🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #144, 11th January 2026
$22.17m raised across 2 rounds, Airwallex appoints James Teodorini to lead ANZ, Australia leads developed world in govt quantum investment, NextGen Ventures releases its 2025 annual letter
News
M&A, IPOs & Exits
WiseTech Global to acquire CCES, a World Customs Organization–accredited provider of customs and border management training and education (BNA)
Partnerships & Deals
Defence inks Google deal for ‘air-gapped’ Secret cloud (InnovationAus)
LeadStory partners with 3SS to deliver curated, on-demand news video inside vehicles via the 3Ready Automotive Content Bundle (LinkedIn)
Product Launches, Milestones and Expansion
Cuttable launches “Shoots”, an AI feature that turns a single product image into campaign-ready ad creatives (LinkedIn)
Australian startups Seeing Machines and Espresso Displays launch new in-car occupant monitoring tech and a US$249 portable monitor at CES 2026 (The Australian)
Venture Capital & Other Funding
NextGen Ventures’ 2025 annual letter says it raised Fund I with $4m committed from 71 LPs and backed 11 student-founded startups in 2025 (Direct)
Government, Policy & Regulation
Australia leads developed world in govt quantum investment (InnovationAus)
People Moves & Spotlights
Airwallex appoints former Thunes executive James Teodorini to lead its Australia and New Zealand operations (BNA)
First Australians Capital board member Gordon Cole steps down after three years, following FAC’s Impact Fund launch (LinkedIn)
RateMatch hires Jonathan Despinidic as Head of Product & Platform following its launch (LinkedIn)
Needle-free vaccine startup Vaxxas appoints former Merck Global Vaccines president David Peacock as CEO to commercialise its HD-MAP vaccine patch (AFR)
Other News & Updates
Seek and Employment Hero end court battle over job posting API (SmartCompany)
Linktree narrows losses to $19m after cost cuts and acquisitions (AFR)
Funding Rounds
Hapana, a fitness SaaS platform that manages memberships and bookings for gyms and studios to improve member retention and revenue, has raised $7.2m from Microequities Asset Management and OIF Ventures (BNA | LinkedIn)
HabitTrade, a FinTech brokerage platform that lets retail investors trade global stocks, ETFs and crypto with one account to simplify allocation, has raised ~$10m USD | ~$14.92 AUD in a Series A round from Newborn Town, Bright Venture Capital and StableStock (GlobeNewswire)