Guide for founders

Venture capital in Melbourne: firms founders should know

Venture capital in Melbourne includes some of Australia's best-known firms and several sector specialists. This list covers Melbourne-based firms by stage and focus, and how to approach them.

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Details change often. Check each firm's website before approaching them.

Founders and investors at Venture Downunder

Which venture capital firms are based in Melbourne?

Melbourne-based venture capital firms include Square Peg Capital and Blackbird, which also have Sydney teams, plus specialists such as Brandon Capital in life sciences and Tenacious Ventures in agrifood tech.

Most invest nationally, so Melbourne founders are not limited to local firms, and firms outside Melbourne regularly back Melbourne startups.

Venture capital firms in Melbourne

Firm	Based in	Stage	Focus
Square Peg Capital	Melbourne, Sydney	Seed to growth	Generalist
Blackbird	Melbourne, Sydney	Seed to growth	Generalist
Brandon Capital	Melbourne	Early to late stage	Life sciences
Tenacious Ventures	Melbourne	Seed to Series A	Agrifood tech
Artesian	Melbourne, Sydney	Pre-seed to Series A	Generalist

A starting list, not a ranking or endorsement. Stages and focus are indicative and change over time.

Should you only approach Melbourne firms?

No. Australian VCs invest nationally, and the right partner matters more than their postcode. Being in the same city helps with relationships and board meetings, but stage and sector fit come first.

For a national list, see our top venture capital firms in Australia, or Airtree's open-source investor list for a fuller directory.

How Melbourne founders get introductions

The strongest introductions come from founders in a firm's portfolio and from angels who co-invest with them. Melbourne's founder and investor community is close-knit, so a good reputation spreads quickly.

Innovation Bay has run events in Melbourne since expanding nationally in 2014, and its rolling pitch events are open to startups in every sector.

Before you pitch

Research each firm's recent deals and the partner most likely to lead, and prepare a clear deck and metrics. Our guide to venture capital in Australia covers what investors look for at each stage.

Meet investors from across Australia

Innovation Bay's investor community includes angel investors and venture capital General Partners from across Australia and New Zealand, who meet each year at Venture Downunder.

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Venture capital in Melbourne: common questions

Which VC firms are based in Melbourne?

Melbourne-based venture capital firms include Square Peg Capital and Blackbird (both also in Sydney), Brandon Capital in life sciences, Tenacious Ventures in agrifood tech and Artesian. Most invest nationally.

Do Melbourne startups need Melbourne investors?

No. Most Australian VCs invest nationally, so stage and sector fit matter more than location. Local investors can make relationship building easier.

How do I get introduced to a Melbourne VC?

Ask founders in the firm's portfolio or angels who co-invest with them for a warm introduction, and use pitch events and investor communities to build relationships.

Does Innovation Bay run events in Melbourne?

Yes. Innovation Bay expanded nationally to Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide in 2014 and runs events for founders and investors across Australia and New Zealand.

Can I pitch to investors through Innovation Bay?

Yes. Innovation Bay runs rolling pitch events where startups pitch to its angel and venture capital communities. You do not need to be a member to apply.

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