News Articles for Yuuwa Capital

Shareholders in Laurence Escalante-backed surveillance company icetana AI have benefitted from a sixfold increase of the firm's share price, after a deal with a Japanese tech giant.

Escalante-backed icetana AI has inked a partnership deal with leading global tech company SoftBank Robotics, as it gears up to enter Japan.

Laurence Escalante could more than double his stake in AI-driven surveillance company icetana and become its largest shareholder, as the company gears up to enter Iraq.

A not-for-profit investment vehicle aims to build a $100 million fund for WA investment.

Three new local funds proposing to focus on early-stage investment are raising expectations.

Local venture capital is what fledgling entrepreneurs need.

The commercial side of life sciences may have reached a critical mass in WA.

Gaming entrepreneur Laurence Escalante has acquired almost 10 per cent of software business icetana as part of a changing of the guard in major support.

A $250 million venture capital initiative launched by the Forrest family seeks to leverage the millions of dollars of health-related R&D funding by governments and bridge the commercialisation 'valley of death' faced by many startups.

The recent $100 million sale of Agworld is a badge of success for WA tech but also reveals the sector's limitations.

Perth's largest drug testing company plans to nearly double capacity as WA attracts attention from global pharmaceutical companies.

The state government has appointed an industry reference group to develop a growth plan for WA's health and medical life sciences sector to be chaired by Peter Klinken.

Roborigger has successfully raised $5 million from Blackbird Ventures, an example of a Perth-based company seeking venture capital from out of state.

BetterLabs Ventures, RAC's early stage seed fund, has become WA's largest venture capital fund with the announcement last night it had expanded to $23 million.

Western Australia's latest initial public offering has brought together an unlikely pairing – a tech company that has been strongly supported by venture capital investors and a stockbroking firm that has traditionally focused on the mining sector.

SPECIAL REPORT: Tech startups in WA can raise capital if they know where to look and how to ask, a Perth seminar was told.

Perth tech company iCetana, which has raised $11 million over the past 18 months to support its global expansion, has terminated the employment of its chief executive after identifying an alleged fraud.

The tech sector in WA is slowly maturing and the focus on startups is laying the groundwork for future growth.

The state's first early stage venture capital limited partnership is one of three funds announced by Western Australian money managers this year, and one of two in a joint project by Cottesloe-based View Street Partners and Nedlands-based Mac Equity.

Norwood Systems, Fastbrick Robotics and Balconi Telecommunications were among the winners at this year's WAITTA INCITE awards for the ICT sector.

Curtin University spin-out iCetana, which is commercialising video monitoring software, has become the second unlisted Perth tech company to complete a big capital raising this year.

There are plenty of people who want success for the local startup scene, but fewer seem willing to commit to fund it.

Fremantle-based renewable energy company Carnegie Wave Energy has been named Techboard's highest trending company for 2016.

The government's failure to explain some fundamental details of its innovation plan has raised questions.

PODCAST: Business News chief executive Charlie Gunningham discusses the local tech startup scene with the director and co-founder of local venture capital firm Yuuwa Capital Matt Macfarlane and the founder of the Spacecubed and Flux coworking spaces Brodie McCulloch.

The announcement of a $1.1 billion ‘ideas boom' innovation package yesterday was well timed for Western Australia's startup sector, representatives from which had gathered at the Perth Town Hall for the annual West Tech conference and OzAPP Awards.

Perth's tech network has grown significantly during the past three years; what it needs next are some success stories.

Australia is at significant risk of a digital ‘invasion' by overseas tech companies keen to disrupt the economic status quo.

Melbourne-based biotech Fitgenes has brought control of its extensive health and nutrition clinics in-house.

Opportunities in the huge markets to Australia's north are driving greater corporatisation of the agriculture sector.

FEATURE: Biotech and IT companies are enjoying renewed investor interest, but these innovative businesses are facing a changing capital raising market featuring less government support and, in Perth, a drastic shift in the venture capital sector.

With stock options being taxed immediately, start-ups are being held back.

One of Perth's most notable technology start ups - app developer Filter Squad - is being wound down following a dismal response to its latest development.

A YOUNG Perth entrepreneur has teamed up with a leader among Malaysian start-up businesses in a bid to boost the success of local technology entrepreneurs.

SHARK tales are common at this time of year, but rarely in the investment sphere.

A Perth-based business has won an opportunity to become a licensed fund manager as part of the Australian government's Innovation Investment Fund.