Australia’s First ‘Founders Fund’ Glitch Capital Targets Global Tech Ambitions

A collective of prominent Australian tech founders has introduced Glitch Capital, a US$50 million venture fund aimed at backing early-stage startups in Australia and New Zealand. Positioned as the first “founders fund” in the region, Glitch is supported by over 15 successful startup founders, including Go1’s Andrew Barnes and A Cloud Guru’s Sam Kroonenburg.

The fund plans to invest between $1 million and $3 million in high-growth, globally focused tech startups, typically alongside top-tier venture capital firms. More than 70% of its capital comes from individuals linked to unicorns, fast-scaling startups, and companies valued above $100 million.

Glitch Capital positions itself as a new model for venture investing in Australia and New Zealand, led by startup founders rather than traditional investors. Drawing inspiration from U.S.-based funds like Founders Fund and Andreessen Horowitz, the firm aims to bring founder-driven insights to early-stage investing.

The fund is spearheaded by Rob Phillpot, co-founder of Aconex; Sam Kroonenburg, founder of Cuttable and co-founder of A Cloud Guru; and Geoff Tarrant, co-founder of Payapps. Drawing on their experience scaling and exiting successful tech companies, the trio brings a founder-first mindset to guiding and supporting startups.

The investment committee includes Sam Kroonenburg, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Leigh Jasper, with Jo Lanyon acting as the fund’s investment principal. The team brings a mix of strategic insight and hands-on experience to support founders through key growth stages and operational challenges.

Over 70% of Glitch Capital’s funding comes from individuals tied to high-growth startups, rather than traditional LPs like family offices or institutions. Backers include leaders from companies such as Xero, Employment Hero, MYOB, Go1, Pet Circle, and Cover Genius.

The fund targets companies with revenues between US$2 million and US$10 million, typically participating in—but not leading—funding rounds. Its strategy focuses on partnering with other major venture firms to accelerate globally ambitious startups.

Glitch Capital’s first investment is in Cadmus, a Melbourne-based edtech platform that provides digital assessment tools for universities. The company serves the global higher education market and aligns with Glitch’s goal of backing scalable, tech-driven solutions.