Cairns is a hotbed for startups and innovation in Far North Queensland. It has more startups per head of population than South East Queensland with one for every 3,500 people. Key collaborators in this include theSpace Cairns-an incubator that, since opening its doors in 2012, has supported over 1,200 people and 163 paid members. James Cook University brings forth a leading role in supporting innovation through various programs and partnerships. On the investment side, there are a variety of venture capital firms supporting startups and scale-ups in Cairns. To make it easier, we've put together an extensive list of venture capital investors, and our experts have handpicked the top 10 venture capital firms in Cairns just for you. You can find more details about investment opportunities here. Here's a table that summarizes the overall VC data for a quick overview:
| VC Firm | Ticket Size | Stages | Founding Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackbird Ventures | $30K - $20M | Pre-Seed to Series C | 2012 |
| Square Peg Capital | $500K - $50M | Seed to Series C | 2012 |
| AirTree Ventures | $100K - $20M | Seed to Series C | 2014 |
| Carthona Capital | $200K - $10M | Pre-Seed to Series A | 2014 |
| Main Sequence Ventures | $500K - $20M | Seed to Series B | 2017 |
| H2 Ventures | $50K - $100K | Seed to Series A | 2014 |
| Artesian Ventures | $50K - $5M | Seed to Series A | 2004 |
| Brandon Capital | $2M - $20M | Seed to Growth Stage | 2007 |
| Folklore Ventures | $100K - $10M | Seed to Series A | 2013 |
| Reinventure | $500K - $10M | Seed to Series A | 2014 |
1. Blackbird Ventures
Blackbird is a venture capital firm based out of Australia and New Zealand that backs ambitious founders with game-changing ideas. They invest across all technology types, from software to space, and support startups from inception to IPO and beyond. With a community worth more than $7 billion-Canva, Zoox, and Culture Amp are part of their portfolio-Blackbird keeps a main stake in the community, mentorship, and belief in founders.
- Website: blackbird.vc
- Founding Year: 2012
- Investment Range: $30,000 to $20 million
- Stage: Pre-Seed to Series C
- Sector: Software, SaaS, AI, space tech, biotech
- Geography: Australia and New Zealand
- Notable Investments: Canva, Culture Amp, SafetyCulture, Myriota
2. Square Peg Capital
Square Peg is a global venture capital firm founded in 2012 in Australia, investing across Australia & New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Israel. With $2.9 billion in assets under management, they back founders early and repeatedly. Their portfolio includes high-profile companies like Canva, Airwallex, Rokt, Fiverr, Aidoc, and Doctor Anywhere, shaping the future of technology globally.
- Website: squarepeg.vc
- Founding Year: 2012
- Investment Range: $500,000 to $50 million
- Stage: Seed to Series C
- Sector Focus: SaaS, fintech, edtech, healthtech
- Geography: Australia, Israel, Southeast Asia
- Notable Investments: Airwallex, Canva, Stripe, Fiverr, Athena Home Loans
3. AirTree Ventures
Airtree Ventures is a VC that actively empowers outstanding startups from Australia and New Zealand. Early-stage investors, they come forth to back pioneering founders and share in every step toward their global success. With more than 100 groundbreaking tech companies in their portfolio, Airtree is committed to long-term partnership, regional growth, and going global.
- Website: airtree.vc
- Founding Year: 2014
- Investment Range: $100,000 to $20 million
- Stage: Seed to Series C
- Sector Focus: SaaS, Marketplace, Fintech, Healthtech, edtech
- Geography: Australia and New Zealand
- Notable Investments: Prospa, A Cloud Guru, Canva, Employment Hero, Go1
4. Carthona Capital
Carthona Capital was founded in 2014 and is an early-stage venture capital firm with $360M under management. Focused on Pre-Seed to Series A, highly thematic, Carthona is very supportive of its portfolio actively through hands-on involvement and follow-on funding across multiple rounds, thus enabling business scale and success.
- Website: carthonacapital.com
- Founding Year: 2014
- Investment Range: $200,000 to $10 million
- Stage: Pre-Seed to Series A
- Sector Focus: SaaS, Fintech, Proptech, Blockchain
- Geography: Global
- Notable Investments: Life360, Airtasker, Credible, Spaceship, Zoomo, Vow
5. Main Sequence Ventures
Main Sequence is Australia’s leading deep tech investment fund, launched in 2017 by CSIRO to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation. With $1B+ under management, it invests in science-driven startups tackling global challenges—from space tech to decarbonisation, AI, food security, healthcare, and industrial innovation. Main Sequence supports deep tech founders from seed to Series B, helping turn groundbreaking scientific discoveries into industry-defining companies.
