West Tech Fest

21 WA Startups Share $1.9 Million In Latest Round Of IBG & CBG Government Grants

Western Australia's latest Innovation Booster and Commercialisation Bridge grant round gives 21 startups a combined $1.9 million, unveiled at West Tech Fest; two-thirds are regional, First Nations or female-founded ventures.

Less digging, more thinking: Western Australian startup report calls for greater support for AI, biotech and data analytics

Startup Daily reports on a Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre study of Western Australia's startup ecosystem, urging reforms to talent, diversity, capital and R&D funding so the state can catch up with its eastern neighbours.

Western Australia launches $150 million startup investment program, backing 7 VCs with $45m

Western Australia's government added $15 million to its WAVC fund-of-funds, committing $45 million across seven venture firms to back local startups; Purpose Ventures' fund closed at $55 million after backing My Mirror and SpacetoCo.

Startup West podcast 110: Founders Panel (live) – the Climate for Tech

Year-end podcast episode: a festival panel with the founders of Uluu, Raaise and Electro Ventures on climate tech challenges, wins and plans for 2024.

Omni Biotech Raises $300k Pre-Seed Round To Make Hydration An Everyday Trackable

Hydration-tracking startup Omni Biotech, based in Perth, has completed a $300,000 pre-seed round from Skalata Ventures to develop phone- and wearable-based hydration monitoring, founders Will Poot and Zac Farrow announced at West Tech Fest.

Also Startup Daily

Plus Eight selects its 2023 startup investments

Perth's Plus Eight accelerator has picked six startups for its 2023 program, collectively backed with over $400,000 in seed funding, plus an Israel trip and a December Demo Night slot.

Two new WA investment syndicates announce first target deals

Two new Western Australian syndicates, West Tech Investor Network and VentureX Capital, have unveiled debut deals via the Aussie Angels platform, eyeing Procuracon and HeyLady; an earlier $100,000 outlay across three startups is recalled.

Purpose Ventures closes $37M fund to invest in WA startups

Kylie and Derek Gerrard's Purpose Ventures has closed $37m for its Western Australian startup fund, with WA investors, the Steinberg Family Office as cornerstone backer and state government operational support.

Also Startup Daily

Ninja collapses leaving 55 devs and staff members looking for work

Perth gaming and software firms Ninja Software and Ninja Syndicate have entered administration after a planned capital raise fell through, leaving 55 staff seeking work while former sales chief Lan Tran helps place them.

Startup News Award winners 2022

Startup News hands out its fifth annual community-voted awards, honouring WeMoney, Stuart Kidd and Paula Taylor, plus Spacecubed's Golden Ticket won by Matilda, and recaps the year's most-read stories including several funding rounds.

Plus Eight announces the 6 startups it will invest in this year

Spacecubed's Plus Eight Accelerator has named six startups advancing to its final phase, giving them access to a $500,000 seed funding pool and a Demo Night pitch at December's West Tech Fest.

Top 10 WA startup stories for last quarter and year

Startup News recaps its most-read WA startup stories for the June quarter and the 2021-22 financial year, listing funding raises, acquisitions and other headlines that drew readers.

West Tech Investor Network makes its first 3 investments

Perth's West Tech Fest Investor Network has made its first three investments, $50,000 and two of $25,000, in WA startups Grow Impact, Anticipate Life and Tactest.