The Airtree Investment Process

We're all about transparency in the fundraising process–here's how we make decisions internally.

A new narrative for the startup sector

We need a reset in the innovation narrative. The reset should start with a topic everyone cares about: Jobs.

How to nail your first meeting with a VC

Empower your champion. Jerry Maguire said it best–“Help me, help you!”

How Airtree invested in Prospa’s $25m round reveals which startups get cash

Beau and Greg are changing the way small business owners access finance.

Our seed-stage term sheet

A plain vanilla, straight-up-the-fairway term sheet.

Standard seed-stage financing docs

All the go-to docs in one place.

Machine learning meets mining: our investment in EARTH AI

Roman is revolutionising the mineral exploration process.

World class Aussie founders: Our investment in Snappr

The market for photography services is huge ($30bn!) and, of all the service industries, only the taxi market is more fragmented.

Rethinking property management: our investment in :Different

Mina and Ruwin are using smart tech solutions to deliver the best property management experiences to agencies, owners, and tenants.

The real challenges isn’t starting up – It’s scaling up

With every new scaleup comes more talent, capital and knowledge.

AI-driven customer insights–Our investment in Thematic

Alyona and Nathan are delivering customer insights at scale.

Why SaaS founders shouldn’t be afraid of hiring a sales team

Get your sales model, team and go-to-market strategy singing.

Bringing predictive decision support to the paddock: our investment in Flurosat

Anastasia is unlocking the power and profitability of resilient agriculture through a single, measurable and verifiable system.

Sales funnel metrics you should be tracking in your SaaS startup

You can only improve what you measure, so which sales funnel metrics matter?

Product management at Google – Insights from Anil Sabharwal

As the VP of Product Management at Google, Anil knows a thing or two about building teams, roadmaps and product launches.

Making energy efficient homes easier for all Australians – Our investment in Brighte

Katherine is on a mission to make sustainability affordable and accessible for everyone.

Machine learning applied to melanoma diagnosis: our investment in MetaOptima

Maryam and Majid are using tech to detect skin cancer and save lives.

Bringing drones to every job site – Our investment in DroneDeploy

Mike, Jono and Nick are making the power of aerial data accessible and productive for everyone.

It’s never too early to talk to Airtree: our investment in Joyous

Mike, Philip and Ruby are making employees happier at work.

Investing in lines not dots: Our investment in Secure Code Warrior

Pieter, Matias and Fatemah are empowering developers to write more secure code.

Connecting the next 4 billion: Our investment in Transcelestial

Mohammad and Rohit are on a mission to make the internet more accessible.

Founders – Get your own personal board

What if you approached building a personal board with the same level of care and time as your company board?

The power of a mission-driven culture — Our investment in Huddle

Jason and Jonathan are using data and partnerships to deliver the best insurance experiences.

The Importance of Authenticity: Our Investment in Whispli

Sacha and Sylvain are making it safer for victims to speak up.

The new startup Visa in Australia – A guide for beginners

Skilled immigration is critical to the success of a startup ecosystem; this scheme squarely addresses the tech talent shortage.

Reskilling for the Digital Age — Our Investment in A Cloud Guru

Ryan and Sam are helping people all over the world retrain for the digital age.

How to build and lead tech teams at scale

BHAGs, 60:30:10, right-sizing: let’s break down the key ingredients to a high-functioning team.

Diligencing your investor – A checklist for founders

The diligence process shouldn’t be one-sided–here’s how to assess whether we’re the right partner for you.

WTF is legal DD?

Save yourself the headache at the last hurdle. Here's how to prep your Legal DD.

How to develop and empower leadership

We could all learn a thing or two about teamwork and leadership from Rugby great, John Eales.

What is your unfair advantage?

Are you overlooking your unfair advantage?

Why you need an Executive Coach

When you're in a position of power, you don't always get objective feedback. But you need it.

Airtree’s 3rd Fund: $275m for the Next Gen of Game-Changing Aussie and Kiwi Founders

A significant milestone for us at Airtree, and a reflection of the explosive growth of the Australian and New Zealand tech sector.

Why there is no bubble in true tech company valuations

Is a reckoning coming for us all? We don't think so.

B-Corps – A guide for startups

We’re big fans of the big ‘B’ (logo). GlamCorner and Huddle share the benefits of being a B-Corp.

The wave of change in healthcare

Something's gotta change–our antiquated healthcare system is not equipped to deal with the status quo.

