Accelerator · 85 deals
Early-stage investment and mentorship for founders
Sydney, NSW
Every published round Startmate took part in, and every parcel of existing shares it bought off another holder. Deals we hold but haven't published yet are not counted, and a place in one of its own programs is under Cohorts.
Everyone Startmate has named to a program in published coverage. A place in a program is not a raise: the cheque is the figure recorded with the place, which is the program's standard terms where we hold them, and a blank is one we don't.
Companies Startmate has backed in a published round, and companies whose existing shares it bought off another holder.
| Company | What it does | First invested | Rounds | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI-NC | 20 Feb 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| AirRobe | Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Alloovium | 5 Jun 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 0 | |
| Alt. Leather | Bio-based leather alternatives for fashion and automotive | 29 Jan 2024, Seed | 1 | 0 |
| Amber | 2017, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Andromeda | Personalised robot companions for aged care and assisted living | 1 Aug 2022, Accelerator | 2 | 1 |
| Andromeda Robotics | Sep 2025, Series A | 1 | 0 | |
| Aquila | using light-beams to transport energy across the globe wirelessly | Jun 2023, Seed | 2 | 0 |
| Arlula | Earth Observation data platform giving seamless access to satellite imagery and data | 24 Mar 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| Ascenda | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| BioticsAI | 15 Sep 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Brainwaves | AI platform for brand strategy and creative direction | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Bugcrowd | Cybersecurity firm | 2013, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Build Club | AI-builder community building an e-learning platform for AI education | 11 Oct 2024, Pre-seed | 1 | 0 |
| Buster | 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Butter Insurance | insuretech startup providing seamless, commitment-free coverage for renters | 1 Aug 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Bygen | Carbon activation technology company that completed a Life Cycle Assessment | 15 Apr 2024, Series A | 1 | 0 |
| Carbonaught Pty Ltd | 9 May 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Cascayd | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| CheckGen | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Chirp | Chirp's AI amplifies sales teams to qualify and close deals faster. | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Circular Sourcing | Circular Sourcing connects businesses to source and sell quality surplus textiles, increa… | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| CrossCourtAI | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Deeligence | AI-powered legal due diligence automation | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Dexta | production and entertainment marketplace connects producers with creative businesses | 1 Aug 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Duohub | Real-time, continuously learning memory for voice agents. | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Edrolo | 14 Mar 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 0 | |
| Edsemble | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Evatto | 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Everbility | 9 May 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Evidentful | Automated criminal investigations for Police. | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Femmi Co | developing a mobile app that will enable millions of women worldwide to implement and tra… | 1 Aug 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| FlowGo | AI agent that structures WhatsApp/email orders and injects them into suppliers' ERP syste… | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Fluency | AI work intelligence platform that turns organisational activity into documentation and w… | Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Flux Robotics | 20 Feb 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Gloss Guide | Gloss Guide is the trusted beauty services directory connecting independent providers and… | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics et al | 9 May 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Great Wrap | Makes compostable cling wrap out of potato peels and food waste | Sep 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| gridmo | 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Guin | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Heaps Normal | Non-alcoholic beer company | Nov 2020, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| IBnkVault | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Inaam | Impact investment platform for young investors | Oct 2025, Pre-seed | 1 | 0 |
| June Health | Australia's first at-home STI and cervical screening kits for women and people with a cer… | 18 Aug 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| JustFund | Apr 2024, Seed | 1 | 0 | |
| Kapture | 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Kara Technologies | 11 Nov 2022, Seed | 1 | 0 | |
| Keeyu | AI agent for proactive e-commerce post-purchase operations | 2024, Accelerator | 2 | 1 |
| Kelpy | 19 Apr 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Kite Therapy | 8 May 2024, Pre-seed | 2 | 1 | |