- Website: mseq.vc
- Founding Year: 2017
- Investment Range: $500,000 - $20 million
- Stage: Seed to Series B
- Sector: Deep tech, climate tech, space tech, AI, biotech
- Geography: Australia
- Notable Investments: Myriota (Adelaide-based satellite IoT company), Morse Micro, Q-CTRL, V2Food, Eden Brew
6. H2 Ventures
H2 Ventures, founded in 2013 by Ben and Toby Heap, invests in bold early-stage founders in Fintech, Data, and AI. Beyond funding, they provide networks, mentoring, and operational guidance. H2 specializes in partnering from day zero, backing passionate entrepreneurs with purpose, industry insight, and the drive to succeed.
- Website: h2.vc
- Founding Year: 2014
- Investment Range: $50,000 to $100,000
- Stage: Seed to Series A
- Sector Focus: Fintech, Data, Artificial Intelligence
- Geography: Australia
- Notable Investments: Edstart, Equitise, Simply Wall St, Spriggy, Stockspot
7. Artesian Venture Partners
Artesian is a global alternative investment firm founded in 2004, specializing in venture capital, private and public debt, and impact investments. With a focus on creating value in challenging environments, Artesian manages funds for governments, corporations, and family offices. Guided by values like impact, innovation, integrity, and sustainability, Artesian prioritizes responsible, long-term growth.
- Website: artesianinvest.com
- Founding Year: 2004
- Investment Range: $50,000 to $5 million
- Stage: Seed to Series A
- Sector Focus: AI, FinTech, Clean Energy, Agriculture, healthtech, SaaS
- Geography: Australia
- Notable Investments: Myriota, AgriDigital, Coviu, HealthMatch, Beamible
8. Brandon Capital Partners
Brandon Capital, Australasia's leading life science venture firm, drives medical breakthroughs into transformative therapies. Backing 50+ startups, Brandon supports companies from seed to commercialization. Through Brandon BioCatalyst, it collaborates with governments, superannuation funds, and research institutes, fostering a sustainable biotech industry that delivers jobs, wealth, and better patient outcomes globally.
- Website: brandoncapital.vc
- Founding Year: 2007
- Investment Range: $2 million to $20 million
- Stage: Seed to Growth Stage
- Sector Focus: Life Sciences, Biotechnology
- Geography: USA, Australia and New Zealand
- Notable Investments: Fibrotech Therapeutics, Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, Anatara Lifesciences, Opthea, Novogen
9. Folklore Ventures
Folklore Ventures is a venture capital firm that supports founders from day one through each stage of growth. They believe in founder vision, strong teams, and long-term partnerships. They know the hard yards that come with building a business. As investors and former founders, they understand those challenges. Through early investment, Folklore gives Australian and New Zealand startups the confidence to go big and succeed.
- Website: folklore.vc
- Founding Year: 2013
- Investment Range: $100K to $10 million
- Stage: Seed, Series A
- Sector: SaaS, Fintech, Healthtech, AI, climate tech
- Geography: Australia
- Notable Investments: Employment Hero, HealthMatch, Brighte, Swoop Aero, Propeller Aero
10. Reinventure
Reinventure is a FinTech-focused venture capital firm backed by Westpac Banking Corporation with $150M in committed funds. While independent, Reinventure leverages Westpac’s strategic insights and networks to support early-stage, high-growth businesses. They invest, nurture, and scale startups, unlocking synergy between entrepreneurs and corporate innovation to shape the future of financial services.
- Website: reinventure.com.au
- Founding Year: 2014
- Investment Range: 500K to 10M
- Stage: Seed to Series A
- Sector: Fintech, Proptech, Insurtech
- Geography: Australia and New Zealand
- Notable Investments: Athena Home Loans, Prospa, Identitii, Lendi, Hnry
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Is VC high risk?
Venture capital is a type of investment that can be risky but has the potential for high returns. However, there is no guarantee of success. Investing in startups is always uncertain, and you might lose your money. Even though VC firms try to minimize risks, investing in startups is always uncertain, and you might lose your money. - What is the best country to set up a VC fund?
If you’re looking to set up a VC fund, many people think the United States has the best venture capital (VC) funds worldwide. This is because the US has a big economy, lots of money available, and many successful startups. - What cities have the most VC investments?
The top five cities for venture capital investment are San Francisco, New York City, Boston, San Jose, and Los Angeles. These cities together receive more than two-thirds (67.5%) of all venture capital investments. - What is the minimum amount for a VC fund?
Venture capital funds usually ask for a minimum investment of $250,000 to $500,000, and sometimes even more. Investing a small amount of money can still cost a lot. These funds are usually only open to wealthy people and big organizations that have a lot of money. - How do I choose a VC fund?
To choose a VC fund, check how much experience and success the venture capital firm has had before. Look at the companies they’ve invested in before to see if they match what your business does. This can help you figure out if they’re a good match for you.
Best of luck with your amazing ventures.
Please note that this list is filtered by various metrics, and all the data are collected through various third-party websites, mostly the VC website. Since data such as ticket size or industry may change, you are requested to visit the official website given in the blog for the latest and updated information.