Fundraising Fox

Folklore Ventures

Venture capital

Sydney · Pre-Seed–Seed · 20 people tracked

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Investment thesis

Folklore Ventures backs founders pursuing their life's work, acting as a long-term partner for high-ambition technology startups. Made up of investors, founders, and builders, the firm focuses on supporting Australian and New Zealand tech founders and their teams as they build enduring success stories.

Invests inSector AgnosticAustraliaAustraliaNew ZealandSydney

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage
Pre-Seed–Seed
HQ
Sydney, New South Wales, AU
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2013
Last 12 months
1 investment
Tracked investments
31

Team · 20 people

from the firm's website & public directories
Aliah McDonnell· Investor Relationsin
Brett Cairns· Board
Chris Comino· Head of Investor Relationsin
Divine Aaron· Investorin
Florencia Quinteros· Head of Operationsin
Mitchell Bissinger· Investment Advisorin
Orson Cairns· Investor
Varun Maini· Accountantin
Mitch Bissinger· Investorin

What they invest in

from 25 of 31 portfolio companies

SaaS ×15AI & Machine Learning ×10Enterprise Software ×5Fintech ×5EdTech ×4Deep Tech ×3Robotics ×3Cloud Computing ×2

HQs:Australia×6United States×3New Zealand×1

Who they back

founder profiles across 10 portfolio companies
80%
solo founders
8 of 10 mapped founding teams

Founding team size:solo founder×82 founders×2

Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program

Y Combinator ×2

Investments · 31 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path
Freelancerfreelancer.comin𝕏OTC: FLNCF

Freelancer operates an online marketplace connecting businesses with a global network of freelance professionals for services such as app design, architecture, and AI development.

Future of WorkMarketplaces

Matt Barrie(Founder)in

Visionary Machinesvisionarymachines.comin✓ verified

Visionary Machines develops passive optical sensing systems that produce real-time, georeferenced 3D representations of the environment across multiple spectral bands, including in GPS-denied conditions.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDefense TechRoboticsSydney, AU

Samson Lee(Founder & Chief Technology Officer)inSonny Foster(Chief Executive Officer)inNick Gibbs(Chief Operating Officer)in

Co-investorsIn-Q-TelOIF VenturesOur Innovation FundSalus VenturesSignificant VenturesThorney Investment Group

Adviser Ratingsadviserratings.com.auin𝕏

Adviser Ratings operates an online platform where Australian consumers can search for, review, and rate financial advisers, along with tools to ask advisers questions and read industry content.

Data & InfrastructureFintechMarketplacesMedia & Entertainment

Angus Woods(Managing Director)Katie Dukes(Chief Operating Officer)inSivan Atad(Chief Information Officer)in

Co-investorsClinton Capital Partners

Ansaradaansarada.comin𝕏

Ansarada offers a SaaS platform and AI-powered virtual data rooms for investment banking and advisory teams to manage the end-to-end M&A deal lifecycle, including asset sales, capital raising, and restructuring.

AI & Machine LearningFintechGovTechSaaSSydney, AU

Steven Engel(Founder)in

Co-investorsFive V CapitalUOB Venture ManagementEllerston Capital

Arkeusarkeus.cominMay 2026 · $25M

Arkeus builds AI-powered sensing systems that combine advanced sensors with onboard AI to give autonomous platforms real-time situational awareness at the edge.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDefense TechHardwareRobotics

Co-investorsMain Sequence VenturesSalus VenturesQIC VenturesR+ VC

Aurorauror.coin𝕏

Auror operates a Retail Crime Intelligence platform that lets retailers record and share structured crime data and connect with law enforcement to identify repeat and organized offenders.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareGovTechRetail TechSaaS

James C.(Founder)in

Co-investorsGD1MovacNZ Growth Capital PartnersReinventure Group

Blungeblunge.aiin𝕏

Blunge is an AI design tool that helps marketers and designers develop ideas, apply brand guidelines, and generate editable, on-brand designs from initial direction to final edit.

AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaS

Featureflowfeatureflow.comin

Featureflow is a feature flag management platform that lets development teams decouple code deployment from feature release, with progressive rollouts, targeting, A/B testing, and instant kill switches.

Cloud ComputingDeveloper ToolsSaaS

Forever Networkforevernetwork.com

Co-investorsYolo Investments

HappyCohappy.coin

HappyCo builds an operations and AI platform for multifamily property management, covering inspections, work orders, lease audits, and maintenance operations for onsite teams, technicians, and corporate offices.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwarePropTechSaaS

Andrew Mackenzie-RossJindou LeeJustin MorrisonMatt Jacobson

Co-investors500 GlobalCamber CreekCerity Partners VenturesNavitas CapitalPoint NineSandalphon Capital+3 more

HealthEnginehealthengine.com.au

Co-investorsTitanium Ventures

HealthMatchhealthmatch.io

Manuri Gunawardena(Founder)in

Co-investorsSquare Peg Capital

Hullbothullbot.comin

Hullbot operates an autonomous underwater robotics service that frequently cleans ship hulls, propellers, and niche areas to remove biofouling, reducing drag and fuel consumption for fleet operators.

CleantechDeep TechRobotics

Tom Loefler(Founder)in

Co-investorsArtesianClimate Tech PartnersNSW Clean Technology Innovation GrantsRegeneration.VC

Kanopikanopicover.comin𝕏

Kanopi provides an embedded insurance platform that connects a company's software to a network of global and Australian carriers through a single API, letting platforms offer contextual insurance (auto, home, life, travel, commercial, cyber, pet and more) at high-intent transaction moments.