| KiwiFibre | 9 May 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Landid | The quoting automation platform for Tradies to win and deliver more profitable projects. | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Layer | Managed marketplace democratising access to licensed content for games and metaverse owne… | Aug 2021, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Leakster | Acoustic leak detection sensors for water utilities | 18 Aug 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Learna | 9 May 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Lockii | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Lumos | 15 Sep 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Luniate | Luniate enables financial firms to accelerate content creation to reach the next-gen inve… | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Lyrebird | 2023, Accelerator | 2 | 1 | |
| Matilda Migration | AI-plus-human platform for streamlining Australian visa applications | 27 Sep 2024, Pre-seed | 1 | 0 |
| Mindset Health | 14 Mar 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 0 | |
| Misti | Nebuliser mask for respiratory diseases | 15 Sep 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Morse Micro | Hardware/Robotics/IoT company | 2017, Accelerator | 2 | 1 |
| Neuralindex | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| NOA The Brand | 9 May 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| NOD | NOD connects parents with trusted childcare professionals, instantly. | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Nook | 20 Feb 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| O3 | A physical social network to help Gen Z reconnect in a lonely world. | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| On The House | Free period product dispenser | Jan 2026, Seed | 1 | 0 |
| PentaCue AI | AI platform that lets electronics manufacturers discover qualified leads instantly by ana… | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Pitcrew AI | 20 Feb 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Polymath | 20 Feb 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Preve | Helps physical therapy clinics improve patient retention and clinical outcomes | 22 May 2025, Seed | 2 | 0 |
| Provvy | 4 Mar 2022, Accelerator | 2 | 0 | |
| Puralink | Autonomous pipe-inspection robots | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 2 | 1 |
| Rainstick | Plant stimulation technology company | 15 Sep 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Reactory Limited | 20 Feb 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Resonait | 20 Feb 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Sicona | 4 Apr 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 0 | |
| Sitemate | No code software platforms for built world companies | 2017, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Slice | Automating the financial and legal services behind property transactions. | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| SoundSmith | helps musicians promote their music on social media | 1 Aug 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| SplootCode | 20 Feb 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Steppen | Gen Z fitness app built and sold by Cara Davies | 2022, Accelerator | 2 | 1 |
| Storipress | DIY media publishing platform | 18 Jul 2022, undisclosed | 2 | 1 |
| Superstat | Melbourne-founded startup turning iPhone footage of amateur basketball games into full bo… | 2026, Accelerator | 2 | 1 |
| Switchboard | Building the connective tissue of digital supply chain infrastructure, through a cloud-ba… | May 2024, Seed | 1 | 0 |
| Swoop Aero | autonomous solutions | 2018, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Talentsheet | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Telemattica | 8 May 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Tendl | 2024, Accelerator | 2 | 1 | |
| Tendor | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| The Mintable | management training startup | 8 Jun 2022, Seed | 1 | 0 |
| Thermal Dawn | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Trava Health | 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Try Turnto | 19 Apr 2023, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Tutero | Australian online tutoring platform personalising K-12 education through diagnostic asses… | 1 Aug 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Uluu | Deep tech startup making biodegradable plastic alternatives from seaweed-derived PHA | 2021, Accelerator | 2 | 1 |
| UpGuard | Cybersecurity firm providing AI-powered cyber risk posture management | 2012, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| VAPAR | AI software for assessing pipe condition from CCTV footage | 2020, Pre-seed | 1 | 1 |
| Venu | 9 May 2024, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Vertus Energy | Develops green fuel products | 2021, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Vexev | AI-powered robotic ultrasound for vascular imaging | 2019, Accelerator | 3 | 1 |
| Vixia | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Vulnetix | Vulnetix is an orchestration and analytics layer above your security detection tools. | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Wiingman | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 | |
| Wriveted | machine learning-powered chatbot that helps children discover books | 1 Aug 2022, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Xylo Systems | AI biodiversity platform | 4 Oct 2022, Pre-seed | 2 | 0 |
| Zabidou | AI computer vision for automated industrial robotics QA | 19 Feb 2026, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
| Zipline AI | Zipline AI gives consumer brands their own brand-safe generative AI – so they can co-crea… | 29 Apr 2025, Accelerator | 1 | 1 |
Fund closes reported for Startmate, as distinct from the investments it has made.
| Fund | Announced | Committed | Target | Close | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Bets fund | 4 Mar 2022 | $920k | - | - | Startup Daily, SmartCompany |
Investors that coverage says has money in a fund Startmate runs. This is a stake in the fund, not in any company the fund has backed.