10 lessons with a serial entrepreneur

Mike reflects on why being an entrepreneur isn’t a work choice, it’s a life choice.

Reimagining customer communication — our investment in Qwilr

Dylan and Mark are reinventing the way that teams design and automate their sales and marketing documents.

Subscription agreement for Kiwi companies

1 less thing for our Aotearoa founders to worry about.

Momentum is building for New Zealand tech

Number Eight Wire mentality is driving momentum in Aotearoa.

The Halo Effect — Matt & Aprill Allen

Matt & Aprill's angel investments are up 19x(!!!) so far. We ask them to reveal their secrets.

The Halo Effect — Rowan Simpson

With a jaw-dropping 44% IRR over 14 years, it's about time for Rowan to reveal his tips and tricks.

The Halo Effect — Les Szekely

Les' angel investment portfolio is a lineup of some of the greats: Sitemate, Shippit, Deputy and DesignCrowd.

The Halo Effect — Suse Reynolds

Suse is a founder’s best friend, a pillar of the Kiwi startup community, and beloved by operators and investors alike.

The Halo Effect — Alan Jones

Alan has seen the rise and rise of Australia’s startup ecosystem and his involvement and support of founders at the earliest stages has been unwavering.

The Halo Effect — Andy Hamilton

It's no understatement to say that the Kiwi startup ecosystem would look very different without Andy's involvement.

Is there space for a new business bank in Australia?

What if a startup reinvented the financial experience for businesses?

The diverse talent database

Let's get some more diversity of thought and background around the decision-making table.

The Halo Effect — Leigh Jasper

After building one of Australia's greatest software companies, Leigh now invests and mentors the next generation of upcoming founders.

Open Source Investing: Announcing the Airtree Explorer Program

Empowering the next generation of diverse tech investors in Australia and New Zealand.

The social future of commerce – our investment in Linktree

Alex, Anthony and Nick are helping creators share and manage their online content.

Invest alongside Airtree: Our diversity pledge

Building our database of diverse investors to bring into deals alongside us.

Advisor agreement template

To get the right advice, you need the right advisors. Here’s our Advisor agreement template to fast track the process.

Mortgage broker & lender list

Tips and workarounds for startup founders looking to qualify for a traditional mortgage.

How startups can navigate pricing and go-to-market strategies

How do you make data-driven decisions when you don't have a tonne of data?

Mental health and wellbeing support list

Burning the candle at both ends? It's time to prioritise and balance building your startup with your health and wellbeing.

Angel investing 101 with Harry Stebbings

How do you get started as an angel investor? And do you need a personal brand? Harry Stebbings shares his advice.

How A Cloud Guru built a global business from Australia

From a phone conversation to a global business and then a very large acquisition–all in a very short period of time.

Australian tech companies valued at $100M+

If we had to sum up in a visual why we’re big believers in Aussie startups, this is it.

Want to enter the US market? Here’s how to pitch the big vision to VCs, talent and advisors

How to find your hook to get into the US and build your dream board of advisors.

B2B SaaS benchmarks: What metrics do VCs look at for signs of product-market fit?

Examine whether your metrics scream “rocket ship signal” or “red flag”.

7 tips for meaningful conversations, self-care and keeping emotionally fit

In the spirit of taking care of ourselves and checking in on others, we looked to those leading by example for ideas.

The future of events – Our investment in Delegate Connect

Jacob and Jordan are creating unique virtual experiences for delegates with their highly customisable, end-to-end event platform.

Give a crap – The model for profit for purpose

Simon, Danny and Jehan love toilet paper, but the reason they're in business is for the impact they're having on the world.

Crypto 101

An introduction to crypto fundamentals, cycles to date and an exploration of emerging business models.

Career Q&A with Jackie & Elicia

What's it *actually* like to work in VC or for a tech startup?

The war for talent – Our investment in Reejig

Siobhan, Mike and Shujia are building a workforce intelligence platform so you can find, move, and upskill talent with ease.

Fighting financial crime – Our Investment in FrankieOne

Aaron and Simon are automating data capture and decision-making for customer onboarding and ongoing monitoring through their cloud-native platform.

Engaging patients in behavioural change – Our investment in Perx

Hugo and Scott have built a chronic condition management platform that works for everyone.

What investors look for in early-stage startup investments

As an early-stage startup, what you lack in data points you can make up for with a compelling story.

