Nicola Forrest

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

SISTER ACT: Nicola Forrest drops $100 million into an investment fund to back women

Future Generation launched Future Generation Women, a gender-lens fund seeded with $100 million from the Minderoo Foundation, with twelve women portfolio managers deciding investments pro bono; the trust is open to wholesale investors.

The ten richest women in Australia, according to the AFR

Profiles Australia's ten wealthiest women from the AFR's new list, alongside Canva's in-progress share sale, a large gift to a global gender-fund vehicle, and one backer's earlier healthtech round.

Also quadrantpe.com.au·Forbes Australia

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

Here are the 12 startups from Startmate's Summer23 cohort

Startup Daily profiles the twelve ventures entering Startmate's Summer23 accelerator intake, spanning carbon capture, renewables, health, education, robotics and proptech, with founders named for each.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest back female founders at Startmate

Tattarang, the Forrests' private investment vehicle, has partnered with Startmate to back women-led startups in its latest accelerator intake, which includes Kapture, Kelpy and Turnto.

Bill Gates, Twiggy invest in methane-reducing feed additive company

WA climate tech firm Rumin8 closed the second phase of its seed round, raising US$12 million from Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Harvest Road Group, with existing climate fund investors topping up their holdings.

Also SmartCompany·Techboard

Billionaires Andrew and Nicola Forrest take aim at peanut allergy

Biotech Aravax has received a US$20 million Series B commitment from Brandon Capital and Tenmile to advance its peanut allergy therapy PVX108 into Phase 2 trials.

Also Brandon Capital portfolio·Startup Daily·Startup News (WA)·Techboard·Startup Daily

Aravax commences Phase 2 development for peanut allergy therapy with $20m commitment to Series B round from Brandon Capital and Tenmile

Aravax has begun its Series B with a US$20 million investment from Brandon Capital and Tenmile, funding Phase 2 trials of its peanut allergy immunotherapy PVX108 while it seeks further capital.

Also Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon BioCatalyst portfolio·Brandon Capital portfolio·Forbes Australia·Techboard·Business News Australia

High-tech twist on the rain dance sparks a shiitake storm

Profile of Cairns startup Rainstick, which uses artificial lightning to boost mushroom growth. It won $20,000 from Dream Ventures, has taken in $200,000, and joined CSIRO's ON Accelerate with nine other teams.

How to fill holes in dental care … without seeing a dentist

Profile of Pearlii founder Kyle Turner, whose Melbourne AI dental-checkup app followed a 2019 Dream Ventures pitch, tracing his journey from Dubbo to Oxford and the company's pivot to dental products.

Twiggy Forrest is backing biotech with a new $250 million VC fund

Andrew Forrest's private investment company Tattarang is launching Tenmile, a Perth-based $250 million health-tech venture fund that has already backed Emyria and Carina Biotech and partnered with Rock Health.