Melbourne is ranked as the best tech city in Australia and the 14th best tech city in the world, which speaks a lot about its startup scene and total contribution of around $34 Billion.

In an interview, Professor Robin, Deputy Head of the School of Information Technology at Deakin said:

‘In my view, the tech scene in Melbourne is quite vibrant. There is a nice combination of established players and global tech giants as well as a startup scene that is gaining momentum,’

So, does this fast-paced city have any well-known VC firms that can fund your startups?

Absolutely! To help you find the perfect venture capital for your business, we have prepared the following list of the Top 8 VC Firms in Melbourne, Australia.

Top 8 VC Firms in Melbourne: Fueling Innovation and Growth

We know you need a lot of information when pitching to venture capital firms. That’s why AngelMatch has provided you with extra details such as:

Onto the list now!

Brandon Capital

Founded in 2007, Brandon Capital is one of the leading names in the health tech VC firms of Australia. The network has been investing in biotech, digital health, and cleantech for almost 20 years.

The investors at Brandon Capital are interested in businesses that can generate at least 3-6x ROI within the first 24 months of funding.

The venture capital firm is currently managing around 530 Million in funds and has an average check size of around $2-15M.

Rampersand 

Rampersand is a prominent venture capital firm based in Melbourne. The network was founded in 2013 and mainly invests in startups that are located in Australia and New Zealand.

The investors from Rampersand are inclined towards businesses that are focusing on emerging technologies. They like businesses that have unique ideas and are introducing a completely new dimension into the software sector.

The investment range of Rampersand lies between $50,000 to $2 million.

Titanium Ventures

Titanium Ventures is also a VC firm in early and seed-staged businesses in Melbourne. The network was founded in 2011 as a joint VC firm but became independent in 2018.

When making investments, Telstra Ventures focuses on startups that are dealing with modern tech and are related to the tech sector. They have a wide range of focuses within the technology landscape and usually fund through startup accelerators and pitching competitions.

The investment range of Titanium Ventures is around $5M-$20M.

Square Peg Capital 

Funding startups for more than a decade, Square Peg Capital is another venture capital firm that takes an interest in pre-seed onward investments. The network is currently investing in all cities of Australia and New Zealand and in some cities of South East Asia/Israel as well.

When funding businesses, the investors focus on startups that are based on strong ideas and will be able to make at least 3-4x ROI. Square Peg Capital is an active investor in Australia and they conduct multiple screening tests to boost the tech scene. 

The investment range of Square Peg Capital can go up to several million dollars. 

Cadmon

Cadmon is a financial services firm based in Melbourne. The network has been operating for 15 years and has funded many early-stage startups.

Like most other networks, Cadmon is also interested in startups that can bring positive change to the community/world and are working on unique ideas. Their investors fund most startups through pitching competitions and startup accelerators while also targeting businesses through social platforms.

The investment range of Cadmon is around $1M.

GBS Venture Partners 

GBS Venture Partners is an Australian VC firm that has been funding startups since 1996. The network was founded with a strong focus on Human healthcare startups but with time they have expanded and are now funding a wide range of tech startups as well.

Just like any other VC firm, GBS Venture Partners also conducts multiple pitching competitions throughout the year and invests in businesses with the highest growth potential. They are also active in arranging extra startup events like accelerators and startup growth events.

The investment range of GBS Venture Partners depends on the specific business. Usually, they fund startups around $2M-$3M.

Ellerston Capital

Founded in 2002 as an asset management firm, Ellerston Capital is also investing in Melbourne-based startups. The network started making early-stage investments a decade back and has helped several businesses go international.

When investing in startups, Ellerston Capital focuses on unique tech startups that can grow. 

Similarly, Ellerston Capital isn't very active with pitching competitions, and most of its startup selection is done through startup accelerators, incubators, or by selecting companies through online platforms.

The investment range of Ellerston Capital can range up to several million dollars, depending upon the startup. 

Geoni Capital

Geoni Capital is a private equity firm that also focuses on emerging tech companies. The network was founded in 2021 and has made multiple investments to scale up.

During the pitching competitions, the investors question startup leaders about their 

and the list continues with their main focus on growth-oriented queries.

Once Geoni Capital has funded a startup, they are most likely to invest again monitoring its performance throughout the years. The investment range of Geoni Capital is around $5M.

Which Sector is Expected to Grow in Melbourne?

The software sector in Melbourne is expected to go through huge growth.

A recent IDC report predicts that the software spending market across Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) will reach US$33 billion by 2027, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12% over the 2022-2027 period.

And if you're still wondering what will propel the growth of the software sector in Melbourne, here are some of those factors.

Exceptional Demand

From healthcare to tech, we are seeing an immense increase in demand in the software sector. Melbourne businesses are becoming more reliant on software solutions and digital transformation continues to play its role.

Emerging Tech

The latest technology sectors like AI and ML have also boosted the demand for software startups. Cloud computing is becoming common and these advancements need good software to survive.

Government Involvement

The Australian Government has also been involved in fueling the growth of the software sector. Several initiatives like the R&D Tax Incentive have made it easier for people to launch a new software business and scale it with the help of investors. 

Need Help With Securing Funding For Your Early-Stage Startup?

First-time CEOs trying to get ready for their first investor meeting is a perfect example of being on edge. Max tensions and extreme confusion really pile up but let us help.

Most VC firms only expect a few things from first-time CEOs and the most important one among them is profitability.

So, when you’re getting ready for a first-time investor meeting, ensure that your slides are well-prepared. Take help from online examples of amazing pitch decks.

Most importantly, be confident and always research your angel investors. Read about their previous investments, and what questions they ask and this will help you in securing the required investment. 

Wrap-Up

So, here we are done with the list of the top VC firms that fund startups in Melbourne, Australia. Before we end things, here’s a general tip for your startup-leading career:

“Startup Investors are often looking for passion as much as a plan. Showcase your enthusiasm for your idea and the impact it can make.”

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