Panzera

The ‘stupid idea’ that became Australia’s watch success story

What began as two mates drinking at the Opera Bar wondering how to afford their watch habits turned into Panzera – a Sydney-based brand making Swiss and Australian timepieces selling around the world. By his own admission, Andrew Herman had no business starting a watch company. He wasn’t a watchmaker, he wasn’t Swiss, and he […]

Hullbot

Hullbot raises $16m from the bottom of the harbour

Sydney-based Hullbot, maker of autonomous underwater robots that scrub ship hulls, has raised $16 million in a Series A round led by climate-focused funds. Key Takeaways Key Background Hullbot CEO Tom Loefler founded the company based on recognising that biofouling was a persistent, costly problem in global shipping. Traditionally, vessels are cleaned infrequently in dry […]

Longer leash on life: Inside the dog longevity startup

What if dogs could live longer and healthier lives? Loyal’s Celine Halioua has raised $135 million from top investors to develop canine longevity pills—and expects to get her first conditional approval from the FDA next year. This story appears in Issue 19 of Forbes Australia, out now. Tap here to secure your copy. Dogs don’t live […]

Inside Antler’s £100 million revival plan

Once stripped back to a dormant website, Antler is now reclaiming its place in the $86 billion luggage industry, guided by heritage rather than hype. This story appears in Issue 19 of Forbes Australia, out now. Tap here to secure your copy. Among the glamorous luggage spinning endlessly on airport carousels, the competition has never been […]

Today The Brave

Why Jaimes Leggett moved his ad agency into Sydney’s most notorious squat

The ex-M&C Saatchi chief is betting that discomfort breeds creativity. Inside Hibernian House — the graffiti-strewn, artist-filled building that is home to his new venture, Today the Brave. Jaimes Leggett didn’t want his new advertising agency to be like everyone else’s. “Think gritty dark corners, and bad decisions,” he told the crisp-collared real estate agents […]

How Aussie startup Hyro got influencers to invest – not just post

With creators like Sarah’s Day and Quade Cooper investing real money, electrolyte brand Hyro has grown into a business where every ambassador has skin in the game. Taylor Chapman — a creator with 30,000 Instagram followers — was still wearing her hospital wristband, newborn in the capsule, when she got the email: the manufacturer for […]

Everlab

Everlab raises $15 million to fight disease in ‘healthy’ people

Melbourne startup Everlab is blending AI, full-body diagnostics and deep data to transform preventive medicine — and it all began with a non-routine trip to the doctor. Key Takeaways It all started when Sam Kothari – employee number three in Airwallex’s commercial team – came in for a checkup with Dr Steven Lu at his […]

Venstra Medical

Why this Aussie-made pump could outperform a $17 billion rival

Venstra Medical’s heart pump promising better results for smaller patients – such as women – was among a raft of heart and diabetes companies to receive $12 million in grants last week. Australian start-up Venstra Medical has developed what it claims to be the world’s smallest and most powerful percutaneous ventricular assist device [pVAD] for […]