Tank Stream Labs

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #180, 4th October 2026

Weekly roundup reporting Australian startup funding rounds and government grants, a venture fund close, agreed acquisitions, an IPO pricing, a collapse, plus executive hires and AI policy developments.

‘The next grid will be made of light’: Laser energy startup Aquila takes out Most Innovative Startup

Scalare backs AI scent startup Auric, which opens Sydney lab

Listed investor Scalare Partners has taken an undisclosed early-stage stake in Sydney AI scent startup Auric, which has opened a lab at Tank Stream Labs after earlier backing from Antler and Sputnik ATX.

Also This Week in Australian Startups

Scalare rescues Fishburners from administration

Scalare Partners has bought Fishburners out of administration, keeping the founder community operating within Scalare's ecosystem, with planned hub access, revived pitch nights and a future investment vehicle for startups.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·This Week in Australian Startups

Sydney Startup Hub rent bill owed to the NSW government pushes Fishburners into administration

Fishburners, the Sydney not-for-profit co-working community, has gone into voluntary administration over a long-running rent debt to the NSW government. KPMG administrators will keep it trading while pursuing a sale and recapitalisation.

Wolverine star Hugh Jackman joins ticketing startup Humanitix as Head of Impact

Actor Hugh Jackman has signed on as Humanitix's first Head of Impact, the Sydney not-for-profit ticketing social enterprise having donated almost $21 million to charity and targeting $100 million by 2031.

The Founders Union startup services hub launches

Scalare Partners has launched The Founders Union, an AI-driven hub connecting founders to education, community, services and investment providers; Westpac, MYOB, Atlassian and Zoho are among its partners.

Beaten Zone Ventures launches AUKUS Pillar II Pitch Fest to spotlight next-generation Defence innovation

Beaten Zone Venture Partners will host ten Australian defence startups pitching to a judging panel in Sydney this November, with prizes including a SHOT Show trip and Reveille tickets.

Scalare Partners Acquires Planet Startup

Scalare Partners has bought 100% of Planet Startup, a Brisbane vCFO firm serving early-stage tech founders — its fifth purchase since 2023 — with co-founder CEO Marc Orchard staying on to lead.

Also Startup Daily

Scalare Partners Acquires Tank Stream Labs

Scalare Partners has agreed to buy Tank Stream Labs, an Australian flexible workspace operator for tech companies, its fourth purchase since 2023, bringing TSL chief executive Bradley Delamare into the group.

Also Scalare Partners portfolio·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·This Week in Australian Startups

Tank Stream Labs sells to ASX-listed Scalare Partners in $5.5 million deal

ASX-listed Scalare Partners is acquiring coworking operator Tank Stream Labs in a deal of as much as $5.5 million, paid in cash, shares and earn-outs; three earlier Scalare acquisitions are also recalled.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany

Small business lender Avenue is off its banking P plates

Avenue Bank, a Sydney lender to small businesses, has obtained a full banking licence from APRA, 18 months behind schedule; the article recalls its $37m Series B, Liberty's backing, and neobank failures and sales.

The Techstars team – in their own words – on what to expect in Sydney

Q&A with Kirstin Hunter and Lauren Fong, who lead Techstars' new Sydney accelerator backed by the NSW Government, on their backgrounds and the first 12-company class starting in July.

Zero Co, Ofload and Mad Paws: The startup winners of the 2022 Smart50 awards

SmartCompany names its 2022 Smart50 winners: July tops the list, Ofload ranks second after a $60 million raise, and Mad Paws, Zero Co, Code Like a Girl and Hero Packaging take out category awards.

PropHero celebrates first birthday and key success milestones

PropHero marks one year since incorporation, listing milestones including a pre-seed raise, an award, overseas expansion and hiring, and sets goals for its second year.