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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Oceania, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌍
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📰 Important News
- AUSTRAC has ordered an external AML/CTF audit of Airwallex over compliance concerns, with the fintech saying it is fully cooperating and confident in its systems.
- Lava Blue and Halocell Energy partnered to build an Australian supply chain for high-purity perovskites to scale next-generation solar and cut production costs.
- Truefuels partnered with Tennis Australia to pilot advanced nutrition and thermoregulation products with elite players to boost training and recovery.
- Life’s Moments app launched globally, offering families an app to organize photos, videos, and documents in a secure digital family tree.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- Gilmour Spaceclosed a A$217 million Series E round led by the National Reconstruction Fund and Hostplus, becoming Australia’s first space unicorn.
- Ivoraised NZ$94.3 million in a Series B led by Blackbird, boosting its valuation to NZ$611.8 million, to fuel international expansion.
- Sydney-based AI security startupDam Securelanded A$6.1 million in seed funding led by Paladin Capital Group to develop its AI-native platform.
- SPEC Toolboxsecured A$3 million in pre-Series A funding co-led by Black Nova and Investible to support global expansion.
💰️ IPO and M&A Watch
- Copeland agreed to acquire Australia-based Bueno Analytics to add AI-driven SaaS building and cold chain analytics, boosting predictive maintenance and energy management services before the 2026 close.
- Airwallex acquired Paynuri to enter South Korea, securing licenses for cross-border payment and financial tools, empowering Korean businesses for global expansion and tapping into the 'K-wave' market.
🏦 About Investors
- Partners Group launched a global special opportunities strategy and named Joshua Hartz as global head, with the role partly based in Sydney, signaling a stronger APAC focus in its private markets investment platform.
🚀 Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Gilmour Space
Gilmour Space Technologies, founded in 2015 in Queensland by Adam and James Gilmour, is building Australia’s sovereign access to space through orbital launch vehicles, satellites, and launch infrastructure, led by its Eris rocket and Bowen Orbital Spaceport. In January 2026, the company raised A$217 million in a Series E co-led by the National Reconstruction Fund and Hostplus, with backing from the Future Fund, Blackbird, and Main Sequence, pushing its valuation past A$1.5 billion. Led by CEO Adam Gilmour, the startup is scaling manufacturing, infrastructure, and talent following its first sovereign orbital launch attempt, positioning Australia as a reliable global launch hub.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Blackbird
Blackbird Ventures, founded in 2012 in Australia by Niki Scevak and Rick Baker, is a leading venture capital firm backing ambitious seed and early-stage tech startups across Australia and New Zealand. The firm invests across software, deep tech, and frontier sectors, with a track record that spans from SaaS to space. Recently, Blackbird led Ivo’s Series B, backing the legal tech startup’s international expansion, and participated in Gilmour Space Technologies’ Series E, which created Australia’s first space unicorn. Managing over $7 billion across multiple funds, Blackbird has supported more than 100 companies valued above $10 billion. Positioned as a conviction-driven, founder-first investor, Blackbird plays a central role in scaling ANZ startups into globally relevant technology companies.
🤑 Opportunities Expiring Soon
Plus Eight Western Sydney Sprint Pre-Accelerator Program
- 📢 Organizer: Spacecubed
- 🗂️ Category: Training & Learning
- 🪜 Target Stages: Ideation, Pre-seed, Seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Sector Agnostic
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 27, 2026
Alliance The Leading Crypto Accelerator and Founder Community
- 📢 Organizer: Alliance
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator, Funding
- 🪜 Target Stages: Stage Agnostic
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Finance & Insurance, Web3 & Blockchain, AI & Data
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 28, 2026
Accelerate Your Pre-Seed Vision with SE Ventures
- 📢 Organizer: SE Ventures
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Energy & Environment, Manufacturing & Materials, AI & Data
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 30, 2026
Venture Lab, The University of Auckland’s Start-up Incubator
- 📢 Organizer: The University of Auckland
- 🗂️ Category: Incubator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Sector Agnostic
- 📅 Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
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