Ledger. Australian venture funding, tracked

Startup

Rainstick

Plant stimulation technology company

Cairns, QLD

Coverage

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

Unnamed stage $2.3m

Queensland R&D finance fintech raises $2.3 million

Equity raise of $2.3m by Advanced, a Sunshine Coast R&D finance startup building a $25m lending fund; backers include Wayne Gerard and Phil Cummins, who joins the board.

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Funding announcement

The world's first Drought Venture Studio is on the hunt for agtech ideas to future proof farmers

Beanstalk Ventures' Drought Venture Studio, supported by the national Future Drought Fund, has showcased eight agtech startups from its first cohort and moved four into a longer second phase; a second cohort is underway.

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.

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.

News

Lightning in a box? Rainstick harnesses electrical fields to grow crops 'bigger, faster, and more sustainably'

Australian agtech startup Rainstick treats seeds and microbes with targeted electrical fields to lift germination and crop yields; cofounder Mic Black describes early trial results, university validation work, and the company's funding position.

Funding announcement

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.

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