Here’s a recap of recent funding developments from Australia, India, the US and beyond.
Sircel Secures $5M Impact Investment from Kilara Capital
Australia’s largest e-waste processor, Sircel, has secured a $5 million capital injection from impact investor Kilara Capital. This funding aims to boost Sircel’s national expansion and enhance its processing capabilities in its mission to tackle the global e-waste crisis.
The investment follows Sircel’s May 2024 acquisition of Scipher Technologies, which positioned Sircel as the largest e-waste processor in Australia and the only company capable of diverting up to 100% of e-waste from landfill through its innovative solutions.
Huma Completes Series D with Total Financing of Over $80M
Huma Therapeutics Limited has completed its Series D funding round, launching the Huma Cloud Platform. This round, combined with investments from industry partners since its Series C round, brings Huma’s total financing to over $80 million.
The company has now raised more than $300 million. The Series D included participation from AstraZeneca, Hat Technology Fund 4 by HAT SGR, HV Fund by Hitachi Ventures, Leaps by Bayer, and others. HSBC Bank plc advised Huma during the fundraising process.
Briefly Bio Launches with $1.2M Funding
Briefly Bio has successfully closed a $1.2 million pre-seed funding round, led by Compound VC, with contributions from NP Hard, Tiny VC, and several angel investors in the tech and biotech sectors. The company was founded by Dr. Katya Putintseva, Harry Rickerby, and Staffan Piledahl, who bring diverse expertise from academia, tech, biotech, and robotics.
Before founding Briefly Bio, the trio worked together at LabGenius, where they helped develop an ML-driven antibody discovery platform.
Biosecurity Threats Software Startup Plants $5.3 Million Seed Round
ExoFlare, an agtech startup co-founded by the former head of CSIRO’s Data61, has raised $5.3 million in a Seed round led by Salus Ventures, known for supporting local deep tech startups like HEO, Advanced Navigation, and Q-Ctrl.
Additional investors include David and Cathy Harris of Harris Farm, Woolworths venture fund W23, Tesla chair Robyn Denholm’s Wollemi Capital, former Rabobank Australia CEO Peter Knoblanche, US VC In-Q-Tel, Precision Group, and Malcolm Nutt’s Cultiv8 Funds Management.
Haruko Expands into Southeast Asia with $6M Funding Round
Haruko has announced a $6 million funding round as it expands into Southeast Asia, aiming to strengthen its global presence. The Series A round was co-led by White Star Capital’s Digital Asset Fund and MMC Ventures. Haruko has now raised a total of $16 million in venture capital funding.
Founded in 2021, Haruko has rapidly scaled across North America and Europe, serving over 50 investment management institutions with offices in London and Singapore.
ABGF Backs CLS, a Family-Run Laundry Business from Regional Queensland
The Australian Business Growth Fund (ABGF) has invested $6 million in Consolidated Linen Service (CLS), a multi-generational, family-run business providing high-quality linen and textile rental services to sectors such as hospitality, mining, and healthcare across regional Queensland.
CLS combines the efficiency of a professional operation with the personal touch of a family business, pioneering advancements in AI and robotic solutions to enhance output, improve issue detection, and reduce workplace health risks. With ABGF’s investment, CLS plans to expand its production capacity and improve operational efficiency, ensuring reliable linen services for more local businesses in Queensland.
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