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Your weekly dose of everything you need to know about ANZ Tech & Innovation.
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A few words from Dickie
This week was a really special one for me. As I was named Ecosystem Hero of the Year at the Governor of Victoria Startup Awards. An honour that I missed out on 2 years ago, back before this newsletter was even an idea.
The real privilege was seeing the love from my community across the country and the world after it was announced, including many of you who read this weekly.
Thank you to all of you that inspire, motivate, champion and support me and what we’re building at Hype Man Media.
We couldn’t have done it with you!
This week we’re covering all of the winners of the Awards, the positives for Startups in the recent VIC, SA and Tassie budgets, the 11 Startups that have just completed CSIRO’s Accelerate program.
Plus your usual roundup of stories, events and opportunities from across ANZ.
Yours Always,
Dickie Currer - Author & Founder of Hype Man Media
Top headlines from the week
Our round up of the biggest news from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand this week
Here are the full winners for the Governor of Victoria Startup Awards
The annual award ceremony, delivered by LaunchVic, the State’s Startup Agency, took place this Thursday evening at Government House. With Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC handing out the honours, which recognise outstanding contribution in growing the Victorian Startup ecosystem.
Amongst a stellar cast of finalists that all deserve praise and recognition, the winners were:
Best Newcomer: Andromeda
Startup of the Year: TRAVLR - The Future of Travel Commerce
Scaleup of the Year: Kismet
Ecosystem Hero of the Year: Dickie Currer (Hype Man Media) & Megan Luttrell (Aussie Founders Club)
Investor of the Year: Ben Armstrong (Archangel Ventures)
Our huge congratulations to all of the finalists and winners. You can read more about the awards and it's recipients here
Positive signs for Startups as budgets drop in SA, Tasmania and Victoria
The 2025-26 Budgets for Australia’s Southern States have dropped over the last 2 weeks. Here are the positives for Startups that we’ve cherry picked for you:
South Australia:
- Startups and innovation-led small businesses will soon have access to a new South Australian Early-Stage Venture Capital Fund, seeded with $50 million in public investment and open to further contributions from private investors.
- $28 million for “proof of value” AI trials across government, which will focus on health, social services, and legal admin.
- $1.8 million Growth Accelerator Program, delivered by the South Australian Business Chamber.
Victoria:
- $150 million Victorian Investment Fund, with $50 million earmarked for regional areas, supports domestic and international investors to secure business investment that creates jobs, drives innovation, and underpins Victoria’s long-term economic growth in priority sectors.
- $20 million Victorian Industry Development Fund partners with commercial lenders to establish a loan facility for innovative Victorian start-ups and scale-ups.
Tasmania:
- An extended New Business Support Program offering free advice for startups, and a 12-month trial of a Start-Up Permit that allows businesses to test ideas without being buried in red tape.
- More funding for innovation-focused infrastructure too. Innovation Hubs in Hobart and Launceston will be funded to help startups get off the ground and stay here.
Our view: with Federal support for Startups still lacking (in our opinion), let’s hope that State Funding and intention can continue to drive Australian Innovation across the country.
We’re teaming up with Startup Daily for a Webinar about expansion planning
Hosted by our Founder Dickie Currer, this live session, in partnership with Vanta, will explore:
- How to identify the right market opportunities for your product
- Planning for your entry into a new market, from cost to government support
- Spotting the barriers ahead so you can plan long term
Beamed live from the Startup Daily studio on July 1, you can register for free here
11 Startups that caught our eye this week
Our weekly spotlight on some of the region’s most exciting emerging Startups. If you’re reading this and you can help them out then don’t hesitate!
CSIRO’s ON Accelerate 9 program wrapped up this week, after a three-month journey which saw 11 Deep Tech teams take part in an accelerator for entrepreneurial researchers run by Australia’s national science agency.
Here are the 11 Startups each tackling complex scientific and commercial challenges, spanning medtech, clean energy, materials science, and diagnostics:
1.3DCeraFlex: Pioneering patented technology for 3D printing flexible ceramic solutions.
2.Ability Optics: An advanced optical imaging innovator targeting the biomedical, pathology and pharmaceutical markets.