Think 10x - Here’s how Mr Yum achieved their explosive international growth

From 0 to 11 million users, Mr Yum has made some seriously big bets that have paid off. Here's cofounder Kim Teo's lessons and insights.

Meet our second cohort of Explorers

Get to know our Explorers, the types of startups they're interested in backing and how they can help you.

Walking the Walk – Our Investment in Mr Yum

Kim, Adrian, Kerry and Andrei are building beautifully designed mobile menus for hospitality and entertainment.

Behind the scenes of building Pet Circle

Mike, James and the Pet Circle team have spent the last decade building one of the most unassuming startups.

Airtree’s Summer reading list – 2021 Edition

Pick up the books that we found hard to put down.

Building the crypto derivatives platform of tomorrow – Our investment in Zeta

Tristan is building the world's leading decentralised derivatives exchange (DEX).

Our 2021 Year in Review

Here's what made 2021 a year to remember and celebrate.

Airtree’s Summer reading List – 2020 Edition

If you’re looking for summer holidays reading inspo — here are some recos from the Airtree team.

Flipping the grocery game – Our investment in MILKRUN

Dany is building the 'milkrun of the future': groceries delivered on-demand, sourced from local producers.

Introducing Airtree Seed – A fund dedicated to backing founders right from the start

Australia and New Zealand’s largest pool of capital dedicated to founders who are just getting started.

Making the future of work, work – Our investment in Calven

Dan and Jeremy want to power the future of work through their employee experience and workplace operations platform.

Saving you from your crypto tax nightmare – Our investment in CryptoTaxCalculator

Shane and Tim are building a platform to make your tax obligations on crypto investments simple and straightforward.

9 startup founders share their advice for those looking to follow in their footsteps

We asked 9 founders to share their best advice for those looking to follow in their footsteps.

Scaling yourself as a founder, while scaling your business – Advice from Immutable’s Robbie Ferguson

At 25 years old, Robbie Ferguson has traversed the learning curve of becoming a founder faster than most. Here's what he's learnt along the way.

Making NFTs Smart – Our Investment in Altered State Machine

Aaron, Shara, Marco and Daniel are shaping the next generation of NFTs by embedding them with artificial intelligence.

From Australia to the world – How to scale your company’s global operations

98% of Linktree's users are outside of Australia. Here's how they've scaled their operations across borders.

Transforming the payments landscape – Our investment in Zepto

Chris, Trevor, Matthew, Adrian and Ian are creating real-time, account-to-account merchant payment solutions for an on-demand economy.

How hit to crypto and tech stocks will impact start-ups

Is this the sound of a bubble deflating? Where are we in the cycle?

Renaming your startup to make your brand work as hard as your product

Good advice from a founder who's done it twice.

Getting products into the hands of real fans – Our investment in EQL

Andrew, James and Patrick are building a Hype Commerce platform for retailers to manage the launch of scarce products.

Expanding DeFi – Our investment in Mycelium

The Pier Two team is building enterprise-grade infrastructure for institutional clients.

Here’s what you need to know about the role of Chief of Staff, from an Exec and their Chief of Staff

We asked an Exec and their Chief of Staff to spell out the who, what, when and why of the CoS role at a startup.

How to build scale into your sales enablement function from day one

The tools and process, key hires and sales methodologies that will enable revenue functions to prosper from day one.

Meet our third cohort of Explorers

Say hello to our newest Explorers who are helping startups unlock their potential from the very beginning.

The case for DAOs

Looking for a meaningful way to participate in communities, not limited by geographical boundaries?

Shareholders Agreement template

Get your shareholder do's and don'ts in place.

SAFE Template

SAFEs are safe when you're across all the terms, pros and cons.

Crypto: Perspective in years, not days

We’re seeing Amara’s Law–early disillusionment in novel technologies following periods of hyperinflated expectations–play out in real-time.

Building the future of personalised healthcare – Our investment in Human

Georgia and Kate are on a mission to give everyone access to personalised healthcare.

Executive coaching 101

Be the best on the field with the help of an executive coach to accelerate your growth curve and become exceptional at what you do.

Being a parent and a VC

Men and women across the VC industry share how they managed the arrival of a new family member.

Convertible note template

Purpose-built for early-stage startups, our Convertible note template comes with straightforward terms and balanced interests.

