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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
- Australia scrapped its planned AI advisory board, shifting AI oversight to the Australian AI Safety Institute and existing laws.
- Australia appointed Ian Oppermann as ACCC commissioner and named Scott Farrell to lead Digital ID and CDR data standards.
- Immutable reported a A$72 million FY2024 loss but said cash burn had fallen and revenues had grown.
- Fishburners launched The Ascent Project a free year round program with 30 plus partners to close the women founder funding gap.
- Western Australia awarded over A$1.9 million to 21 startups via Innovation Booster and Commercialisation Bridge grants at West Tech Fest.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- Airwallex raised A$498 million in a Series G to fund US expansion and AI development as it eyes a 2026 IPO.
- Kasada secured A$30 million at a A$450 million valuation led by EQT as US revenues dominated and bot defense scaled globally.
- Hnry closed a NZ$30 million Series C led by Movac to expand its pay-as-you-go tax service across Australia and the UK.
- Electric Future obtained A$10 million from Ecotone Partners Planet Fund at a A$40 million valuation to scale its home electrification platform.
- Sydney alternative protein All G landed A$10 million in a convertible note backed by Agronomics and Doehler to scale fermented cow-free lactoferrin.
💰️ Notable Exits
Airwallex acquired majority ownership of Indonesia-licensed payments firm PT Skye Sab to expand APAC licences and support cross border growth.
🏦 About Investors
- Tanarra Capital is pitching super funds and global investors on a fund-of-funds strategy to scale Tin Alley Ventures and back university-spun startups across Australia.
- Western Australia doubled Innovation Pathways funding to A$2 million, raised caps to A$300,000, and cut matched funding for priority groups.
🚀 Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Airwallex
Founded in Melbourne in 2015, Airwallex has grown into a global financial platform powering payments, banking, treasury, and spend management for borderless businesses. The company recently raised A$498 million in a Series G led by Addition, with backing from T. Rowe Price, Robinhood Ventures, and TIAA Ventures, lifting its valuation to A$12 billion. Led by co-founder and CEO Jack Zhang, Airwallex is accelerating its US expansion by naming San Francisco as a dual global headquarters while advancing an AI roadmap focused on autonomous finance operations. With rapid revenue growth and rising global adoption, Airwallex is positioning itself as core infrastructure for modern international commerce.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Tanarra Capital
Founded in Australia in 2015 by former Credit Suisse banker John Wylie, Tanarra Capital is a multi-asset investment firm managing around A$3 billion across equities, private equity, and credit. Through Tin Alley Ventures, launched with the University of Melbourne in 2022, Tanarra has built a focused strategy around commercializing university spinouts, raising a A$125 million fund backed by prominent industry leaders. Led by John Wylie and Tin Alley managing partner Andrew McLean, the firm is now pitching superannuation funds and global institutions on a fund-of-funds model to scale this approach nationally. Tanarra aims to unlock academic IP and turn research into globally competitive companies.
🤑 Opportunity Radar
Call for Applications: Y Combinator Spring 2026 Batch
Applications are now open for the Y Combinator Spring 2026 Batch, a globally recognized accelerator program for early-stage startups. The application deadline is 9 February 2026 at 8:00 PM PT, and the program will run from April to June 2026, taking place in person in San Francisco. Selected founders gain access to early-stage funding, hands-on mentorship from experienced startup partners, a powerful global alumni network, and investor introductions. Early-stage founders and startup teams can begin their application now to be considered for the Spring 2026 cohort.
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