Your weekly dose of everything you need to know about ANZ Tech & Innovation.
Read our sister newsletter, giving you a weekly run down of the top Startup stories globally here
I come bearing two exciting pieces of news this Sunday!
Firstly the second event of our three part series with Vanta is now live. This networking breakfast will focus on "taking your Startup to the US". The pro's/the cons and what the experts who've been there and done it recommend.
If you're in Melbourne on July 23rd, we'd love you to join us. Register for free here
Secondly keeping the theme of global expansion going. We launched a sister newsletter this week....introducing Hyped: Global.
A round up of stories from across the Globe. Delivered into your inbox every Wednesday. Hyped: Global will take you around the world of Startups & Innovation in đȘ̶đąÌ¶ ̶đœÌ¶đș̶đ̶đ̶ 8 minutes
Giving you global knowledge, without having to go anywhere. We'd love you to join us and couldn't be more grateful to the thousands of you who have already!
It's genuinely such a huge privilege to write for you and hopefully bring some inspiration, entertainment, education to your day.
Dickie - Founder of Hype Man Media & Author
Top headlines from Australia
Everything you need to know about Australian Startups in the last week
Sydney and Melbourne named in Startup Genomeâs top 40 Ecosystems for 2025
The annual report, released last week, measures the worldâs cities on a number of metrics to determine which has the best Startup Ecosystem.
Sydney placed 25th worldwide, with Melbourne following behind in a close 32nd position. The top 40 was unsurprisingly dominated by American, European and Asian Startup Ecosystems.
Brisbane was named in the list of 100 top emerging ecosystems to watch out for. Though no mention was made of Australiaâs other cities (or any of New Zealandâs). Showing thereâs still some way to go until we have depth of support systems in our corner of the globe.
Impact investing Australia has declined since 2022
The Impact Startup Benchmark Report 2025 released this week by Impact VC Giant Leap and supported by Cut Through Ventures, highlighted that Impact investing in 2024 was $1.7 billion down from $2.8 billion in 2022.
Though in positive news, Impact sectors rose from 38.9% of startup funding in 2022 to 55.6% in 2023, before settling at 41.5% in 2024. This stable allocation signals that investor conviction around impact is strong, with sustained capital support even through a challenging environment.
Climate remains the dominant theme in Australia with 58% of Impact funding in 2024, with Health and People the next biggest verticals. For more read the full report here
Solara Health rebrands and launches patient engagement platform Skye
The Aussie HealthTech, formerly known as Healio, launched Skye to support patients across their entire healthcare journey.
Skye is already in use at a major private hospital group, where oncology patients are using the mobile app to track symptoms, stay connected with care teams, and receive tailored support through treatment and recovery.
Skye is adaptable across a wide range of clinical areas - from cancer care to cardiac rehab, orthopaedics and mental health - enabling health services to deliver consistent, personalised care at scale. You can learn more about Solara Health and their Skye platform here.
Canva acquires AI-powered creative intelligence platform MagicBrief
Fresh off the back of the 2024 acquisitions of Leonardo AI and Serif, Australiaâs most valuable Tech company is back at it again.
MagicBrief is an AI-powered creative intelligence platform trusted by thousands of the worldâs leading marketing and creative teams to deliver content that performs at scale.
Embedding the platformâs insights and technology into Canvaâs Visual Suite, will give users one seamless platform to power every stage of the content lifecycle â from ideation and creation to analysis and optimisation.
Green light in Australia for Vowâs cultured quail meat
Regular readers among you will know that weâre huge fangirls/boys for the Sydney-based Biotech Startup.
Which just this week announced they have received approval from FSANZ to their cultivated quail products in Australia after two years of regulatory review.
Vow currently has two products which have been served in Hong Kong and Singapore since 2024. Their Forged Parfait and Forged Gras will now both be available for Australian patrons in select restaurants. We canât wait to try them!
Top headlines from New Zealand
Kia ora from Aotearoa! Here's what's buzzing in the NZ startup scene this week. Thanks to our NZ correspondent Pauli Sosa
- Dawn Aerospace Opens Orders for Aurora: NZ-based Dawn Aerospace is now taking orders for Aurora, the worldâs first rocket-powered spaceplane available for commercial sale, offering rapid, reusable access to near-space from standard runways.