Companies Startmate has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal Startmate did.
Stories naming Startmate. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Startup Daily reports Airtree has extended its Frontier founder residency to San Francisco, dangling uncapped US$250,000 SAFE notes at expat Aussie and Kiwi founders; its Sydney edition hosts alumni of major local tech firms.
Sydney event-tech startup Evatto has raised a pre-seed round led by Perth firm Purpose Ventures to build its platform and expand abroad, after going through Startmate's Summer 26 program under its earlier name Wiingman.
Also thesaasnews.com·app.fundz.net·trysignalbase.com·Dealroom
Eight Australian and New Zealand startups secured a combined $67.4 million in funding across various sectors including agtech, medtech, robotics, and fintech.
Weekly roundup: Firmus completes its $2.85b round; Procore acquires DroneDeploy; Atlassian rebounds while Canva cuts guidance; plus fresh raises for Zabidou, BioScout, Vexev, Enrola, Spacetalk and others.
Ten13's post explains why it joined the robotics company's latest raise alongside Blackbird, Neotribe, Startmate and Horizons, covering its autonomous scanning device, dialysis focus, founders, and US rollout plans.
Australian medical robotics firm Vexev has raised A$8.6 million to pursue FDA clearance and US commercialisation of its VxWave robotic ultrasound platform, with backing from existing and new investors.
Also Startup Daily·This Week in Australian Startups·SmartCompany
Weekly roundup: $16.3 million across four early local rounds, Maincode launches the Matilda Code coding agent, Aussie Angels becomes Ventari, and Startmate names seventeen startups to its W26 intake.
Roundup of eight Australian and New Zealand startups whose late-July funding totals $102 million across space capsules, medical devices, livestock breath analysis, sports analytics and AI crop forecasting.
Startmate unveils its incoming Winter '26 accelerator intake, profiling AI, aerospace, legal tech, construction and healthcare startups founded across Australian cities, with others based in San Francisco and Christchurch.
Blackbird's post explains why it led Superstat's seed round alongside Startmate and angel backers, praising the founding trio's decade-long shared focus and rapid early growth in amateur basketball analytics.
A launch profile of Wingman Money, a personal finance app built by two University of Queensland graduates that rates financial wellbeing with a single score; its founders earlier took part in Startmate's 2025 pre-accelerator.
Gridcog, an Australian-founded energy modelling platform now headquartered in London, has landed a US$10 million ABB-led Series A, with Axpo, DNV Ventures, VERBUND X Ventures, AlbionVC and CEFC joining.
Doctor-led syndicate Medical Angels is turning its backing of 30-plus health startups into a $40 million fund, with $4 million banked, and has recruited former Startmate chief Michal Batko as venture partner.
Profile of Sally Wood, whose venture Kinrest is developing a screen-free device that helps children wind down for sleep, built on customer testing after she joined Startmate's Launch Club.
Interview with Minh Cung about Hyperlocalise, which builds AI agents that adapt marketing and product content for new language markets while keeping cultural context intact; a Launch Club alumnus seeking a co-founder and capital.
Weekly roundup of seven Australian and New Zealand startup raises totalling $17 million, including two startups entering Y Combinator, plus a new QuantX Labs board director and SmartrMail's earlier sale to Relay Commerce.
Startmate brought its 2026 intake to San Francisco for investor meetings and a Demo Day hosted by Stripe; Melbourne alumnus Fluency's Accel-led US$6 million seed round is recalled.
Startmate profiles Brainwaves, which builds strategy software for marketing teams, ahead of its Demo Day pitch, covering the founding team, early revenue and enterprise traction.
Profile of Zabidou, which builds laser-based AI vision systems for factory inspection without stopping production, led by a Baraja co-founder; invites readers to its upcoming Demo Day pitch night.
Founders Anthony See and Jason Hor built FlowGo, an AI agent embedding into WhatsApp and email to automate B2B order processing for suppliers, partnering with platforms like Food Market Hub and Pracbiz.
