Startups | SmartCompany https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/ Business news, business advice and information for Australian SMEs, startups and entrepreneurs Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:49:37 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.6 https://assets.smartcompany.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/cropped-android-chrome-512x512-1.png?quality=70&w=32 Startups | SmartCompany https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/ 32 32 202088525 Former Smart50 winner Cover Genius valued over $2 billion after new deal https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/covergenius-valuation-2-billion-smart50-funding-deal/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/covergenius-valuation-2-billion-smart50-funding-deal/#respond Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:49:29 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341456 Insurance technology platform and former Smart50 winner Cover Genius has secured a new $143 million funding deal, tipping it into double-unicorn status.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/covergenius-valuation-2-billion-smart50-funding-deal/feed/ 0 341456 Tracksuit acquires Hall to help brands understand AI mentions https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/tracksuit-acquires-hall-help-brands-understand-ai-mentions/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/tracksuit-acquires-hall-help-brands-understand-ai-mentions/#respond Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341410 Tracksuit CEO and co-founder Connor Archbold called the acquisition a "natural evolution" reflecting the use of chatbots among consumers.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/tracksuit-acquires-hall-help-brands-understand-ai-mentions/feed/ 0 341410 Kiwi startup Halter expands local footprint as farmers flock to virtual fencing https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/kiwi-startup-halter-expands-farmers-cattle-virtual-fencing/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/kiwi-startup-halter-expands-farmers-cattle-virtual-fencing/#respond Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:26:08 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341344 Halter says its GPS-enabled smart collars are helping farmers remotely manage livestock, reduce labour costs and improve grazing management.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/kiwi-startup-halter-expands-farmers-cattle-virtual-fencing/feed/ 0 341344 Internal emails reveal why Industry Growth Program pause was so quiet https://www.smartcompany.com.au/exclusive/industry-growth-program-foi-pause-internal-emails/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/exclusive/industry-growth-program-foi-pause-internal-emails/#respond Fri, 17 Jul 2026 01:38:31 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341262 Internal emails obtained reveal the Department of Industry, Science and Resources' "if asked" comms strategy around the Industry Growth Program pause.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/exclusive/industry-growth-program-foi-pause-internal-emails/feed/ 0 341262 Three ANZ startups that raised $3.6 million this week https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/australian-startup-raises-july-2026-bluenexus-hyades-esgaagent/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/australian-startup-raises-july-2026-bluenexus-hyades-esgaagent/#respond Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:37:33 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341204 All of the fresh capital is flowing into AI platforms tackling everything from agent development and ESG reporting to geospatial intelligence.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/australian-startup-raises-july-2026-bluenexus-hyades-esgaagent/feed/ 0 341204 NSW awards $1 million in MVP Ventures grants to 22 startups https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/nsw-mvp-ventures-startup-grants-1-million-22-startups/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/nsw-mvp-ventures-startup-grants-1-million-22-startups/#respond Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:08:33 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=341137 NSW's latest MVP Ventures Program round has awarded $1 million across 22 startups with grants of up to $75,000.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/nsw-mvp-ventures-startup-grants-1-million-22-startups/feed/ 0 341137 Kiwi AI mapping startup Hyades raises $910,000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/kiwi-ai-mapping-startup-hyades-raises-910000/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/kiwi-ai-mapping-startup-hyades-raises-910000/#respond Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:43:32 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=340914 Hyades has secured $910,000 in funding to develop an AI platform that transforms complex spatial data into actionable business insights.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/kiwi-ai-mapping-startup-hyades-raises-910000/feed/ 0 340914 Goterra enters liquidation after hopes of sale fall through https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/goterra-enters-liquidation-after-hopes-of-sale-fall-through/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/goterra-enters-liquidation-after-hopes-of-sale-fall-through/#respond Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:35:19 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=340755 Goterra collapsed into voluntary administration in June, with the company saying it exhausted its cash runway while seeking the investment it needed to scale.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/goterra-enters-liquidation-after-hopes-of-sale-fall-through/feed/ 0 340755 Three Aussie startups that raised $20.5 million this week https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/three-aussie-startups-raised-19-5-million-this-week/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/three-aussie-startups-raised-19-5-million-this-week/#respond Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:05:15 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=340733 Three Australian startups raised more than $20 million this week, which was led by Gridcog's $13.5 million Series A round.

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]]> https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/three-aussie-startups-raised-19-5-million-this-week/feed/ 0 340733 Two-person Sydney startup wins global design award for bag resealing innovation https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/red-dot-winner-bound-looplock-industrial-design-winner/ https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/red-dot-winner-bound-looplock-industrial-design-winner/#respond Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:59:00 +0000 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/?p=340586 Bound, which produces the Looplock food packaging closure system, claimed a product design gong at the Red Dot Award ceremony overnight.

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