On Monday, 24 November, the rooftop at Quarterhouse, Docklands was transformed into a vibrant hub of innovation as Breakthrough Victoria (BV) hosted its End of Year Founders Celebration. The event brought together a mix of founders, investors, government representatives, board members and ecosystem partners, united by a shared commitment to driving Victoria’s innovation economy forward.
BV portfolio companies were joined by our BV fellows and fund investees, highlighting the diverse talent and ambition within the Breakthrough Victoria portfolio, which now includes 77 investment commitments totalling $480.7 million. With investments in companies, funds and our University Innovation Partnership the event highlighted the breadth of BV’s reach across the Victorian innovation ecosystem. There is not a lever within that ecosystem that BV does not pull to bridge capital and capability gaps and ensure successful financial and non-financial outcomes for Victoria.
The celebration recognised the remarkable achievements of Breakthrough Victoria’s portfolio companies and fostered deeper connections across the innovation ecosystem. The afternoon began with exclusive sessions for founders, offering both practical learning and peer support. This was followed by a Capital Deep Dive led by CEO Rod Bristow, which provided invaluable insights into fundraising strategies and capital planning in the context of the rapidly evolving local and global investment landscape. Ensuring capital availability across all stages of start-up development and growth is more critical now than ever, particularly for deep tech and research-driven ventures.
A highlight of the night was a panel of portfolio companies, moderated by Mykel Dixon and featuring Atmo’s Head of Clinical Affairs and Co-Founder, Kyle Berean; Smileyscope’s President and Australian CEO Evelyn Chan; and Raygen’s CEO Richard Payne.
They shared candid stories about scaling their companies, navigating regulatory hurdles, and building teams that can deliver global impact. The Q&A session that followed sparked lively discussion, with founders and guests exchanging perspectives on the bright future of innovation and research commercialisation in Victoria.
As we look to the future, Breakthrough Victoria remains dedicated to building a thriving innovation ecosystem - one that creates jobs, drives economic growth, and positions Victoria as a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making the celebration a success. Together, we are building the industries of tomorrow, delivering economic transformation and shaping a brighter future for Victoria.