A Sydney defence and space technology company has completed an oversubscribed funding round led by Paspalis Capital to expand its satellite data coordination platform and grow its engineering team.
Startmate will resume taking founders to Silicon Valley this May and stage its first San Francisco Demo Day; the article also recalls Fluency's recent US seed round led by Accel.
Weekly roundup covering UpGuard's $105 million Series C and EatClub's $27 million Series B, plus earlier funding history for both Australian companies.
Hobart cybersecurity company UpGuard has landed US$75 million in Series C backing led by Springcoast Capital, with the article also recalling earlier Startmate and Firemark Ventures rounds.
Also Dealroom·Forbes Australia·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·ontargetish.com·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia
Roundup of the week's Australian startup funding: fresh raises for five companies, Startmate's Summer '26 accelerator intake of 19 startups, and Affinda's acquisition of Pathfindr.
Also Startup Daily
Nineteen early-stage companies join Startmate's Summer '26 accelerator intake, each receiving $120,000 for 7% equity — $2.28 million overall — spanning construction, healthcare, fintech, energy and manufacturing.
Weekly roundup of ten Australian and New Zealand startup raises totalling nearly $194 million, topped by Neara's $90 million round at a $1.1 billion valuation, with Splose, Operata, HAMR Energy and Adora also covered.
Melbourne work-documentation startup Fluency raised a US$6 million seed led by Accel at a $30 million valuation, with DST Global and others participating; its founders previously raised $1.5 million.
Roundup of six Australian funding deals: AutoGrab, Applied EV, Checkbox, Hometime, Factory and On the House, with amounts, investors, and Hometime's past acquisitions and raise history detailed.
Also Startup Daily
On the House, a Brisbane startup founded by a Startmate alumna, has secured $1.7 million in a Purpose Ventures-led seed round to expand its ad-funded dispensers offering free period products nationally.
Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Missing Perspectives·Women's Agenda
Startmate chief Michael Batko departs following an eight-year stint; COO Phoebe Pincus steps up. The piece credits his tenure for the accelerator's growth, returns and alumni, and notes his exits from two side ventures.
Long-serving Startmate chief Michael Batko departs the accelerator's top job, with operations lead Phoebe Pincus promoted to CEO; the piece also recalls two side ventures Batko previously exited.
Forbes Australia profile of Grace Toombs, founder of women's health startup June Health, recalling her Startmate accelerator acceptance and her plans for an endometriosis clinic.
Currents, a Gold Coast founder community group, has bought Michael Batko's running community Startup Striders for an undisclosed cash sum; Batko advises through December while remaining Startmate CEO.
Also SmartCompany
Weekly roundup of eight raises totalling $572.12 million, led by Firmus's $500 million round; RAGE Biotech, SunDrive, Number 8 Bio, Fabra, Keeyu, MyGig and Drone-Hand also funded, plus two RAGE Biotech executive appointments.
Also SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Business News Australia
Rampersand's newsletter announces it led Keeyu's $2.3 million pre-seed round, alongside portfolio updates from Quantum Brilliance, Cuttable, Hatch and Goterra, plus job listings and reflections on domain founders and Australian venture capital.
Also Rampersand·quantumwire.com·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·semiconductorindustrymonthly.com
Roundup of eight funding deals: Synchron's Series D, plus raises by Lumonus AI, Hullbot, Nbryo, Cytophenix, Giftbee, Understanding Zoe and Zeligate, spanning medtech, robotics, agtech and AI.
Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily
Weekly funding roundup covering eight raises totalling over $113 million across aerospace, biotech, materials, health and software, plus a pharmacy firm's acquisition out of administration.
Weekly roundup of eight trans-Tasman startup raises worth a combined $113 million-plus, alongside Joe Zhou's buyout of StrongRoom AI from administrators.
Perth seaweed materials maker Uluu has closed a Series A led by Burda Principal Investments to fund a commercial-scale facility, with Main Sequence returning after leading its 2022 round.
Also Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·Forbes Australia·SmartCompany·Startup News (WA)·Startup Daily·AgFunderNews