Albert Bielinko

🌏 Airtree Ventures hits an exciting milestone, securing $104M (16% of its $650M target) for Fund V, set to close by early 2025. The Sydney-based firm is attracting global investors, including top US endowments like Harvard Management and Adams Street Partners, as well as local superannuation funds. 🗣️ "It’s a testament to the ANZ tech ecosystem that it’s attracting the best global capital to support the next generation of tech leaders," says James Cameron. Airtree’s expansion reflects the growing global interest in the ANZ startup scene, positioning it as a key player in future tech innovation. #VentureCapital #AirtreeVentures #StartupEcosystem #GlobalInvestment #TechInnovation #ANZStartups

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The Intelligent Investor Australian Equity Growth Fund (ASX:IIGF) Secondary Offer opens today. https://lnkd.in/eMYu8XSh Although past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future performance, since inception p.a. the Fund has returned 12.44% compared to the ASX 200 Accumulation Index return of 11.68% over the same time period. IIGF is designed to be a collection of our best ideas. This means finding companies that can grow their profits and dividends consistently over decades to maximise your after-tax returns. Benefits of investing in the Fund include: ✅ A portfolio of 10 – 35 growth stocks. ✅ Low fees – just 0.97% p.a. and no performance fees. ✅ Avoid brokerage costs by investing directly in the Secondary Offer ----- IMPORTANT: This information is general financial product advice only and you should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Financial Services Guide (FSG), Target Market Determination (TMD) or seek professional advice before making any investment decision. The PDS for financial products offered through InvestSMART can be downloaded from our website or obtained by contacting 1300 880 160. You should consider the PDS, FSG and TMD before making a decision about a product.

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Australian SMEs are facing new privacy challenges with the rise of AI in business operations. Only 28% of businesses are currently compliant with regulations on using customer data for AI training. Find out what Jonathon Coleman from Vanta and Pierre Bergamin from InDebted have to say about ensuring compliance and building trust. Stay informed and safeguard customer data! Read more on AI, privacy laws, and best practices here: https://buff.ly/4fvQjDI 📬📬📬📬📬 Stay informed! Join our free daily newsletter for more insightful updates: https://buff.ly/3QlzuB6 📬📬📬📬📬 #AI #PrivacyLaw #Compliance #CustomerData #BusinessInsights

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The next issue of Cut Through Quarterly is out (in comments), and in it Cut Through Venture jotted down a couple of our observations on exits – specifically, that local venture capital funds are now laser-focused on delivering cash returns to their investors. Exits were almost a non-topic in Australia’s VC space for years—growth was the focus, and liquidity discussions were avoided. That narrative is shifting. At the Australian Investment Council Investment Conference last month, investors from Five V Capital, Blackbird, Brandon Capital, and Perennial Partners explored different exit pathways. The tone was noticeably different—traditional IPOs, especially ASX listings, are no longer the default exit dream. While IPOs still hold appeal, they are no longer seen as the inevitable path to liquidity. Instead, alternative exits like private equity buyouts and secondary sell-downs are gaining momentum. These options are proving to be more practical—and crucially—faster ways to return capital to Limited Partners. Secondary sell-downs, in particular, provide flexibility: founders retain control, the company’s growth remains uninterrupted, and investors can achieve returns without forcing a complete sale. Strategic buyers and private equity firms are also showing interest in earlier-stage stakes—traditionally dominated by venture capitalists. This shift opens more options for companies seeking investment and investors seeking liquidity. The 3Q report also welcomed guest contributions from SecondQuarter Ventures Venture and Flippa.com – both of whom sit in a unique spot to talk about exits. The conversation has moved beyond whether exits can happen. Now it’s about how they will happen. With more liquidity options available than ever, many VCs are hopeful that 2025 could bring the "exit season" Australian venture has been waiting for. 

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🎙️🔔 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄! For episode 464, Founder & CTO Vincent Gramoli joins Brandon Zemp to discuss the Redbelly Network, which is Enabling asset issuers to tokenize and trade compliant on-chain structured products. Vincent Gramoli has chaired the Cybersecurity Committee for the Computing Research and Education Association of Australasia (CORE) and the Blockchain Technical Committee for the Australian Computer Society. He received the Digital National Facilities & Collections Award from CSIRO, the Best Paper Awards at ICDCS’21, IPDPS’22, ICDCS’22 and DSN’24 for his research on blockchains, the Education Leader of the Year Award from Blockchain Australia, and the Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council. In the past, Gramoli has been affiliated with INRIA, Cornell, Data61 and EPFL. 🔗 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eMi_dEn2  🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/esCYZXjp  🔗 Amazon Music: https://lnkd.in/eRk2b7BJ  🔗 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/evF3gMXq #BlockHashPodcast #RedbellyNetwork #Web3 #Blockchain #Tokenization 

