2022年12月12日

澳大利亚创始人的名人录纷纷涌入加速器项目Startmate的新投资基金，为该项目历史上规模最大的一年画上了句号。Startmate成立于2011年，到今年为止，它的加速器基金总共只筹集了1110万美元，但在过去12个月里，它为下一个加速器基金和第一个连续性基金筹集了1400万美元。Startmate首席执行官迈克尔·巴特科(Michael Batko)表示，他希望这个加速器能够在各个阶段支持初创企业。新的连续性基金旨在让Startmate继续支持其成功的校友，直到他们成熟。Startmate首席执行官迈克尔·巴特科在接受《澳大利亚金融评论报》采访时表示，该加速器希望在2023年初之前筹集到3000万美元的新资金。到目前为止，Atlassian、Canva和Culture Amp的创始人，以及Adore Beauty的凯特•莫里斯(Kate Morris)和Up的多姆•皮姆(Dom Pym)等Startmate导师都为这笔新融资做出了贡献。巴特科表示:“看到创始人回来当导师，并把这种精神传递给未来的创始人，真是太棒了。”“(这些投资)是在去年获得不少现金回报的基础上进行的。“你可能犯的代价最大的错误就是错过了一个大机会。我们知道风险投资的回报来自于异常值，而连续性基金的目的是在加速器后的融资轮中，通过自动将额外的资金部署到最好的Startmate公司，来防止遗漏。” Startmate, which now runs a variety of programs including fellowships to help would-be start-up employees break into the ecosystem and train more angel investors, receives about 1000 applications for its start-up accelerator program each year. Of these, it invests in the top 3 per cent, Mr Batko said. Advertisement “Historically, 65 per cent of these companies go on to raise VC funding, which means our Continuity Fund will invest in the top 1 per cent to 2 per cent of start-ups across Australia and New Zealand,” he said. Since 2011, about 200 have scored backing from Startmate. Startmate head of investments Brady Flockart said a dollar invested in all of Startmate’s 2011 to 2020 funds was now worth 3.4 times the amount after management fees, carried interest and other expenses. Startmate has already returned the cash, and then some, to its investors in its 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 funds. “Startmate continues to build on our track record of investment returns that place us alongside the best in the world (of our first decade, eight out of 10 years Startmate was in the top quartile of global venture returns,” he said. Advertisement It has also sold down its stake in edtech company Edrolo, which returned 2.5 times its 2013 fund. This year, companies accepted into Startmate’s accelerator program included procurement marketplace ChemCloud, disability tech company Maslow, decentralised finance start-up Minke and life admin app Eggy. In 2023, Mr Batko said Startmate would launch two new industry-specific fellowship programs. First up will be a program dedicated to athletes - people who Mr Batko said possess many of the qualities of a good entrepreneur. “They set a goal and work day and night to achieve it. So many athletes are perfect candidates,” he said. The program will run in February/March next year. In April/May, it will also run a climate tech program, for which it has already had more than 500 people express interest. Yolanda Redrup is an award-winning senior journalist who writes on technology, healthcare and occasionally covers Street Talk from our Melbourne newsroom. Connect with Yolanda on Twitter . Email Yolanda at yolanda.redrup@afr.com Save