The software industry in Australia is growing at a steady rate. In 2024, there are more than 1,200 IT providers in the software market. Many unicorns have proven the potential of IT startups with total revenue exceeding $11 Billion.
In a recent interview, John-David Lovelock said “Australia’s IT spending is showing its strongest growth in a decade, and we expect growth rates of around 5 to 6% to continue for the next few years”
In a similar way, Australia’s investor community is also growing with every passing year. To help you find some of the best software investors, the following list highlights the Top 10 Angel Investors in Australia Who Fund Software Startups.
Top 10 Angel Investors in Australia Who Fund Software Startups
So, let us start with the top angel investors in Australia.
Chris Sang
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Contact: Chris Sang | LinkedIn
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Website:Team | CP Ventures
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Focused Sectors: Software, E-Commerce, Information Technology
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Present in: United States, Australia, India, New Zeland, Latin America
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Notable Investments: Reza, Segna, Anility
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Total Investments: 100+
Chris Sang is one of the most prominent angel investors in Australia. He co-invests with Tier 1 Venture Capital firms in the US including Lightspeed Ventures, A16z, and Y Combinator. Sang's portfolio has more than 130 companies globally.
He usually provides early-stage funding to the startups in exchange for equity. Sang prioritizes startups that can secure decent profits and are providing innovative solutions in their relative sector.
The investment range of Chris Sang is around 200,000 AUD.
Emlyn Scott
Contact: Emlyn Scott | LinkedIn
Website: Team | CP Ventures
Focused Sectors: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Software
Present in: Australia, United States, New Zealand
Notable Investments: TPAGA, REZA, Ensuredlt, Kami, Anility, and A.kin
Total Investments: 50+
Emlyn Scott has been funding startups for the past 5 years, with a strong focus on AI and software-related startups. Previously, he has served as the CEO of the National Stock Exchange of Australia and also the managing partner at CP Ventures.
As for his personal investments, Emlyn Scott usually funds startups that are at the early stage and are working on an idea with low competition. He likes to guide his portfolio companies and also helps them by arranging networking events.
The average check size of Emlyn Scott is around 500,000 AUD.
Craig Winkler
Contact: Craig Winkler | LinkedIn
Focused Sectors: SaaS, Software, Apps
Present in: Australia, New Zealand, United States
Notable Investments: Chaser and Ignition
Total Investments: 20+
Craig Winkler is an angel investor who funds innovative startups at the early stage. Previously, Craig Winkler co-founded MYOB which was a popular accounting software business. He has also worked with Xero and is now currently doing philanthropy as well as funding startups.
Winkler is quite straightforward with his investment strategies. Unlike other investors, he solely focuses on the startup idea and even invests if a business can provide at least 2x ROI.
The average check size of Craig Winkler is around 150,000 AUD.
Leigh Jasper
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Contact: Leigh Jasper | LinkedIn
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Focused Sectors: Software, Information Technology, Construction
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Present in: Australia, United States, India
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Notable Investments: Circle In, Varicon, Zipline, Sapia, and Propeller Aero
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Total Investments: 20+
Leigh Jasper is an investor and the founder of Saniel Ventures. He has also co-founded Aconex which is a leading platform for cloud collaboration.
As an angel investor, Jasper usually invests in early-stage businesses through startup accelerators or networking events. He looks for businesses that have the potential to grow and can easily scale on an international level with chances of generating massive ROI.
The investment range of Leigh Jasper is around 150,000 AUD.
Mark Livings
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Contact: Mark Livings | LinkedIn
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Focused Sectors: Content Marketing, Information Technology, Software
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Present in: Australia, Sweden, United Kingdom
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Notable Investments: Edoome, Compono, and Reading
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Total Investments: 10+
Mark Livings is also an angel investor who is focused on pre-seed and seed-stage startups. He likes to make investments in startups that are showing strong chances of future growth and are ready to scale up their services to an international level.
Livings is also highly experienced in the business culture and knows well about how to guide startups when things don't go in their favour. He has worked with a lot of big names in the Australian tech sector and continues to expand his portfolio.
The average check size of Mark Livings is around 500,000 AUD.
Didier Elzinga
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Contact: Didier Elzinga | LinkedIn
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Focused Sectors: Software, SaaS, Music
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Present in: Australia
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Notable Investments: Bardee and Reejig
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Total Investments: 9
Didier Elzinga is the Founder of Culture Amp and also a famous angel investor in Australia. Prior to Culture Amp, he founded Rising Sun Research and currently works as a non-executive director at Tourism Australia.
As an individual investor, Elzinga often looks for early-stage startups that have low competition. He has a diverse portfolio and invests in businesses that are led by a strong team as well as experienced founders.
