Labor's new CGT carve-outs for startups still leave equity comp less attractive than overseas markets. Founders say the changes won't stop commercial talent heading offshore. The concern: if equity upside gets taxed harder, ANZ startups can't compete on total comp.
Melbourne longevity startup Everlab closed a $65M Series A led by Airtree. The three-year-old company, which raised $15M seed in July 2025, is hiring for UK market entry and scaling its clinical and tech teams. Worth noting: they are selling preventive health diagnostics direct-to-consumer and through corporate wellness programmes, including BCG, BHP and Bain.
Queensland fintech Flyweel closed $2.41M pre-seed led by Ten13 to build embedded lending for ad spend. The company processed $110M in ad spend across 1,000 businesses and is launching US-first. Worth noting: this is a different entity than the digital commerce company Omnicom acquired for $835M.
New Energy Transport closed a $5 million equity round led by Jekara Group to deploy 20 electric prime movers across NSW by end of 2026. The company is bringing forward its launch timeline by 6 months and will base operations south-west of Sydney with mobile charging infrastructure along freight corridors.
Property buyer's agency Dashdot entered liquidation owing $16.5 million to 695 clients, the ATO, Meta, and startup lender Mighty Partners. Co-founder Goose McGrath cited rising Meta ad costs and halving ad-driven revenue as major factors in the collapse, alongside tax reforms and tighter lending.
Andrew and Nicola Forrest's Minderoo Foundation is backing Startmate with $2 million per year over four years to support women founders. The accelerator already invests in women-led startups at nearly double the industry rate: 43% versus 24%.
Australian capital gains tax changes are pushing tech founders and sales talent to the US, where equity is taxed at 15% versus Australia's 30% minimum. The policy shift hits hardest for startups using equity to compete with enterprise employers for top AEs and sales leaders. For ANZ sales professionals, the math is stark: US offers now include currency premium plus better equity treatment.
Ben Lerer, managing partner at New York early-stage fund Lerer Hippeau, explains why his firm deliberately passes on sensible businesses to chase power-law outcomes. His thesis: every dollar in a safe company is a dollar not chasing a fund-returner. The firm runs on conviction, not consensus, and Lerer aims to be the worst investor at his own fund.
Canberra waste-tech startup Goterra entered administration after burning through $20M+ in funding. The collapse highlights a structural problem: climate tech companies outgrow venture capital before they are bankable for infrastructure finance. For sales professionals, this funding gap means unstable comp, sudden layoffs, and territory shutdowns at late-stage climate startups.
Startmate landed $8 million from Minderoo Foundation to back more women founders through its accelerator. The program puts in $120k at seed for 10% equity, runs 12 weeks of programming, then supports until the next round. Track record: 52% of founders raise $1M to $4M post-program. Female founders get 2% of VC funding in ANZ despite better returns.
Silicon Quantum Computing landed $40m from the National Reconstruction Fund, bringing its government backing to $60m in three months. Dentroid, Earlytrade, and ReSmart closed the remaining $47.3m. The week sits within Australia's $5.1b funding year, third-largest on record.
Richard White-backed Vinyl Group (ASX:VNL) closed Time Out Australia for nominal consideration, 24 hours after picking up Pedestrian.TV from Nine. Raised $2.4m at $0.054 per share to fund integration. Time Out Australia is profitable, expected to be earnings accretive in FY27.