Queensland's world-class research, award-winning commercialisation programs and entrepreneurial business culture has attracted a growing number of venture capital funds. This has positioned the State as an emerging financial centre, particularly in private business angel funds, public research funds and early stage venture capital, and increasingly in private equity.

Queensland's reputation as a destination for venture capital investors has been recognised and strengthened through the State hosting the annual Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Conference for nine consecutive years. Queensland also hosted the 2009 AAAI National Angels Conference.

Queensland's venture capital advantages

• world-class research and development infrastructure
• ICT research centres including the Information Security Institute, Australian Microelectronics Centre and a node of National ICT Australia
• biotechnology research centres including the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the Queensland Brain Institute, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition
• advanced manufacturing research centres including QMI Solutions, CSIRO Centre for Advanced Technologies and Queensland Fibre Composites Forum
• Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) - a national program to bring together researchers and research users in the areas of manufacturing technology, ICT, mining and energy, agriculture and rural-based manufacturing environment, medical science and technology
• award-winning commercialisation programs
• UniQuest - the top decile university commercialisation office in the world
• Capital Raising Unit - winner of the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL) Excellence Award
• iLab technology incubator - winner of Australian Incubator of the Year
• renowned educational institutions that work with investors to develop training programs and research activities to improve processes and practices
• political and legal stability - Australia has one of the highest rates of political stability in the world and has strong intellectual property protection, providing investors with a high level of security.

Who else is here?

• Business Angels groups
  Over A$100 million has been invested in 100 early stage companies by Business Angels groups since 2001. The strength of the Queensland Business Angel investment sector is evidenced by the decision of the Australian Association of Angel Investors Limited to base itself in Brisbane in 2007 as the peak industry association for private Angel investors. Business Angel groups in Queensland include:
• AusFirst Capital Limited - Sunshine Coast-based
• Brisbane Angels Pty Ltd - Brisbane's leading investor group
• Enterprise Angels Limited - angel investor network
• Darling Downs Angels Investment Angels - Toowoomba-based
• Gold Coast Angels - Gold Coast's leading angel group
• Gold Coast Founders Forum - where start-up companies pitch to investors

• Venture capital and private equity funds
• Blue Sky Private Equity - invests in MBO and MBI private equity opportunities
• CHAMP Ventures - a leading private equity and venture capital fund
• CM Capital Investments - invest in early stage life science, ICT and cleantech.  
• Millhouse IAG Private Equity - invests in early stage innovation companies
• NBC Capital - invests in MBO and MBI private equity opportunities
• Queensland BioCapital Fund - invests in early stage life science companies
• Septimus Capital Partners - invests in early/expansionary stage companies
• Symbiosis Group - invests in early stage university research
• teQstart Pty Ltd - invests in seed and early stage innovation-based companies
• Southern Cross Venture Fund, Brisbane office - invests in early stage and expansionary stage innovation-based companies
• Uniseed, Brisbane office - invests in seed and early stage university research.

More information

For more information on investing in Queensland, contact us