Ledger. Australian venture funding, tracked

Chief Innovation Officer · Founder, Wisetech Global · angel in 1 deal

Richard White

Coverage

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

Unnamed stage $2.4m

Now Vinyl is taking Time Out

Josh Simons-led Vinyl Group raised $2.4 million and is adding Time Out Australia and Pedestrian Group to its media portfolio for little outlay, alongside earlier buys of Concrete Playground and Val Morgan Digital.

Also This Week in Australian Startups

4 deals

Nine walks away from its $49 million digital media investment, Pedestrian, handing it to Richard White’s Vinyl

Vinyl Group is buying Nine's youth publisher Pedestrian Group for nominal consideration, ending Nine's costly ownership. The piece also recalls Nine's stake purchases, Linkby's Series B, and Vinyl's acquisitions and shutdowns.

Also Startup Daily·This Week in Australian Startups·Capital Brief

Venture debt ≤$10m

Richard White-backed Vinyl buys rival BuzzFeed and PopSugar publisher Val Morgan Digital from Hoyts

Vinyl Group is buying Val Morgan Digital, publisher of BuzzFeed and PopSugar, from Hoyts for $10.5 million, with funding via a shareholder facility and Hoyts CEO Damian Keogh joining the Vinyl board.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Mumbrella

Unnamed stage $11m

Brag Media cofounder sues Richard White-backed Vinyl for $2 million over acquisition deal

Brag Media cofounder Luke Girgis is suing Vinyl Group for performance payments from their 2023 sale; the piece also recalls Vinyl's other acquisitions and Richard White's $11 million investment.

Series D+ $263m

After buying the founder's own business for $43 million, Employment Hero spends another $112m on a Canadian rival

Employment Hero acquires Canada's Humi for $112m and, filings show, paid $43.4m for Ben Thompson's Employment Innovations; the story also recalls its 2023 Series F and investor clash.

Also TechCrunch Australia·Startup Daily

Exit / M&A

Richard White-backed Vinyl Group's latest media play is acquiring Concrete Playground for $5 million

Music and media company Vinyl Group has agreed to buy the city guides brand Concrete Playground for $5 million in cash and shares, with completion expected by late February 2025.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily

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.

2 deals

Media & Marketing

AFR's Media & Marketing section roundup: Joe Aston's Rampart has raised $2.3m from five backers and TEG has locked in roughly $100m of fresh bank debt, alongside media policy, court and personality stories.

Also Startup Daily·AFR Technology·Dealroom·SmartCompany·Mumbrella·This Week in Australian Startups·The Age Business·SMH Business·Mumbrella

Something wrong? Tell us