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Edition 557 of our market update released. Very interesting deals as good examples of the movement to automation and technology in industrial services detailed as well as update on Australian market valuations and news. Thankyou Julia Devitt for great work as editor of this publication across 2024. #engineering #automation #investmentbanking #research #industrialservices #predictivemaintenance #scaffolding #miningservices #ironore #coal #infrastructure #cobalt #lithium #gold #drillingservices #australia #strategy #ip #trademarks #patents #innovation #research #mergers #acquisitions

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Venture capital continuation fund launched An Auckland-based venture capital firm has launched fundraising for Australasia's first venture capital continuation fund. Pacific Channel has set up the fund to provide another five years of runway for eight investments from its first fund which managing partner Brent Ogilvie (pictured) says have average operating periods of seven years. Read more about this, and much more about venture capital and private equity, at: https://lnkd.in/gE-aPUTb #venturecapital #privateequity #fundraising

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How does crypto and blockchain cut through the hype? 💡 On the latest episode of First Cheque, co-hosts Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures discuss investing and technology hype cycles with Emily Rich from early-stage fund M8 Ventures. 🚀 They dive into the rollercoaster world of crypto and blockchain, highlighting its wild swings and untapped potential… 👀 So what’s good? The innovative use cases showcase blockchain’s real-world potential. 🌍 And what’s just hype? Meme stocks and niche funds anyone? Although these frenzies did create some great returns for some…  💰 After a little tip from investing legend Charlie Munger, Emily keeps us grounded with a clear investment hypothesis - stick to what aligns with your overall strategy. 🎯 Smart investing isn’t about jumping on the bandwagon of trends - it’s about spotting real, scalable value before the crowd. 🦄 Download the episode to catch up on Emily’s insights about navigating hype cycles, why some tech trends are all bark and no bite, and how to identify what’s actually worth your time and money. 🎧 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Rocking Horse Group - R&D Advance Funding, Galah Cyber

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🌟 Great to be covered by the Australian Financial Review! 🌟 We are thrilled to announce several key updates and achievements at Boman Group: 1. **Proven Fund of Funds Strategy**: Our strategy offers investors access to a global allocation, investment in both growth and defensive sectors, and opportunities at all stages—from early VCs to late-stage PEs. Our Partner Vincent Lu is launching our third fund and expand our regional access, providing even more diversified opportunities for our investors. 2. **New Business Lines**: We have introduced two new business lines—multi-family office services and capital market advisory. These new services are designed to target the intergenerational wealth transfer opportunity and assist Australian Asian businesses in accessing capital, fostering growth and sustainability. 3. **Building a Strong Team**: We are committed to executing our vision with a robust team. Introducing our advisory board is just the first step. Thanks Geoff Lloyd, Naseema Sparks AM, Peter McGregor and Paul Chin, SF Fin for advising us going forward. Their expertise will be instrumental in guiding our strategic initiatives and driving our success. I look forward to working with all friends in our network. Please reach out if there are opportunities to collaborate on: 1️⃣our fund of funds strategy 2️⃣multi-family office service 3️⃣capital advisory and ECM 4️⃣or if you are interested in joining our talented team or have someone to recommend Thank you for your continued support! #boman #fof #familyoffice #capitalmarket #vc #pe #IPO #wealthmanagement

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Gen Z are itching to switch! New Deloitte report shows that 67% of Australian investors are considering switching Wealth Providers in the next 3 years. For Australia, this is predominantly younger investors (Gen X, Y & Z). Read more in our exclusive Australian research, 'Building A Future-Ready Investment Firm'. The team have developed two deep dives of particular interest for the Australian market: Client Experience and Productivity. Download the full report here:

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New year, new First Cheque Podcast episode! Download the latest episode to learn everything you need to know about liquidity within the venture capital ecosystem. 🚀 In the episode, Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures deep dive into: 👀   💰 Why IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) and M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) are essential for investors and startups alike ⚖️ The current state of the IPO market 💼 The challenges of companies staying private longer  💸 The role of secondaries as a solution to liquidity issues   📚 The potential effects of proposed regulatory changes in Australia  💻 The importance of proactive engagement from the tech community to address these challenges The episode offers insights into navigating the evolving investing landscape, emphasising the need for transparency, standardisation, and inclusive wealth creation in VC. 🌱 Subscribe to the show to stay up to date with all the First Cheque episodes! 🎧 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Rocking Horse Group - R&D Advance Funding, Galah Cyber

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We’re excited by the strong interest in our new Smart Bitcoin ETF since its launch a few weeks ago. With 40+ ETFs on offer, there are several reasons to invest in Smart ETFs. 💡 Curious about investing in Bitcoin and how ETFs can offer an easy way to get exposure? Explore key considerations for investing in bitcoin and how to use Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to build a diversified long-term investment strategy. Learn more: https://buff.ly/4etPmed The Smart Exchange Traded Funds are issued by Smartshares Limited (Smart). The product disclosure statements are available at smartinvest.co.nz.

