout deal

Pet-sitting marketplace Mad Paws has recommended a proposed $62 million takeover by US company Rover, with its Pet Chemist arm earmarked for VetPartners, while earlier raises are recalled.

Six Aussie startups that raised $28.5 million this week

Weekly roundup detailing new capital for Australian startups Diraq, BrainFish, RecycleSmart, Cohabit and Five Faces, alongside Alumly's undisclosed multimillion-dollar backing from UK investor Mauve Group.

Also Startup Daily

Customer experience platform Brainfish hooks $9.8 million pre-Series A

Sydney AI customer-support startup Brainfish has secured a $9.8 million pre-Series A, with Prosus Ventures leading and existing backers Peak XV's Surge and Macdoch Ventures participating, to fund its US expansion.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany

Finder and ASX-listed NobleOak contra with marketing VC Scaleup Mediafund

Scaleup Mediafund swapped ad space for equity in Finder and ASX-listed insurer NobleOak, the latter worth $1.5m, among six investments from its third fund backed by major media companies.

Melbourne scaleup Book An Artist adds US marketplace Wescover to its palette

Wescover, an American marketplace for custom-made creations, has been bought by Melbourne-headquartered Book An Artist, which plans to merge the platforms; the piece also recalls Book An Artist's 2022 raise.

Hawke's Brewing and Bare Funerals toast $1 million media-for-equity deals

Scaleup Mediafund's $15 million third fund has made its first two investments, backing Hawke's Brewing and Bare with roughly $1 million in advertising apiece; oOh!media joined as an investor.

Brainfish nets $3.85 million to tackle customer support challenges

Sydney AI customer-support startup Brainfish has raised $3.85 million in a round led by Peak XV Partners' Surge, with Macdoch Ventures, Black Sheep Capital and angels taking part, bringing its total capital to $5 million.

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

Burgers and acquisitions: All G Foods spins out plant-based meats in merger with Fenn Foods

All G Foods spins its Love Buds plant-based range into a merger with Fenn Foods' vEEF, forming a new entity; All G pivots to fermented dairy, with both companies' earlier raises recapped.

Luxury dress sharing platform The Volte raises $4 million in Series A led by eBay Ventures

Zero Co, Ofload and Mad Paws: The startup winners of the 2022 Smart50 awards

SmartCompany names its 2022 Smart50 winners: July tops the list, Ofload ranks second after a $60 million raise, and Mad Paws, Zero Co, Code Like a Girl and Hero Packaging take out category awards.

Fake meat startup All G scores bigger Woolies backing

Woolworths' corporate venture arm W23 has added an undisclosed multi-million-dollar investment to its backing of Sydney alt-protein maker All G Foods, which had earlier raised a $16 million seed round in late 2021.

Also AgFunderNews·@AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·AgFunderNews

Pet Circle raises $125m to become Australia's latest unicorn

Sydney pet-care platform Pet Circle has raised $125 million in a Series C round backed by Prysm Capital, TDM Growth Partners, Baillie Gifford and AirTree Ventures, reaching unicorn status.

Also SmartCompany