Australian founders are at the forefront of building market leading technologies that solve global problems and attract global investors.

To explore what’s driving this momentum, we hosted a webinar featuring a panel of experts to share what they’re seeing when it comes to Australian innovation and accessing funding to grow globally. The panel featured:

• Alan Watters, Head of Innovation Banking, HSBC Australia and New Zealand
• David Sabow, Global Head of Innovation Banking, HSBC, based in San Francisco
• Chris Gillings, Managing Director of Five V Capital

Broadly, the US corridor remains the largest by the number of Australian corporates active in the sector, with outbound growth running at around 7% annually since 2022, primarily driven by the technology and innovation sector growing strongly at 64% annually.

Globally, venture capital continues to show remarkable scale. In 2025 we saw with more than half a trillion USD invested in the sector, up over 30% from 2024, with the US alone consuming more than US$340 billion.

One of the strongest themes in the discussion was the deepening participation of international investors, particularly those from the US, in Australian venture rounds.

“Around 60% of venture rounds have international participants, and the US represents a significant portion of that,” explained Sabow. He pointed out that 2025 saw “a number of new funds that came in from the US as first‑time investors into Australia.”

Gillings added, “For me, as a series B investor, data from the latest Cut Through Venture report says 75% of those rounds include an international investor.”

They value founders who demonstrate a clear vision for category leadership on a global scale. That global mindset aligns naturally with US investors seeking companies capable of scaling across multiple markets.

Building relationships with US investors well before a major funding round is important. Investors often want to see a track record and ongoing engagement. Having US-based advisors, board members, or corporate partners can help create “signal through the noise.”

On AI, there was an important distinction drawn between capital‑intensive foundation models and the more efficient application‑layer businesses where most Australian startups operate.

AI is dominating global and Australian venture capital flows, with 50% of global VC dollars and 66% of US VC dollars in 2025 going into AI. In Australia, 61% of capital is flowing into AI-driven businesses, mainly at the application layer rather than foundational models.

The panel highlighted that AI enables leaner, more efficient teams, allowing startups to scale globally with less capital. It is this capital efficiency, supported by Australian engineering depth and cost discipline, that’s becoming increasingly attractive to global investors.

To hear the full discussion with David, Alan and Chris, and gain deeper insights on what Australian founders need to know about global expansion, watch the webinar replay.