Flying Fox

Flying Fox Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, dedicated to propelling promising startups from Australia and New Zealand onto the global stage. Founded in 2021 by experienced angel investors Rachael Neumann and Kylie Frazer, the firm distinguishes itself through a unique investment model that blends venture capital syndication with comprehensive angel investor education. This approach not only provides crucial capital to nascent companies but also cultivates an informed and engaged community of private investors.

The firm focuses on pre-seed, seed, and seed-plus stage companies, offering investment cheques typically ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000 AUD. Flying Fox Ventures is sector-agnostic, however, they have a notable investment focus in areas such as SaaS, healthcare, legaltech, and fintech. Their investment philosophy centres on identifying founders with a strong vision and deep understanding of a customer problem, particularly those addressing large, growing, and international markets. The firm has deployed approximately $30 million across more than 55 portfolio companies, showcasing its commitment to a diverse range of innovative startups.

What sets Flying Fox Ventures apart is its 'Angel School' program, which guides investors through the startup funding process and helps them build diversified portfolios. This learn-by-doing model brings together cohorts of investors, providing them with education on due diligence and evaluation skills. This innovative structure aims to democratise access to early-stage investment opportunities for wholesale investors, with some individuals investing as little as $1,000. The firm also actively addresses the gender funding gap, evidenced by a female sidecar fund designed to increase cheque sizes for companies with female founders. This initiative provides additional support to ensure female-led businesses receive adequate resources for growth, reflecting the firm's commitment to a more equitable startup ecosystem.

Leadership is provided by co-founding partners Rachael Neumann and Kylie Frazer, both prominent figures in the Australian startup landscape. Rachael Neumann previously served as Head of Startups for Amazon Web Services in Australia and New Zealand and was Managing Director of Eventbrite ANZ. Kylie Frazer brings nearly two decades of experience as a corporate transactions lawyer and is a two-time technology founder, offering a unique dual perspective. They are supported by Jeramina Guntang, the Operations Manager. Together, they champion a disciplined yet innovative approach to investing, constantly seeking to break traditional venture capital norms to foster homegrown heroes.