The investment range of Didier Elzinga is around 400,000 AUD.
Thomas Rice
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Contact: Thomas Rice | LinkedIn
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Focused Sectors: Software, Apps, Internet of Things
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Present in: Australia and the US
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Notable Investments: Alta, Work 180, Amazing CO, and Chatterrize
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Total Investments: 9
Thomas Rice is an angel investor with a strong focus on Australian startups and is the portfolio manager of the Perpetual Global Innovation Share Fund. He usually invests in businesses in exchange for equity and prefers companies that can disrupt industries on a global scale.
Similarly, Thomas Rice is one of the few investors in Australia who makes individual investments at the seed stage. He also organizes startup events and guides startups through the startup stages.
The investment range of Thomas Rice is around 800,000 AUD.
Les Szekely
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Contact: Les Szekely | LinkedIn
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Focused Sectors: Software, E-Commerce, Information Technology
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Present in: Australia
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Notable Investments: Oneflare and Shippit
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Total Investments: 10
Known as the Founder and Managing Director at Grand Prix Capital, Les Szekely is a famous angel investor in Australia. He has spent around 3 decades as a tax consultant partner and director with Horwaths Chartered Accountants.
Szekely usually invests in companies that can promise a high ROI generation. Most of his past investments have reportedly generated at least 2-3x ROI which shows his experienced approach towards funding startups.
However, Szekely isn’t the most socially active individual which is why he is approached differently. The startup leaders from Skezely’s portfolio have reported that they reached out to him via workshops, business meetings, or public events.
The investment range of Les Szekely isn't disclosed but most of his investments are around 600,000 AUD.
James McKinnon
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Contact: James McKinnon | LinkedIn
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Focused Sectors: Software, Cybersecurity, and IT
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Present in: Australia
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Notable Investments: Spaceli and Expert 360
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Total Investments: 5
James McKinnon is an angel investor who has worked with several food and tech firms in Australia. He has a strong focus on tech startups that are in their early stages and need funding to boost their production speed.
As an individual investor, McKinnon is very careful with his investments and is known for organising several business meetings with startup leaders. Like most other angels, he also focuses on startups that can generate ROI and makes investments in exchange for equity.
Other than his investment activities, James McKinnon is also involved in arranging startup events like startup workshops. He also participates in startup accelerators to get connected with the most hardworking startup leaders and provide them with the required investment.
The average check size of James McKinnon is around 1M AUD.
Patrick Tuttle
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Contact: Patrick Tuttle | LinkedIn
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Focused Sectors: Fintech, Software, SaaS, Payments, and Tech
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Present in: Australia
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Notable Investments: Divipay, Shift, Beforepay, Weel, and Skipper Cash Flow
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Total Investments: 3
Patrick Tuttle is the current member of the board of advisors at Mpower Financing as well as a renowned angel investor. Previously, he has served as the co-chief executive officer at Pepper Group and Co-group chief executive at Pepper Homeloans.
As an experienced investor, Tuttle invests in early-stage startups that have the potential to thrive in their relative sector and generate a decent ROI. He has a particular interest in startups that are providing solutions to modern problems in the form of software.
The average check size of Patrick Tuttle is around 500,000 AUD.
Wrap-Up, Some Great Tips!
So, as we are done with the list of top-ranked software investors in Australia, here are some tips on what you need to add to your pitch deck before going for a presentation.
Attractive Taglines: Your pitch deck should always be clear and concise. The taglines play a great part in capturing the attention so spend some extra time on adding relevant and attractive taglines.
Market Competition and Stats: Investors are always careful about the market. Your pitch deck should demonstrate your experience which makes it very important to add real-time figures about how your business can perform against the competitors
Solutions and Story: Finally, show what problem your business is solving and in the middle, also elaborate on what made you get into this startup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Angel Investors Provide Mentorship Programs?
A: Yes, many angel investors provide mentorship programs and financial support. They leverage their experience to offer strategic insights, assist in critical decision-making, and facilitate introductions to their network connections. This mentorship is pivotal for startups, aiding them in overcoming obstacles and expediting their growth trajectory.
Q: What is the difference between Venture Capital Firms and Individual Angel Investors?
A: Venture capital firms are organized setups that aggregate capital from various investors and deploy it into startups at a larger scale, offering expertise and guidance.
In contrast, individual angel investors are private individuals who invest personal funds directly into startups, typically at an early stage, using a more personalized approach and hands-on involvement in the startup's growth.
Q: How to make your startup investable?
A: To make a startup investible, focus on a scalable business model, a strong team, a well-defined market opportunity, and evidence of market validation.