KPMG’s quarterly Venture Pulse recorded its second-highest ever level of investment in Australian start-ups in the September quarter of 2018, with venture capitalists investing $316.8 million. That was an increase of around $110 million on the previous quarter, and accounts for almost half of the total amount invested for the whole of last financial year ($630.01 million). The trend since the collation of data began six years ago has been upwards, but a slight dip experienced in 2015 and 2016. So far in 2018, the amount of venture capital flowing into local start-ups stands at $692.73 million.

According to KPMG’s figures, five of the eight biggest financial investments related to business productivity – particularly the use of artificial intelligence – as well as educational or financial software. The large accounting firm KPMG said that Australia stands well-placed to capitalize on the global inflows of venture capital to start-ups.