Startup · $6.2m raised
Australian utility partner of Neara
Every investor coverage indicates participated in a round SA Power Networks raised.
| Investor | Rounds | Invested |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Renewable Energy Agency | Grant | - |
| Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) | Grant | $6,200,000 |
Companies SA Power Networks acquired or merged with, per published coverage. Buying a company is not investing in one: nothing here counts in the deals column.
| Name | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Bills | CEO | ARENA, RenewEconomy |
Stories naming SA Power Networks. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Energy AI startup Gridsight, co-founded by NSW childhood friends, has raised a $36 million round led by New York's Insight Partners as it expands into the US; Endeavour Energy is among its customers.
Zen Energy faces liquidation after administrators blamed its risky solar-heavy trading strategy; its Zen Futures infrastructure unit was sold for $45 million, and creditors look likely to recover little.
Administrators McGrathNicol say troubled renewable retailer Zen Energy must liquidate, blaming a risky trading strategy; creditors face heavy losses, its infrastructure arm was sold for $45 million, and a Gunvor retail deal collapsed.
A large South Australian battery has stood idle for weeks because part-owner Zen Energy entered voluntary administration, triggering its market suspension, while its hoped-for sale to commodities trader Gunvor collapsed.
South Australian startups Lunio Energy and OptiGrid launch a 5 MW Strathalbyn battery into market trading; the piece recalls OptiGrid's seed round backed by CEFC, IP Group, Hostplus, universities and EnergyLab.
A 5 MW South Australian battery has started trading, the first project for developer Lunio Energy and the first four-hour site run on OptiGrid's optimisation platform, whose seed backers are recapped.
Renewable utility Zen Energy has entered voluntary administration despite regulators clearing Gunvor to buy its retail business; McGrathNicol is administrator and customers moved to AGL.
Neara joins the unicorn club after a TCV-led $90 million Series D at a $1.1 billion valuation, with existing backers participating; funds will fuel global expansion and engineering hires.
ARENA commits $2.4 million to EVX for 250 kerbside EV chargers across three Australian states, funded through the Driving the Nation Program, with electricity distributors and a retailer supporting the rollout.
Also @AuManufacturing
ARENA recalls two community electrification grants, $6.2 million to SA Power Networks and $5.4 million to Electrify 2515, and says the minister has asked it to consider expanding such funding.
Round-up reporting Neara's $45 million Series C, Alimetry's US$18 million Series A2, Earthodic's US$4 million seed, and Antler's latest residency intake of startups each receiving $225,000 for 12% stakes.
Also Startup Daily
Neara, an Australian AI infrastructure startup, raised $45 million led by EQT, Partners Group and Square Peg Capital, with Skip Capital and Prosus Ventures returning; funds target North American and European expansion.
Australia's renewable energy agency conditionally allocates up to $143 million to twenty named recipients for a national rollout of as many as 370 community batteries, with a second grant round flagged.
Roundup of Australian manufacturing news: Matrak closes a Series A, Queensland Pacific Metals receives an R&D tax refund, ARENA funds a household energy trial, Ampcontrol appoints a transformation chief, plus policy and launch briefs.
Also @AuManufacturing
ARENA puts $6.2 million toward SA Power Networks' Energy Masters trial, equipping 500 South Australian homes with smart devices and energy management tech, alongside state government, research, retail and finance partners.
Also ARENA·ARENA·@AuManufacturing
TechCrunch profiles Neara, an Australian startup whose AI models of electricity networks help utilities predict and manage extreme-weather risks, naming its investors and utility customers.
ARENA grants PLUS ES $2.72 million to build hot water demand-management capability, letting AGL Energy dynamically control up to 20,000 South Australian hot water systems as part of a $5.4 million project.
SA Power Networks has appointed CS Energy chief Andrew Bills as its next CEO, replacing the retiring Rob Stobbe, as the South Australian electricity distributor prepares for a fully renewable grid.