Kat Cole’s 5 lessons from building global brands

From Hooters to Athletic Greens, Kat Cole shares the art of brand-building.

Being a founder and a parent

Finding the balance of being a parent and doing your life’s work, is no easy task. Here's how 4 founders manage the juggle.

Fundraising in Australia—Investor List

Bookmark this, pronto! The go-to list for investors, angels, grants, accelerators and venture debt providers.

Web3 Market Map

Pioneering projects. Gigabrained teams. Good vibe communities. Get to know all the players in the ANZ Web3 space.

The happy path for scaling your role as a product leader

Tom walks us through a product leader's role from day one to when a startup hits hypergrowth.

Thinking through venture debt

Venture debt tends to go hand-in-hand with equity. Here's how.

Meet our fourth cohort of Explorers

Meet the next generation of angel investors, ready to take your pitches.

The Halo Effect — Rohit Bhargava

After 170+ interviews as the host of The Startup Playbook Podcast, the interviewer now becomes the interviewee.

The Halo Effect — Cheryl Mack

Founders and angels, take note: Cheryl’s angel investing 101 is as inspirational as it is practical.

Metrics Matter: Burn Multiple

"You gotta burn to earn", but how much is too much?

The Halo Effect — Emily Casey

From SheStarts to What the Health and Side Stage Ventures, Emily Casey's network and achievements span the startup ecosystem.

Managing your wellbeing as a founder

Founders are 50% more likely to have a mental health condition than "ordinary folk". Let's talk about that.

The Halo Effect — Xinyu Wang

Listen up if you're looking to 20x your first investment.

The Halo Effect — Rayn Ong

Prolific t-shirt collector and Young Rich Lister are just some of the accolades to Rayn's name.

Metrics Matter: CAC and CAC Payback

Payback's a gift. CAC payback that is.

Building your MVP with no-code tools

No-code tools are a no-brainer if you’re looking to quickly test an idea and get feedback on your UX and UI.

The Halo Effect — Mike Langford

In addition to angel investing, you should ask Mike about his many side hustles.

An aspiring founder’s guide to finding your edge, idea and co-founder

What makes a good idea? How do you find the right co-founder? These are all questions Matt Clifford is well-equipped to answer.

Capital efficiency–it’s in our DNA

All else being equal, Aussie founders are scrappier than their overseas counterparts. And we have the numbers to back it up.

Airtree’s Summer reading list – 2022 edition

Worked your way through the backlog of books on your nightstand and looking for something new to read? Look no further.

Accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable supply chains – Our investment in Fair Supply

Kim and Arne are accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable supply chains.

How to set up partnerships for success

Having partnered with the likes of Microsoft and SAP, Go1 is the perfect case study on how to scale through partnerships.

Go-to-market lessons from Silicon Valley

Stephanie Carullo has developed an instinct for how startups can fine-tune their GTM from her time at IBM Cisco, Apple and Box.

Government grants for Australian startups

Save yourself the scroll through the Government's Grants and Programs finder and cut straight to the chase.

Meet our fifth cohort of Explorers

New year, new Explorers, and a huge welcome to Cohort number 5!

Our investment in Hnry

Claire and James are on a mission to revolutionise self-employment worldwide.

COO 101 Part 2: Advice for COOs

Finding your fit as a startup COO: Tips for success in the early days.

COO 101 Part 1: Advice for CEOs

Scoping, hiring and onboarding a COO for your startup: A seasoned COO’s tips for success.

New Zealand’s top startup grants

Startup friendly initiatives for Aotearoa founders.

ESOP template doc for Aussie startups

Get your whole team thinking and acting like an owner with equity–we’ve got the docs to get you started.

How to choose the right employee share scheme structure for your startup

Figuring out the right scheme isn't rocket science, but it can be fiddly, so let's save you from the headache.

How to put impact into action

Our approach to building a DEI strategy for teams looking for inspiration on how to put impact into action.

Crafting your ESOP: Key terms and best practice

Here are the key ESOP elements and terms we most commonly see across our 100+ portfolio companies.

A grant writer’s guide to winning grant funding

Get in on the non-dilutive-cheap-capital grant action.

Building the bank of the future – Our investment in Constantinople

Macgregor and Dianne are on a mission to radically simplify how banks run and operate.

Communicating the value of ESOPs to employees

ESOPs are misunderstood and undervalued by employees. But the good news is effective communication can solve for this.

