Australian, New Zealand, and international startups secured over $326 million this week across AI security, legal tech, space technology, and clean energy sectors.
The week’s largest deal saw Queensland’s Gilmour Space Technologies achieve unicorn status with a $217 million Series E round, while expat Kiwi legaltech Ivo raised $81 million at a $530 million valuation. Berlin-based Cloover secured $22 million for distributed energy solutions, and Sydney’s Dam Secure attracted international attention with a $6.1 million seed round from Washington DC-based investors.
The funding activity demonstrates continued investor confidence in deep tech and enterprise solutions, from AI-powered security platforms to orbital launch capabilities, contract intelligence technology, and energy infrastructure.
Paladin backs AI security startup Dam Secure’s $6.1 million seed round
Sydney AI security startup Dam Secure raised $6.1 million in a seed round led by Washington DC-based Paladin Capital Group. Founded by Patrick Collins and Simon Harloff, the startup develops an AI-native platform for managing security risks from AI coding tools. Supporting investors include Secure Code Warrior CEO Pieter Danhieux, RecordPoint CEO Anthony Woodward, Innovation Bay founder Phaedon Stough and Tyro Payments chief product officer Steen Andersson.
Expat Kiwi legaltech startup Ivo briefs $81 million series B
California-based legal tech startup Ivo, originally founded in New Zealand, raised $81 million in a series B led by Blackbird with support from Costanoa Ventures, Uncork Capital, Fika Ventures, GD1, and Icehouse Ventures at a $530 million valuation.
The AI-powered contract intelligence platform has grown annual recurring revenue by 500% and increased Fortune 500 adoption by 250% since its $24 million series A twelve months ago.
Gilmour Space hits unicorn status after $217 million series E
Queensland rocket builder Gilmour Space Technologies raised $217 million in a series E to reach unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.
The round was jointly led by the National Reconstruction Fund and super fund Hostplus, with support from Future Fund, Blackbird, Funds SA, HESTA, NGS Super, Main Sequence, QIC, and Brighter Super. The funding follows a July 2025 launch attempt where the 23-metre Eris orbital rocket crashed after 14 seconds of flight.
Clean energy Cloover secures $22 million series A
Berlin-based Cloover raised $22 million in series A equity led by MMC Ventures and QED Investors, with participation from Lowercarbon Capital, BNVT Capital, Bosch Ventures, Centrotec, and Earthshot Ventures. The company targets $500 million in sales volume for 2026, delivering solar, batteries, heat pumps and EV charging systems at scale. Cloover benefits from a €300 million guarantee from the European Investment Fund to enable scalable, low-cost capital for the energy transition.
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