- Funded Launches in NZ: A new koha-based platform, Funded, is live, connecting fund seekers and funders in one place to make finding and managing funding easier, more transparent, and more impactful.
- NZTech is updating its Tech Manifesto for 2025 and seeking member input on priorities like AI, cybersecurity, startup investment, and more.
Want more updates like these? Check out Startup Digest New Zealand to stay in the loop with events, opportunities, and ecosystem news.
10 Startups that caught our eye this week
Our weekly spotlight on some of the regionâs most exciting emerging Startups. If youâre reading this and you can help them out then donât hesitate!
This week weâre featuring the ten teams that made it through to LaunchVicâs most recent CivVic Labs challenge, focussed on Circular Agriculture.
Over the next six weeks, theyâll explore new ways to help farms run more efficiently, to make resources stay in use longer, and to ensure regional communities will thrive through circular, tech-powered solutions.
1. Biobloom
Premium hardwood biochar and wood vinegar from local, renewable waste streams.
Founder: Ben Layton.
2. CForge
Modular technology converting agricultural waste into organic fertilizer, biogas, and renewable electricity.
Founders: Vigneswaran Appia & Josh Macleod
3. Circular Peninsula
An end-to-end recycling program transforming plastic netting into closed loop products.
Founder: Susanna Weber
4. EO Reveals
An online platform enabling the agribusiness industry, regardless of technical background, to understand how Earth Observation (EO) and AI can support decision-making.
Founders: Nahid Alemi Kermani, Alireza Alemi Kermani & Yara Monroe
5. Green Fusion AI
An AI-driven decision-support platform helping farmers leverage soil microbiome analysis and climate modelling to adapt their land to climate stress while regenerating their land.
Founders: Christian Keel & Mitchell Noga
6. Lumeva
A farm-first digital traceability solution that enables the agricultural industry to share verifiable data on resource use, waste management, and circular process optimization.
Founders: Arash Ataee, Iman Avazpour & Hamed Majidzadeh
7. Meatshare
A digital platform allowing consumers to co-purchase livestock, customise their meat cuts, and choose local farmers and butchers â all while ensuring ethical, legal processing.
Founder: Emmanuel Adebayo
8. Sonicpeller
A water pre-filtration solution, removing particles with a circular design that significantly reduces maintenance burdens.
Founders: Jiao Lin & Qiang Sun
9. Umbrellus
Climate-resilient, off-grid, and regenerative outdoor infrastructure made from mycelium composites and agricultural byproducts.
Founder: Aliet Bior
10. WoolGrow
A sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, using advanced manufacturing to transform crossbred wool into biodegradable soil solutions.
Founder: Sherri Symons
Read more about the CivVic Labs program and this cohort here
Events to watch out for
The biggest and best events across our ecosystem, bringing our incredible community together.
16 June - 27 June - Cairns - Tropical Innovation Festival - TIF is back this June for a massive celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and connection in the heart of Cairns.
24-25 June - Wellington - Electrify Aotearoa -The event that superchargers NZâs most ambitious Women Founders
25 June - Brisbane - An Evening with Antler: Founder AMA & Community Mixer - Real talk, founder journeys, and good companyâjoin us for an evening with Antler.
26 June - Gold Coast - HealthTech Summit - a day of cutting-edge discussions and demos on the latest advancements in healthcare technology!
26 June - Auckland - Tupu Accelerator Showcase 2025 - Join for an evening in celebrating MÄori excellence and innovation and hear directly from Aotearoa's emerging MÄori entrepreneurs and innovators as they pitch their startups.
26 June - Auckland - SaaS/Tech Community Meetup - A grassroots community effort- NO MEMBERSHIPS - NO DUES - A LOT OF FUN, so come and connect with like-minded and motivated people.
26 June - Melbourne - AFC's FoundHer Wine Downs - the next instalment in Aussie Founders Clubâs FoundHer Series - a space designed for female and non-binary founders building bold, scalable ventures.
