Seven Australian companies make Forbes Asia’s ‘100 to Watch’ list
The annual list, now in its fifth year, highlights emerging businesses across the region, with this year’s entries collectively raising nearly $3 billion in funding.
Entrepreneurs
Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2025
Our fifth annual Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list provides a window into the vibrant world of startups and small companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Drawing nearly $3 billion in funding to date, these companies operate in fast-rising sectors such as biotechnology, spacetech and green tech.
Butter: The anti-establishment app working to get you offline and breaking bread IRL
Founded just a year ago in Melbourne, Butter has secured 10,000 users, a $260,000 investment from ‘day one’ investor Antler, and a $2.2 million valuation. The problem it is solving is universal: loneliness.
Aussie startup Nourish gets US safety tick for vegan animal fat
Canberra food-tech company Nourish Ingredients has secured US approval for its flagship Tastilux fat, clearing the way for immediate commercial sales to American food manufacturers.
Aussie video game developers on Qloud 9 after $7.5m seed raise
A former Canva software engineer and Westpac product manager have teamed up to bring ‘Loftia’ to life. Some big name US gaming firms are getting on board to make it happen.
‘Smoke and mirrors’: How this entrepreneur exaggerated and self-promoted her way into turmoil
Pierson has cozied up to everyone from Diane Von Furstenberg to Selena Gomez, burnishing her image as her businesses unraveled. A case study in how hubris is bad for business.
Forbes 2025 50 Over 50: Meet the women who define innovation, drive and hope
The inventors, entrepreneurs and wealth-builders on the fifth annual 50 Over 50 list are using the wisdom and confidence earned from age to leave the world better than they found it.
Agentic AI startup Source raises $2.1m from Aussie investors
Founded six months ago, Source is led by 18-year-old wunderkid Liam Fuller. Square Peg led the raise when Fuller was 17, making him the youngest founder in the portfolio. Ten13 VC and Aussie angels have written checks too.
Vibe coding turned this Swedish AI unicorn into the fastest growing software startup ever
Stockholm-based Lovable has hit over $100 million in annualized revenue in just eight months by using AI to enable millions of non-coders to instantly turn their ideas into websites, apps and online side hustles.
Why Kyri Cycles has its sights set on Gen Alpha
Hardware founder Olivia Orchowski can see enormous potential in creating a wearable ring to track the menstrual cycles of Gen Alpha women. Monetising it without applying a subscription fee to access that data is the next hurdle.