Australia and New Zealand are facing the same challenges as the rest of tech: valuations have come back down, early-stage funding is up, and investors want their businesses to focus on sustainable long-term growth and a clear path to revenue.
Full TechCrunch+ articles are only available to members.
Use discount code TCPLUSROUNDUP to save 20% off a one- or two-year subscription.
But with Australia and New Zealand being isolated from the rest of the world, it creates a sense of urgency around building a global product. After all, “doing more with less isn’t a challenge — it’s the norm,” writes TechCrunch’s Rebecca Bellan.
Check out what Aussie and Kiwi investors think about venture capital in those regions today.
Thanks for reading,
In Australia and New Zealand, a venture downturn isn’t the end. It’s time to shine.
Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025
Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Hugging Face, Elad Gil, Vinod Khosla — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before doors open to save up to $444.
Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025
Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Hugging Face, Elad Gil, Vinod Khosla — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before doors open to save up to $444.
Your pitch deck needs to be machine-readable
AI might not be replacing humans for everything, but it is taking over some tasks in the name of speed and efficiency. One of those tasks is reading through pitch decks, believe it or not. Making a pitch deck machine-readable isn’t hard, and the good news is that it doesn’t have to be at the expense of creative design and a good story.
VCs have a jargon problem and this is how to fix it
Using tech speak among our techy selves isn’t a big deal: It’s the quickest way to get a point across. But when speaking with customers, or others who aren’t really up on the jargon, it’s a better strategy to speak plainly, writes Northzone principal Molly Alter.
Get the TechCrunch+ Roundup newsletter in your inbox!
To receive the TechCrunch+ Roundup as an email each Tuesday and Friday, scroll down to find the “sign up for newsletters” section on this page, select “TechCrunch+ Roundup,” enter your email, and click “subscribe.”
Click here to subscribe
Securing generative AI across the technology stack
The rapid pace of AI innovation raises “new considerations regarding cybersecurity, ethics, privacy, and risk management,” according to Forgepoint Capital VP Connie Qian. As the regulatory landscape evolves, startups should focus on getting their interface, application and data layers secure.
Ask Sophie: I work at OpenAI on an H-1B. How can I explore immigration independence?
Dear Sophie,
I signed the OpenAI letter threatening to leave unless the board resigns. I’m an AI engineer on H-1B. I went through PERM and my EB-3 I-140 got approved. However, my priority date isn’t current yet. If Altman isn’t able to return, how can I stay in the U.S. and start exploring new opportunities at AI startups?
— Emboldened Employee
Ask Sophie: I work at OpenAI on an H-1B. How can I explore immigration independence?
