Marc Benioff

Brandon Capital's $60m taypayer-funded biotech bets

Brandon Capital has put roughly $60 million of National Reconstruction Fund money into ten biotech companies and warns R&D tax changes would hurt deep tech; portfolio company Myricx Bio went to Novartis.

Also australiatimes.com

Bret Taylor's Sierra raises nearly $1 billion months after last capital push

Sierra, the enterprise AI agent firm started by Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor, has banked a $950 million Series E with Tiger Global and Google Ventures at the helm, plus Benchmark, Sequoia and Greenoaks.

Also TechCrunch Australia·aivy.com.au·cmswire.com·theaiworld.org·faq.com.tw·groundy.com

💫 Ramplify: December Details

Rampersand's December newsletter leads with its $2m pre-seed investment in Cor, maker of the Obi AI avatar coach, plus trend retrospectives, tech news, portfolio updates, community events and a job ad.

Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Two Aussie startups that raised $8.2 million this week

Roundup of a quiet funding week: Melbourne workforce-platform maker 2cloudnine banked over $7.5m, algae-ingredient maker SeaStock $740,000 from government accelerator FaBA, while San Francisco's Sumble emerged with $59m.

Also Startup Daily

Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar steps down as co-CEO

Atlassian's co-founder Scott Farquhar will vacate the co-CEO seat on August 31, staying on in governance and advisory roles, with Mike Cannon-Brookes set to lead alone from September.

Climate change agtech startup Loam raises $105 million Series B

Agtech startup Loam has raised a $105 million Series B co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Wollemi Capital, following a $40 million Series A, to commercialise its soil-carbon technology.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Salesforce sheds its Australian VC arm amid swingeing job cuts

Salesforce is shutting its Australian venture arm amid global layoffs. Local head Mike Ferrari has departed, and the unit's Australian investments will now be run from the company's American headquarters.

Agriculture carbon reduction startup Regrow Ag plants $50 million Series B

Agtech carbon platform Regrow Ag, founded by Dr Anastasia Volkova, has closed a Series B led by Galvanize Climate Solutions with prior backers returning, to expand regenerative agriculture programs for food companies.

Also Forbes Australia·Startup Daily

Ten climate-conscious startups that have raised millions in 2021 so far

A roundup of climate-focused startups that secured investment during 2021, led by Loam Bio's $40 million carbon sequestration round, spanning clean energy, waste, lithium, and plant-based protein companies across Australia and New Zealand.

Also Cut Through Venture·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Beef Central / Grain Central·Startup News (WA)·Dealroom

Using microbes to accelerate carbon removal – Loam Bio raises AUD $40m Series A

Australian microbial carbon-removal startup Loam Bio raised a $40 million Series A led by TIME Ventures, with CEFC, Main Sequence, Horizons Ventures and others joining; Virescent Ventures says it has invested $5.8 million.

Also Startup Daily·AgFunderNews·SmartCompany·Cut Through Venture·@AuManufacturing·Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia