Startup
Melbourne, VIC
Every investor coverage indicates participated in a round Starward Whisky raised.
| Investor | Rounds | Invested |
|---|---|---|
| Diageo | Accelerator | - |
| Distill Ventures | Accelerator | - |
Companies Starward Whisky acquired or merged with, per published coverage. Buying a company is not investing in one: nothing here counts in the deals column.
Stories naming Starward Whisky. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
David Vitale has bought back his Melbourne whisky company from Diageo, ending the multinational's decade-old minority shareholding taken when Starward joined its startup program in 2015.
Also drinksdigest.com·australianbartender.com.au·SmartCompany
Starward's founder has bought the whisky business back outright, ending a decade of backing from Diageo through the Distill Ventures program, which Diageo began closing last year.
Also drinksdigest.com·australianbartender.com.au·thewhiskeywash.com·glassandnote.com
Founder David Vitale has bought back Starward Whisky, ending Diageo's eleven-year stake held via its Distill Ventures accelerator, which first invested in 2015.
Founder David Vitale has bought back the Starward whisky business outright from Diageo's Distill Ventures, ending their decade-long partnership, as Diageo winds down its early-stage spirits accelerator.
Also australianbartender.com.au·SmartCompany·thewhiskeywash.com
Founder David Vitale has fully bought back Starward Whisky, ending Diageo's eleven-year involvement via its Distill Ventures accelerator, which stopped taking new brands after sales declined in 2025.
Ignition Lane's weekly wrap reports falling Australian venture funding, lists several startup raises and fund raises, covers Chargefox's acquisition, Volt's closure, the Zip-Sezzle merger termination, and global tech news.
Also Startup Daily·Techboard
A public-interest profile arguing Starward Whisky markets Melbourne independence while omitting its 2023 acquisition by UK multinational Diageo, with profits flowing overseas.