Melbourne's Top Venture Capital Firms: Your Guide to Funding and Resources
Melbourne has emerged as one of Australia’s most dynamic startup ecosystems, offering a unique blend of innovation, collaboration, and opportunity. With over 3,500 startups, the city is a hub for entrepreneurs across industries like technology, life sciences, and fintech. Melbourne’s VC landscape is equally impressive, with a strong focus on community-driven growth, sector-specific expertise, and long-term partnerships. VCs are not just offering funding but also strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to global networks. In this article we’ll highlight the top VC firms in Melbourne, essential tips for navigating the local funding landscape, and invaluable resources to help startups thrive.
Top VCs in Melbourne
Watkins Bay
About: Watkins Bay assist Founders and Entrepreneurs realise their dreams by providing all the help they need too succeed, specialising in Go To Market for Hypergrowth .
Sweetspot check size: $ 500K
Traction metrics requirements: 20% CGMR
Flying Fox Ventures
About: Early stage capital propelling Australian & New Zealand companies across the globe
Sweetspot check size: $ 500K
Thesis: Australian early stage companies, industry agnostic
Square Peg Capital
About: Square Peg is a venture capital fund that invests in Australia, Israel and Southeast Asia with a focus on Series A and Series B.
Brandon Capital Partners
About: Based in Melbourne, Australia, Brandon Capital Partners is a fund management business focused on investments in life science ventures.
Rampersand
About:Rampersand invest in the best Australian technology founders, teams and companies and are committed to helping them become global leaders.
Sweetspot check size: $ 500K
GBS Ventures
About: Giant Leap Fund is Australia’s first venture capital fund that is 100% dedicated to investing in impact startups – rapidly scalable businesses that blend financial returns with real and measurable social and environmental benefits. We invest across the following themes: Sustainable Living, Health & Wellbeing & Empowering People.
Scale Investors
About: Scale Investors is Australia’s first and only network of angel investors committed to investing in and empowering exceptional women entrepreneurs
Starfish Ventures
About: Starfish Ventures is an Australian venture capital firm focused on information technology, life sciences, and clean technology companies.
Fundraising in Melbourne: Tips and Best Practices
Understanding the Local VC Landscape
Melbourne’s VC landscape is unique compared to other cities in Australia and globally. The city’s VCs are known for their collaborative approach, often working closely with founders to provide not just funding but also strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to extensive networks. This hands-on involvement is particularly beneficial for early-stage startups looking to navigate the complexities of scaling their businesses.
One key difference in Melbourne’s VC ecosystem is its strong focus on community and long-term relationships. Unlike some larger markets where VCs may prioritize rapid returns, Melbourne-based investors often take a more patient approach, emphasizing sustainable growth and innovation. This aligns with the city’s broader commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive startup environment.
Melbourne VCs also tend to have a sector-specific focus, with many specializing in areas such as healthtech, fintech, and deep tech. This specialization allows them to provide tailored support and resources to startups operating in these industries. For example, firms like Brandon Capital and GBS Ventures are leaders in life sciences, while Square Peg Capital and AirTree Ventures have a strong track record in technology and software startups.
Importance of Networking and Building Relationships
Networking is a cornerstone of successful fundraising in Melbourne. The city’s startup ecosystem thrives on connections, and building strong relationships with investors, mentors, and fellow founders can significantly enhance a startup’s chances of securing funding. Melbourne offers numerous opportunities for networking, including industry events, pitch nights, and accelerator programs.
Key networking events in Melbourne include:
- Melbourne Startup Week: A week-long celebration of innovation, featuring workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions.
- Pause Fest: Known as the “world’s leading festival for business and creativity,” Pause Fest attracts entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders from around the globe.
- The Startup Network: Regular meetups and pitch nights organized by Startup Victoria, one of the largest startup communities in the state with over 70,000 members.