Evolving yourself as CEO for the next stages of growth

Did you embrace the title of CEO from day one? Or figuring out if it fits now? Ben Thompson shares his experience.

Meet our sixth cohort of Explorers

A huge welcome to Explorer Cohort 6! These angel investors are ready to take your pitches.

Getting started with ESG as an early-stage venture

We’ve all heard of the rise of ESG in business, but how do we go from talking about it in theory to doing something in practice?

Angel Investing 101

The who, what, when, where and how of angel investing.

How to create a parental leave policy

Here's how to build an attainable and commercially-viable parental leave policy for your startup.

A founder’s advice for expanding into the US

From idea to $2 billion exit in 6 years, Sam Kroonenburg shares his top international expansion tips.

The Halo Effect — Maxine Minter

Angel investor, syndicate leader, founder, and now the first solo female GP in Australia. We ask Maxine what it's like wearing all these hats.

A guide to deal sourcing for angel investors

There’s no singular “right” way to do deal sourcing. Here’s a few approaches to try and see what sticks.

Marketing across borders

Building global marketing strategies is like baking a cake.

How to perform due diligence as an angel investor

Do your DD like a pro by asking these big questions.

The Halo Effect — Kylie Frazer and Rachael Neumann

The dynamic duo behind Flying Fox Ventures share their path to becoming angel investors, investment philosophy and why they're lobsters.

Angel syndicates 101

Smaller cheques. Amplified capital. Access to deal flow. Here’s why you should consider joining an angel syndicate.

Pros and cons of PEOs for ANZ startups

To PEO or not to PEO, that is the question.

How to choose the right US work visa for Australians

Your guide to getting boots on the ground in the US.

The Halo Effect — Ben Armstrong

Most angels aspire to build a portfolio with 20-40 investments. Ben Armstrong has gone a ways further.

The Halo Effect — Judy Anderson-Firth

A pocket money side hustle was the catalyst for Judy's entrepreneurial journey.

Field notes: Engineering efficient growth

Capital efficiency > top-line growth. Here are the metrics to manage.

Airtree’s Summer reading list – 2023 edition

Our recommendations span several genres, from a healthy dose of self-improvement to new fiction favourites and some classics.

Airtree Press: 2023 year in review

From blue sky thinkers who’ve spotted a new gap, to the founders deftly navigating the rocky road to success.

Airtree Press Part 3: Omnipresent Innovation

The tech behind the scenes that underpins our everyday activities, making things safe, efficient and accessible.

Airtree Press Part 2: Unwavering Momentum

The growth in users, revenue and impact that comes with disrupting incumbents and revolutionising the status quo.

Airtree Press Part 1: Exporting Ambition

The Aussie and Kiwi startups taking on the world, and making technology our greatest export.

Fundraising in the US—Investor list

Looking for US investors for your startup? Here's a list of venture capital firms, accelerators and private equity funds to get you started.

What Aussie startups need to know about the Delaware Flip

Moving your startup to the US doesn't need to cause a flipping nightmare. Here's what you need to know before you get started.

Meet our seventh cohort of Explorers

Introducing Explorer Cohort 7! These diverse angels are ready to support you on your founder journey.

From ideas to icons: A reflection on the last ten years of ANZ tech

Craig, Elicia, James and John reflect on Airtree’s journey and the last decade of tech in Australia and New Zealand.

Level up your fundraise materials with a Business FAQ

Could a Business FAQ be the antidote to your problems?

2024 edition: Australian tech companies valued at $100M+

From unicorns to breakout stars, expats returning, and a local ecosystem that celebrates the success of their mates, Australia’s startups are growing faster than ever.

How to build a sales pitch that wins

Sales pitches don't have to suck.

Pricing strategies to accelerate profitable growth

A compelling case for determining price before you design your product.

B2B blueprint for expansion into the US

Crowdsourcing insights on the who, what, when, where and how of expanding into the US.

How to administer ESOPs across borders

Sorting your ISOs from your NSOs and RSUs, your SIPs from your SAYEs and more.

What to include in your startup’s data room

Create a data room that clearly tells your startup's story and enables investors to easily build a strong investment case for funding.

A founder’s guide to exit planning

The adage “Companies are bought, not sold” very rarely matches reality.

From founder-led to fully scaled: Stevie Case on building elite sales teams

The do's and don'ts for scaling your sales team.

A step-by-step approach to running a Founder 360 review