FintechInsurTechSaaS

Nigel Fellowes-Freeman(Founder)in

Co-investorsAfterWork Ventures

Komodokomodowellbeing.comin𝕏

Komodo Wellbeing publishes content on fostering a growth mindset and building resilience in students within the school environment.

EdTechMental HealthWellness & Fitness

Andy Ryan(Founder)in

Co-investorsBooster Innovation FundCure Kids VenturesFlying Fox VenturesTiger Global Management

Kry10kry10.com

Kry10 provides an operating system (KOS) and platform built on the formally verified seL4 microkernel for developing, deploying, and managing mission-critical connected devices.

CybersecurityDeveloper ToolsIoT

Jason Fox(Founder)in

Co-investorsNuance CapitalNZ Growth Capital Partners

Mentorloopmentorloop.comin𝕏

Mentorloop is a mentoring software platform that helps organisations run and scale mentoring programs, using a cohort-based matching algorithm, milestone-based content, and feedback tools, plus an AI co-coordinator called Coco.

Future of WorkHR TechSaaS

Lucy Lloyd(Founder)inHeidi Holmes(Founder)in

Co-investorsBlackbird VenturesRampersand

Octopusbotoctopusbot.aiin𝕏

Octopusbot operates an AI forecasting platform that predicts grain and oilseed yields, demand, weather, and price scenarios up to seven months ahead using thousands of global data sources and over 2,000 interconnected models.

AgTechAI & Machine LearningSaaS

ProductEngineproductengine.app
SEQTAseqta.com.au

SEQTA (part of Tes) is a cloud-based school learning management system that combines curriculum and lesson planning, assessment, attendance, wellbeing tracking, and parent engagement in one platform.

Cloud ComputingEdTechSaaS

Shipping Easyshippingeasy.comin𝕏

ShippingEasy is a shipping platform for online merchants that provides discounted USPS, UPS, and GlobalPost carrier rates, automatic order import from selling channels, and shipping automation.

E-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS

Co-investorsSquare Peg Capital

SimConversesimconverse.comin𝕏

SimConverse is an AI simulation platform for clinical and healthcare education, offering photorealistic avatars that let learners practice patient conversations and receive personalized, rubric-based feedback and analytics.

AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthEdTech

Co-investorsArtesian

Snugsnug.comin𝕏

Snug is a property technology company building a rental platform aimed at reducing costs and improving the renting process for renters, property owners, and property managers.

FintechPropTechSaaS

Justin Butterworth(Founder)inJason(Co-founder)Chirag(Head of Property Ownership Solutions)Kerensa(CFO)

Co-investorsTractor Ventures

Spheregetsphere.comin𝕏

Sphere automates tax compliance and trade regulations for cross-border commerce by using AI to read, interpret, and monitor trade law across jurisdictions.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSSan Francisco, US

Nicholas Rudder(Founder)in

Co-investorsAndreessen HorowitzFairhaven Capital PartnersFelicis VenturesY CombinatorCoinbase VenturesExpedition Growth Capital

Strong Computestrongcompute.comin𝕏

Strong Compute offers software and hardware optimizations that significantly accelerate neural network training and cloud computing tasks, targeting AI development workloads in the broader cloud infrastructure market.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSydney, AU

Ben Sand(Founder)in

Co-investorsBlackbird VenturesPi CampusTRAC (Third Round Analytics Capital)Y CombinatorSequoia Capital

SUMMsumm.com
Swoop Aeroswoop.aeroin𝕏Acquired

Swoop operates global drone transport networks and aircraft to provide seamless aerial access in remote and inaccessible areas, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions and enabling delivery services.

HardwareLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & Transportation

Co-investorsIn-Q-TelRight Click CapitalArtesianGiant LeapMain Sequence Ventures

Uptickuptickhq.comin

Uptick is an all-in-one, cloud-based software platform purpose-built for fire and security businesses, covering scheduling, digital inspections, quoting, contract billing, invoicing, and reporting dashboards.

Enterprise SoftwareSaaS

Co-investorsAccel-KKRLiquidity Capital

Vendvendhq.comin𝕏Acquired

Vend, now part of Lightspeed and marketed as Lightspeed Retail (X-Series), is a cloud-based point-of-sale and retail management platform for retailers to manage inventory, sales, customers, payments, and reporting across in-store and online channels.

E-commerceRetail TechSaaS

Co-investorsMovacPoint NinePunakaiki FundSquare Peg CapitalBlue Heron CapitalDERIVE VENTURES+2 more

Wondewonde.comin𝕏

Wonde connects schools with education technology providers by managing secure access to school data.

Data & InfrastructureEdTechSaaS

Co-investorsEmerge Education

ZenCheckzencheck.ai

Andrey Lebedev(Founder)

Exits · 1

IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolio

FreelancerOTC: FLNCF

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Folklore Ventures made?
Folklore Ventures has 31 tracked investments, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
What stage does Folklore Ventures invest at?
Folklore Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
What sectors does Folklore Ventures focus on?
Folklore Ventures focuses on Sector Agnostic.
Where is Folklore Ventures located?
Folklore Ventures is headquartered in Sydney, AU.
Who does Folklore Ventures co-invest with?
Folklore Ventures most often shares deals with Square Peg Capital, Blackbird Ventures, In-Q-Tel, among 44 tracked co-investors.

From the blog

visit blog ↗

Folklore has recently invested in Octopusbot, an AI-driven grain market forecasting platform, and Arkeus, an advanced sensing technology company for autonomous defence systems. The firm also announced the addition of Florencia Quinteros as Head of Operations to support portfolio company scaling. AI summary

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Images

Folklore Ventures photoFolklore Ventures photo

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