Entrepreneurs

Blackstone confirms to Forbes Australia it sealed a deal today to acquire Australian unicorn AirTrunk. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board also participated in the deal.

Up until now, Adelaide-headquartered startup Cropify has been bootstrapped by its co-founders. The fundraise will accelerate the commercialisation of the AI-driven technology domestically and set the company up to export its expertise internationally.

Six Australian companies have earned spots on the 2024 Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list. The annual list, now in its fourth year, highlights emerging businesses across the region, with this year’s entries collectively raising over $2 billion in funding.

Eight new or new-to-Victoria venture capital firms have received $300,000 from LaunchVic. The goal is for the VCs to turn that $2.4 million into $300 million in funding for Victorian startups and founders.

WeightWatchers’ bold gamble: CEO Sistani fuses AI, GLP-1 drugs, and 60 years of trust into a revolutionary health tech platform to conquer the $377B weight loss market.

One of Australia’s most promising companies that builds no code software programs for the construction, oil, gas and mining industries, has acquired startup Nomad. Sitemate founder Harley Pike tells Forbes Australia exclusively how the Nomad will accelerate Sitemate’s mission

Forbes released its list of 25 venture-backed startups most likely to reach a USD$1 billion valuation. Melbourne’s Chris Power and his LA-headquartered aerospace manufacturing firm Hadrian made the cut.

The first Black woman to direct a $100 million-grossing film is shunning the Hollywood studios and their rules – and turning to philanthropists like Melinda French Gates.

Emily Hamilton launched her viral beauty brand Coco & Eve in 2018, bootstrapped by her and husband Alexander Ostrowksi. Fast-forward to today, and the company’s just sold a majority stake in the business to US private equity firm Gauge Capital – and says it’s on track to exceed $120 million in revenue for the 2024 calendar year.

Christian Angermayer is seemingly behind every flashy investment of the last decade. With boundless bravado and a roster of famous friends—including Peter Thiel, Uma Thurman, and the president of Rwanda—he’s getting ready to launch an Olympiad for athletes on steroids.