QIC Ventures

QIC Ventures operates as the dedicated venture capital arm within the broader Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), a leading Australian institutional investment manager and sovereign investor based in Brisbane. Established to foster innovation and support the growth of early-stage companies, QIC Ventures has been actively investing since 2016, focusing on Australian startups with ambitions for global expansion. As part of QIC Private Equity's extensive international platform, it leverages significant institutional backing and networks to support the burgeoning Australian innovation ecosystem.

The entity serves a diverse range of founders and innovative businesses, offering capital injections from pre-seed through to Series C+ funding rounds. Its investment approach is largely thematically agnostic, informed by market experts, but it also manages specific funds with targeted focuses, such as the Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund for AgTech and the Queensland Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund. This flexibility allows QIC Ventures to engage with a broad spectrum of industry disruptors across various sectors.

QIC Ventures prides itself on being more than just a capital provider. It acts as a strategic partner, offering investee companies valuable support beyond initial and follow-on investments. This includes introductions to global investment partners, assistance with international expansion, guidance on board governance, and tactical operational support. The firm actively participates in developing the venture capital industry in Queensland, collaborating with government, universities, research institutes, accelerators, and other venture capital funds to identify attractive investment opportunities and share global knowledge and market trends.

Key achievements include investing in over 80 innovative companies since its inception in 2016. Notable portfolio companies encompass high-growth ventures such as Go1, Gilmour Space Technologies, and VALD, demonstrating a track record of backing Australian innovation to achieve global scale. Through strategic partnerships, such as managing the Queensland Government's Venture Capital Development Fund (VCDF), QIC Ventures plays a pivotal role in accelerating, developing, and enhancing the local venture capital landscape.

The leadership of QIC Ventures is closely integrated with QIC's overarching Private Equity capability. Stephen Whatmore, Head of Private Equity at QIC, oversees the strategy of this capability, which includes venture capital investments. His experience spans across venture capital, buyouts, secondaries, and co-investments, bringing a depth of knowledge to the firm's strategic direction in early-stage funding. QIC Ventures is committed to building long-term relationships with founders and businesses that exhibit strong potential for global scalability, providing ongoing support throughout their growth journey.