1 July - Online - Expansion planning Masterclass - grow your startup in Australia or take it to Asia, Europe or the US?
3 July - Sydney - Lessons Learnt: Scaling for Success - an invite-only night of startup insights, raw lessons, and meaningful connection.
3 July - Melbourne - Stone & Chalk Ecosystem Mixer: AI & Your Startup - Melbourneâs most sociable startup event is back â & this time, theyâre putting AI in the spotlight.
8 July - Online - Compliance as a Catalyst for Startup Growth - Compliance is no longer just a checkboxâit's a growth strategy. In this webinar, weâll show how early-stage startups can use compliance frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001 to build trust, unlock larger deals, and accelerate go-to-market timelines.
22 July - Melbourne - Startup World Cup - The Melbourne regional event for the Startup World Cup, the world's leading startup competition in collaboration with Pegasus Tech Ventures, a global venture capital firm from the US.
23 July - Melbourne - Taking your Startup to the US - Weâre partnering with Vanta for a networking breakfast about expanding to the United States of America.
24 July - Melbourne - Launchvic Startup Gala - an annual event bringing together more than 800 entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders to celebrate the continued growth of Victoriaâs startup ecosystem.
4 August - Sydney - Startup World Cup - The Sydney regional event for the Startup World Cup, the world's leading startup competition in collaboration with Pegasus Tech Ventures, a global venture capital firm from the US.
28 August-29 August - Brisbane - SomethingTech - a two day showcase that puts a spotlight on Queensland and Australian companies who are developing emerging technology.
10 September - Sydney -Cicada x Tech23 2025- Australia's Biggest Deep Tech Festival is back, providing a gateway to real Australian ventures delivering global impact and commercial success.
Opportunities to help you grow
Programs, competitions and Accelerators to help you thrive and grow
Australia to China - Future City Innovators Program
A Hype Man Media supported program with the City of Melbourne, helping Australian Startups to scale in China. With:
- Cash Prizes, totalling $20,000, offered by Pukou High-Tech Zone and City of Melbourne
- An acceleration Service Package
- $15,000 Travel Package to Visit Nanjing China, offered by Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute
Submit your Expression of interest here
UQ's flagship ilab Accelerator
Open to University of Queensland students, staff, and alumni, whether you're refining your MVP or scaling with traction, this 15-week program offers two tailored tracks to support your next stage of growth:
đč ilab Track â for early-stage ventures, with $15K SAFE note investment from UniQuest, weekly expert sessions, EiR support, and access to Queenslandâs startup and investor networks.
đč Momentum Track â Backed by the Queensland Venture Capital Development Fund (QIC) for later-stage ventures with revenue or traction. One standout venture could receive a $100K UniQuest investment (subject to due diligence).
đŻ Applications close 12PM AEST, 6 July 2025.
Apply to pitch at River Rival in Brisbane
River Rival our evolution from the original Riverpitch part of the Something Tech festival is landing August 29th, 2025.
Join a room of enablers, activators, industry and tell us about the product, business and impact you are making to the world.
CSIRO India RISE Accelerator
CSIRO, Australiaâs national science agency, is inviting Australian startups and SMEs with innovative renewable energy technology solutions to join the India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator.
The program offers tailored support for early market entry, technology validation, and in-country partnerships, plus:
- Up to $135,000 in non-equity grant funding (subject to milestones and competitive assessment)
- One-on-one expert coaching
- A structured learning and immersion program to build market readiness
StartupDaily Best in Tech Awards
Nominations have opened for the Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards 2025
For a third year, Startup Daily's annual awards celebration will recognise the founders, investors, startups and individuals who are progressing our tech landscape with their brilliant ideas and achievements. Categories include Startup of The Year, AI Changemaker, Future Leader of the Year, Best Regional Startup and more.
Get your nominations in now - finalists will be announced in August, followed by a gala event at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney on Thursday 25 September.
Sprout Accelerator for Kiwi Startups
A free, 3-month accelerator for early-stage food and agri-tech startups to build strong foundations, refine their story, and connect with mentors, customers, and investors.
Spring cohort applications open until July 1. Apply here
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Until next time,
Dickie
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