Trevor St Baker

🇦🇺 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.

Ampol to buy EV charging scaleup Evie Networks for $225 million

Fuel retailer Ampol has proposed acquiring EV charging network Evie Networks for $225 million, pending regulator approval, while the article recalls the charging company's seed, Series A, government grant and debt funding history.

Ampol powers up its EV strategy with $225m acquisition of Evie Networks' national charging platform

Fuel retailer Ampol is buying EV charging network Evie Networks, via holding company Fast Cities Australia, for $225 million funded from debt, with completion expected in first-half 2027 pending ACCC approval.

Also This Week in Australian Startups

Tritium receivers confident of selling the business

Receivers of collapsed Australian EV charger maker Tritium say the business is stabilised and attracting buyer interest; creditor claims include CBA and shareholder Trevor St Baker.

Unicorn dehorned: Nasdaq-listed Brisbane EV charging venture Tritium collapses into receivership

Brisbane EV charging maker Tritium, once valued at A$1.55 billion at its 2021 Nasdaq listing, has collapsed into receivership, with McGrathNicol appointed receivers and KPMG administrators after directors deemed it insolvent.

Also RenewEconomy·Startup Daily

St Baker seeks $200 million in new fund focused on EVs, flying cars and energy

Trevor St Baker is launching a second investment fund seeking $200 million from outside backers, after his first vehicle backed Tritium, Novonix, Evie Networks and other energy and mobility companies.

Solar plane and electric vertical take-off and landing technologies win Australian grants

AMSL Aero, Praxis Labs and Swinburne's Air Hub won federal grants under the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships program, while AMSL Aero also recently secured $5 million from Trevor St Baker's energy innovation fund.

Also @AuManufacturing