In this episode of the Growth Cartel's weekly wrap, Leila and Deepak discuss recent developments in the Australian startup scene, including Antler's latest fun success, the implications of proposed changes to investment rules, the importance of benefits in the workplace (centred around fertility), recent funding highlights, and the gender disparities and data gaps reflected in LinkedIn's top startup list.

Both emphasise the need for inclusivity and support for diverse founders to drive innovation and success in the startup ecosystem.

Takeaways

• Antler raised $77 million for its second Australian fund
  • Ongoing investment in startups is crucial for their growth and success
  • And their next cohort opens this week
• Proposed changes to investment rules could harm early-stage startups
  • Great to see Cheryl Mack continuing to lead the charge for the start-up economy
• Fertility benefits are supporting the retention of women in the workforce
• Melbourne biotech startup Cartherics raising $15 million to kick off clinical trials for its ovarian cancer therapy
• Lorikeet secured $7.3M Seed Funding to Advance their AI Customer Support Platform
• & Ideally secured $5.5M for a consumer survey tool helping brands better understand how their products resonate
• Only 1 out of 20 startups on LinkedIn's top start-up list had a woman founder
• The data used for LinkedIn’s startup rankings needs to include a broader range of success metricsFollow The Growth Cartel for more engaging discussions on the startup ecosystem and to show your support. We also encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section to foster a sense of community and learning.⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-growth-cartel/⁠⁠Episode LinksFollow Rhys on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhyshenderson/4Phase Consulting: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4phase-consulting/Follow Brandon on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonjkburns/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Teamified: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.teamified.com.au/Follow Vini on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinisharathod/p3 studio - people, partnerships, purpose: https://p3studio.com.au/Follow Deepak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepaksinghhr/Follow Dickie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dickiecurrer/⁠The Hype Man: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7095555528629633024/Follow Leila on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leilaneoliveira/