3.Amorfoil: Addressing an industry need for amorphous electrical steel foils that boost efficiency in EV motors.
4.Elemental Therapeutics: On a mission to restore the efficiency of antibiotics against drug-resistant infections and develop a small-molecule therapeutic called PBT2
5.Enhanced Analgesics: Developed a non-opioid drug that provides 24-48 hours of pain relief per dose in order to help those suffering from chronic pain.
6.Epiblox: Tackling the most challenging forms of epilepsy, with a primary focus on a rare and severe childhood epilepsy caused by KCNT1 gene mutations.
7.Facet Amtech: Developing proprietary direct water-to-ammonia technology to lead the transition towards low-cost, clean ammonia production.
8.I-VADE: Tackling the global issue of rising violence in healthcare with their innovative VR solution.
9.ProSeek Bio: Advancing the development and industry adoption of its next-generation diagnostic technology to revolutionise ovarian cancer diagnosis and screening.
10.TopiCure: Developing gel-based formulations to allow improved topical delivery for a range of active compounds, including those that have required oral or injection delivery.
11.Viortec: An award-winning medtech company partnering with orthopedic surgeons to design and commercialise cutting-edge devices for trauma and joint replacement surgery.
Read more about the program and it’s participants here
Events to watch out for
The biggest and best events across our ecosystem, bringing our incredible community together.
11 June - Melbourne - Notion x Antler: Founders Mixer - Notion and Antler are teaming up to bring you a night of good vibes, great convos, and even better company.
11 June - Auckland - Meet the NZ Startup Ecosystem - Hear the perspective of successful Founders, Investors and Ecosystem Builders
12-13 June - Sydney - Remix Summit Sydney - Two inspiring days of talks, discussion & networking on the future of culture and the creative industries
13-15 June - Auckland - Startup Weekend Tāmaki Makaurau - Brought to you by Techstars, Startup Weekend is your chance to learn how to take an idea from concept to creation within just a few days.
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.
17 June - Queenstown - Presenting & Pitching for Founders - Think Shark Tank... without the sharks (or the millions). Just you, your pitch, and real-time feedback to help you own the room.
18 June - Melbourne - Cremorne Build or Buy - Join the Cremorne Digital Hub as they explore how Orgs are supercharging, partnering with startups, accelerators, and collaborators to solve complex problems faster.
19 June - Melbourne - Pitch Event Melbourne-Bandung Food Waste Challenge - Meet the finalists from Australia and Indonesia and watch them pitch their innovative solutions to tackling food waste in the hospitality, food markets and airline sectors.
19 June - Melbourne - AFC presents AI in Action - How Founders Can Work Faster, Scale Better & Learn Quicker
24-25 June - Wellington - Electrify Aotearoa -The event that superchargers NZ’s most ambitious Women Founders
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 Māori excellence and innovation and hear directly from Aotearoa's emerging Māori entrepreneurs and innovators as they pitch their startups.
1 July - Online - Expansion planning Masterclass - A Startup Daily webinar about whether to grow your startup in Australia or take it to Asia, Europe or the US?
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.
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 - 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
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
Innovation Aus Awards
The InnovationAus Awards for Excellence 2025 is a celebration of Australian innovation and entrepreneurialism. Now in its fifth year, these prestigious awards cover 10 categories, and aim to put a giant spotlight on local talent – and on the great products and services developed here in Australia.
Entries close 20 June, apply to be recognised here
ClimateTech charge program
Are you an ambitious founder in the climate tech space looking to grow your startup and raise funding?
Join a Program Information Session to learn how EnergyLab’s Climate Tech Charge Program can help you. You’ll learn:
- How the Climate Tech Charge Program supports early-stage startups
- Program benefits: expert-led workshops, mentorship, access to co-working space and more!
- Q&A session with the Program Lead
Register here
Cartier’s Women’s Initiative
CWI supports women and women-owned businesses with bold visions for a more sustainable and inclusive world. This is your chance to receive:
- Up to US$100,000 in grant funding
- Coaching and capacity-building workshops
- Access to an international network of impact-driven founders
Applications close 24 June, apply here
