Ledger. Australian venture funding, tracked

Company

Wesfarmers

Coverage

Stories naming Wesfarmers. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.

Funding announcement

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #176, 30th August 2026

Weekly roundup: Blackbird confirms a record fund close and Galileo reaches a first close, Genesis merges with Proudi, IREN secures massive debt, and several startups report raises, grants and program wins.

Key hire

RBA Governance Board Member Elana Rubin to Chair Airwallex Australia

Payments company Airwallex has brought in a new independent chair for its Australian board and added a former New Zealand prime minister as a director; he already leads its NZ board.

Key hire

Airwallex strengthens Australian leadership appointing Elana Rubin AM and Sir Bill English to its Australian board

Airwallex has appointed Elana Rubin AM to chair its Australian board and former New Zealand prime minister Sir Bill English as a director there, with both roles starting immediately; their other board roles are listed.

3 deals

Gabby and Hezi Leibovich-backed Fingertip acquired by rival Linktree – and will close

Linktree has bought Melbourne rival Fingertip and will shut it down in 2026, with its cofounders joining; the piece also recaps Linktree's earlier acquisitions and the Leibovich brothers' failed ventures.

Also Dealroom·Forbes Australia

7 deals

Five Aussie startups that raised $85 million this week

Roundup of five Australian raises totalling $85 million: National Renewable Network's Series A, plus Syenta, Cuttable, SprintSuite and Bitwise Agronomy, with lead investors and expansion plans for each.

2 deals

Cuttable tops up seed round with $4.5 million for AI ad platform

Melbourne adtech firm Cuttable has added $4.5 million to its seed round with Square Peg leading, taking total backing to $10 million and valuing the business at $44.5 million ahead of its US push.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily

Unnamed stage $80m

Catch: A business timeline, in their words

Retrospective timeline of Catch's journey from its 2006 launch through Tiger Global's investment, the Menulog and Luxury Escapes deals and Wesfarmers' $230 million acquisition, to Wesfarmers' announced wind-down.

Also Startup Daily

Unnamed stage $30m

The one that got away: After paying $230 million for Catch, Wesfarmers is shutting it down

Wesfarmers is closing Catch, the online retailer it bought for $230 million in 2019, citing local ecommerce competition; the story also recalls Catch's venture backers and Little Birdie's $30m stake, pause and rescue.

Also Startup Daily

Seed $5.5m

Investment Notes: Cuttable AU$5.5m Seed

Square Peg announces its participation in Cuttable's AU$5.5 million seed round. The AI-powered advertising platform was founded by Jack White, Ed Ring and Sam Kroonenburg, and already works with major Australian brands.

Also Square Peg Capital·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·LaunchVic

Unnamed stage $20m

Telehealth startup Updoc secures $20 million from ASX-listed Bailador

SmartCompany reports digital health platform Updoc raised $20 million from ASX-listed investor Bailador, its first external capital, and notes the telehealth sector's recent funding activity, including InstantScripts' earlier sale to Wesfarmers.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia

12 deals

Early VC #6 - Fremantle Seaweed raised $1.26 million

Fremantle Seaweed, Vanable, FLK it over, Bae Juice, Nullify, Recce Pharmaceuticals, Broad Radio, VaultEscrow, Esper, Anni, CSF Enterprises, and Jupiter Ionics secured funding through various rounds including crowdfunding, seed, and grants.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany

Grant $9.4m

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

A manufacturing roundup covering Hazer's R&D tax refund, Atomo's South African test supply deal, Acrow's asset purchase, PureFoods' product revenue, a solar farm completion, BlueScope's accelerator applications, and a drone modem launch.

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