Melbourne’s co-working spaces, such as The Commons and Hub Australia, serve as hubs for collaboration and networking, offering founders a chance to engage with like-minded individuals and industry experts.
Building relationships with VCs in Melbourne often requires a proactive approach. Founders should:
- Research Potential Investors: Understand the investment focus and portfolio of each VC to ensure alignment with their startup’s goals. You can use our Connect investor database to find investors based on your specific needs.
- Leverage Warm Introductions: Seek referrals from mutual connections or industry peers to establish credibility.
- Maintain Regular Communication: Keep investors updated on the startup’s progress through sending investor updates, pitch decks, and one-on-one meetings. Check out how you can leverage Visible for all of your needs.
Local Resources for Founders
Government Support
The Victorian Government offers a range of grants and programs to support startups and small businesses, helping them grow and scale. These initiatives are designed to provide financial assistance, mentorship, and access to resources that can accelerate business development.
- LaunchVic Grants:
- LaunchVic, Victoria's startup agency, provides grants to support startups at various stages of their journey. Current programs include:
- Pre-Accelerator Grants: Up to $400,000 for universities to establish pre-accelerator programs that help students and researchers launch startups.
- AgTech Startup Grants: $50,000 equity-free funding for early-stage AgTech startups.
- CivVic Labs: A pre-accelerator program offering $50,000 in funding to startups solving public sector challenges.
- LaunchVic also supports angel networks and VC funds to establish in Victoria, unlocking more investment opportunities for local startups.
- LaunchVic, Victoria's startup agency, provides grants to support startups at various stages of their journey. Current programs include:
- Business Victoria Grants:
- Business Victoria provides a comprehensive list of grants and programs, including:
- Small Business Digital Adaptation Program: Offers rebates for digital tools to help businesses adapt to online operations.
- Victorian Industry Development Fund: A $20 million fund providing matched funding and loans to innovative startups and scale-ups.
- Business Victoria provides a comprehensive list of grants and programs, including:
- CSIRO Kick-Start Program:
- Provides matched funding of up to $50,000 for startups to access CSIRO’s research expertise and facilities.
- City of Melbourne Startup Grants:
- The City of Melbourne offers grants and scholarships to support local entrepreneurs, including funding for innovative projects and business development.
Educational Resources
Melbourne offers a wealth of educational resources for founders, including workshops, online courses, and mentorship programs. These resources are designed to equip entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a competitive market.
- LaunchVic Programs:
- LaunchVic funds several educational initiatives, such as:
- Office Hours: Free one-on-one mentoring sessions with industry experts.
- 30X30 Program: Executive education for leaders at Victoria’s top scaleups, aiming to help them achieve unicorn status by 2030.
- LaunchVic funds several educational initiatives, such as:
- Startup Victoria Workshops:
- Startup Victoria hosts regular workshops and events covering topics like fundraising, marketing, and scaling. These sessions are tailored to the needs of early-stage and growth-stage startups.
- Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry:
- Offers training courses in leadership, marketing, and business development, as well as access to tools and templates for workplace management.
- University-Linked Programs:
- Universities like the University of Melbourne and RMIT run entrepreneurship programs, including accelerators, incubators, and pitch competitions. These programs provide mentorship, funding opportunities, and access to research facilities.
Connect With Investors in Melbourne Using Visible
At Visible, we often times compare a fundraise to a B2B sales and marketing funnel. At the top of your funnel, you are finding new investors. In the middle, you are nurturing and pitching potential investors. At the bottom of the funnel, you are working through diligence and ideally closing new investors.
With the introduction of data rooms, you can now manage every aspect of your fundraising funnel with Visible.
- Find investors at the top of your funnel with our free investor database, Visible Connect and find a filtered list of Melbourne's investors here.
- Track your conversations and move them through your funnel with our Fundraising CRM
- Share your pitch deck and monthly updates with potential investors
- Organize and share your most vital fundraising documents with data rooms
Manage your fundraise from start to finish with Visible. Give it a free try for 14 days here.
