Australian Startups Secure $80Mn Across Four Funding Deals
Synopsis
MAKO, Southern Launch, Emesent and Fluent led this week's funding activity, underscoring strong demand for space, AI and advanced manufacturing businesses.
Australian startups bagged $A80 million in four funding rounds this week, with aerospace, space infrastructure, industrial technology and medical technology companies the latest to capture the cash.
Sydney-based MAKO, Adelaide launch services provider Southern Launch, Brisbane mapping technology firm Emesent, and Melbourne brain-computer interface developer Fluent were among those that received the funds.
The four deals suggest investors’ hunger for shares in companies that create technologies for the aviation, space, health and mining industries across the country remains undimmed. More than two-thirds of this week’s disclosed funding, A$53 million, was for aerospace companies.
MAKO raised A$28 million in Series A funding, led by Virescent Ventures. Formerly called MicroTau, MAKO now commercialises the Flightfilm coating, designed with microscopic surface structure features to minimize drag for aircrafts.
The coating, which is meant to help firms reduce aerodynamic drag on aircraft to reduce fuel and operating emissions, now is expected to lead towards certification and manufacturing.
Southern Launch secured AUD25 million to scale rocket-launching capacity in South Australia. Based in Adelaide and founded in 2017, the firm operates Australia’s Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex and Koonibba Test Range, providing launch, test, logistics and mission support for orbital, sub-orbital and re-entry missions. Funds will be used to expand both sites.
Mining and Healthcare Technology Continue to Attract Capital
Queensland-based Emesent raised A$15 million for its autonomous drone and LiDAR mapping systems that target use cases within the mining, infrastructure and public safety sectors. Formed in 2018 as a spinout from CSIRO’s Data61, Emesent specializes in areas where GPS signals cannot penetrate or are weak and for difficult-to-access sites, including mining locations deep underground.
Melbourne-based Fluent, a University of Melbourne spin-out, completed A$12 million in seed capital to expand its brain-computer interface technology for communication. Founded in Melbourne, the company is building under-the-skin hardware to translate brain signals into text in a bid to assist individuals who suffer from significant speech impairments.
Deep-Tech Investment Remains Active
The recent capital raises reflect an emerging pattern among Australian VC firms to invest in deep tech companies.
According to the State of Australian Startup Funding 2025 report released this month by Cut Through Venture and Folklore Ventures, the Australian startup ecosystem attracted A$5.4 billion in funding in 2025, Australia’s third-highest fundraising total on record.
The biggest categories of investments were artificial intelligence, healthcare, climate technology and industrial technology.
The Australian startup ecosystem is still one of the hottest in the Asia Pacific region, and the United States still leads the world in terms of VC investment, according to Startup Genome's Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025, which ranks the top VC investing nations.
In the background, the recent Australian startup funding round-up includes ongoing investment in industry and advanced manufacturing, to aerospace, and to medical technology and industrial software.
Source: Smart Company
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Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
