x15 Xccelerate

x15ventures is a venture scaler based in Sydney, Australia, established in 2020 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank). Its core mission is to build, buy, and invest in early-stage startups that can enhance the lives of CommBank's millions of customers and reimagine existing banking products and services or extend the bank's relevance into new areas. The entity operates with a unique model, combining the agility of a startup with the substantial scale and resources of a major corporate, funded by a portion of CommBank's annual technology budget.

x15ventures differentiates itself by providing hands-on support, strategic guidance, and direct access to CommBank's extensive customer base, distribution networks, and internal expertise across legal, risk, and marketing domains. This integrated approach creates a 'bank-safe' environment where ventures can innovate and scale rapidly. The Xccelerate program, a key offering, specifically targets early-stage founders, assisting them in understanding and navigating pathways to strategic partnership with a large corporate like CommBank, often culminating in investment.

Since its inception, x15ventures has launched or acquired a diverse portfolio of ventures, including Home-in (a digital home-buying concierge), Doshii (a hospitality operations platform), Unloan (a digital home loan), Kit (a money management app for children), and Waddle (an invoice lending platform). These ventures aim to deliver practical digital solutions that improve customer experience and efficiency across various sectors. The organisation aims to launch at least 25 businesses by 2024, demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering innovation within the Australian tech ecosystem.

Leadership at x15ventures includes Toby Norton-Smith as Managing Director. The team has been further strengthened by key appointments such as Ben Heap as the first non-executive, independent Chairman in January 2021, and Jane Martino as the first external Portfolio Advisor, also in January 2021. Laura Faulconer joined as Portfolio Director in June 2022, overseeing the growth and enhancement of the x15 portfolio. x15ventures is committed to supporting Australian innovators and fostering new digital businesses that deliver tangible benefits to consumers and businesses alike.