May
Leonardo Ai co-founder says AI will enhance, not crush, creativity
Generative artificial intelligence will enhance creative work done by real people rather than replace them, the founder of a Sydney-based start-up says.
- Max Mason
- Exclusive
- Executive shake-up
Canva enterprise boss out after six months
Former Google and Microsoft executive Javier Soltero was hired to lead the company’s enterprise efforts, which are key to its IPO plans.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Exclusive
- Workplace
‘If you don’t like it, get a job at a bank’: Canva boss
The design software giant’s all-singing, all-dancing debut event in Los Angeles came with a host of new features – and rumblings of a cost to its tired staff.
- Nick Bonyhady
‘China is run by engineers, US by political lawyers’: Tech pioneer’s warning
As senior exec at AOL and Sun, William Raduchel spent 60 years at the forefront of the tech revolution - and once dated Janet Yellen. Here’s what he’s learnt.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Exclusive
- Canva
Canva, in the US, lifts the lid on its plan to win over Wall Street
It has hit $US2.3 billion revenue, but growth among individual users is slowing, so Canva is relying on big customers to keep its financials in IPO-shape.
- Nick Bonyhady
Australian Open champ backs Melbourne composting start-up
The Funded blog is the home for news on the tech deals that are done in Australia, as soon as we hear about them.
- Updated
- Paul Smith
Replica Ozempic and Mounjaro will be banned by October
The ruling preserves the status quo of the drug market in a boon to big pharmaceutical firms and a blow to start-ups that are trying to disrupt the sector.
- Nick Bonyhady
Airwallex Australia GM Luke Latham calls it quits
Latham only joined the money remittance start-up last June.
- Lucas Baird
- Exclusive
- Venture capital
Big win for Square Peg as Nvidia buys AI start-up Deci
The Melbourne VC firm will soon be toasting a rich profit on its investment in an Israeli AI start-up, when it is acquired by chip titan Nvidia for $447 million.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Opinion
- Venture capital
Why we should celebrate the unsung heroes of the Aussie tech scene
Successful start-up exits deliver rich returns to investors and create wealth for founders and some employees, and hopefully recycle talent back into the sector.
- Leigh Jasper
- Analysis
- Analysis
Growing pains: Tougher times put VC on a collision course with media
From rumblings of a boycott to senior technology investors complaining, Australia’s start-up and media industries aren’t as close as they used to be.
- Nick Bonyhady
How this intern turned paper-shuffling into a $3m start-up
Finnlay Morcombe found himself spending hours on a tedious but important task while on an internship. It turned into a fantastic business idea.
- Julie Hare
PsiQuantum deal will cost almost $30m just to check it works
But most of the details of the government’s marquee bet on the potentially powerful technology have been kept secret in the budget.
- Nick Bonyhady
$100m Sydney fintech raises $34m to take on global rivals
Ellerston Capital has taken a stake in digital identity and verification player Data Zoo, in a deal that values the Sydney-founded business north of $100m.
- Tess Bennett
Blue-sky thinkers block the sun to fight climate change
It might sound like science fiction, but a mix of scientists and venture capitalists are working on plans to block the sun to slow global warming.
- Peter Ker and Lap Phan
- Opinion
- Venture capital
Stick or twist? How start-up investors know when it’s time to sell
VCs selling down Canva stakes could leave huge gains on the table, but don’t want to leave selling too late. Poorly timed sales have a history of destroying value.
- Adir Shiffman
Rich Listers sell tech firm Envato for $375m
It was once valued at more than $1 billion, but Cyan and Collis Ta’eed have sold their digital assets marketplace to New York-listed Shutterstock.
- Tess Bennett
- Exclusive
- Payments
Airwallex’s local outpost reverses to loss
The local outpost of one of Australia’s largest technology start-ups tripped to a deep loss after a big increase in costs.
- Updated
- Lucas Baird
April
Start-up lender Kashcade perks up for new deals with $23m raise
The proceeds are earmarked for Kashcade’s push into research and development lending, which allows start-ups to borrow funds against future R&D Tax Incentive refunds.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Labor’s bold $1b bet on Aussie quantum start-up
Australia will invest $940 million in Silicon Valley start-up PsiQuantum in a major bet that it will build the world’s first commercially useful quantum computer.
- Nick Bonyhady