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After all the negatively in our industry post the release of GPT, it's good to see STG get picked by a leading small cap broker on the ASX as their stock pick for 2025 . AI presents the biggest opportunity we have seen since we started the company, and after some significant investment in AI technology over the past 2 years that is now delivering AI revenues, it feels like investors are starting to see where this can go. https://lnkd.in/gmwrEEnP

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We made the list! Celebrating Apollo Investment Australia at #22 on AFR’s top 100 fastest growing companies. Well done to our founders Tony Draper and Yannick Ieko and the entire Apollo Investment Australia team! Leading the way in positive social impact higher purpose investment advisory services. #apolloinvestment #afr #positivesocialimpact #apolloinvestmentaustralia #top100

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A couple of thoughts on the "Half of crypto ads on Facebook are scams or violate Meta’s policies, consumer regulator alleges" piece by Josh Taylor published in the Guardian Australia. ◾ The recent revelations in relation to Meta's advertising practices underscore a critical juncture in the technology, regulation and consumer protection nexus. ◾ ACCC's allegations spotlight the pervasive issue of unchecked digital advertising on global platforms. ◾ These allegations highlight the ethical responsibilities tech giants such as Meta have in safeguarding their users from harm. ◾ The involvement of crypto in this case adds a layer of complexity; the intersection of crypto and fraudulent adverting is leveraged by scammers to create schemes that appear legitimate especially when promoted by the unauthorized use of trusted public figures. ◾ Meta has indeed failed in deploying effective safeguards against the manipulation of its advertising system by scammers bringing to light numerous critical flaws in Meta's governance of its advertising platform. ◾ Meta prioritized ad revenue over user safety. ◾ The case of Meta calls for reconsideration of the role that such platforms play within the digital economy and the reasons of why they should be held accountable for the hosting and provision of content that cause direct harm to users. ◾ If ACCC is successful in this case, it could set a precedent for holding tech companies legally accountable, marking a truly significant shift in how digital platforms are regulated. ◾ The ACCC's allegations against Meta call for stricter vetting processes for crypto-related adds, enhanced transparency requirements for crypto projects and better collaboration among tech companies, regulators, policy-makers and law enforcement agencies to swiftly identify and shut down such fraudulent schemes.  #meta #facebook #cryptoadds #cryptoscams #scams #scamsprotection #fintech #emergingtechscams #cryptoeconomy

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Important announcements for Founders in Australia. We are excited to launch the Agreement for Rolling Capital (ARC) in Australia, a new investment instrument that increases the funding companies receive from Antler. For startups that receive an Inception Round investment from Antler, we'll now guarantee 33% participation in their following Pre-seed Round if they can raise >$300,000 from a sophisticated investor within 12 months. So, for example, a company that raises $3m in its Pre-seed Round would receive an additional $1m from Antler on top of our original, Inception Round investment. We know from evidence in other markets that have implemented ARC that this instrument changes the pace at which companies raise money and succeed, and we are incredibly excited to implement it in Australia. We have also just announced a new, oversubscribed AU$77m fund in Australia that gives us the additional capacity to continue investing in portfolio companies from pre-seed through Series A. With the support of Antler's continuity fund (Elevate), which invests Series A - C, this further strengthens Antler's capacity as a long term capital partner for anyone building in Australia. All this news comes as we also prepare to launch our first residency in Brisbane for the first time, alongside our existing operations in Sydney and Melbourne. We planned to launch Brisbane in 2026, but after strong interest and founder demand from the Queensland ecosystem, we'll be opening our doors in February! Learn more about our residency and how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/g3Gh3dQz 18 months ago there was a lot of doom and gloom locally and abroad. People were unsure of what was going to happen in the tech startup space and VCs facing challenging fundraising environments. I am optimistic about the opportunity that exists for Antler's founders in Australia and think there has never been a better time to build with us. I want to thank Michael Kron, Andrea Hajdu-Howe FCA, Anthony Millet, Sarah Kimmorley, James McClure, Mike Abbott and the rest of the team for their hard work in getting us to such a great result.

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Nicholas Ali Head of SMSF Technical Services at Neo Super quoted in AccountantsDaily along with Peter Burgess Chief Executive of the SMSF Association on the real possibility that the proposed Div 296 legislation will never see the light of day. The article can be read below. #smsf #superannuation #SMSFA

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