The most popular startup stories on SmartCompany in 2023

2023 was yet another eclectic year in the Australian startup ecosystem. As economic turmoil continued throughout the year, we saw belts tighten. Layoffs also became a familiar story. But it wasn’t all bad, some big raises also landed, as did a number of acquisitions. And this juxtaposition of dire and wholesome was strongly reflected in the stories our readers were most interested in this year.

First up, apparently you all love a little CBA drama because at the top of the list we have the bank being sued by a former employee of Unloan.

If you’re not sure of the connection, the startup is owned by CBA’s VC arm, X15ventures. According to the plaintiff, he was made to work up to 60 hours a week across multiple roles at Unloan. He has also alleged he was made redundant after making a complaint with HR.

This year we also saw two entries from Milkrun, which collapsed earlier this year. Milkrun also appeared on last year’s top stories list due to a $75 million raise in landed in January 2022.

The story was certainly different this time. While we were covering the news of the shutdown at the time, it was its revival by Woolworths that resonated the most, followed by a look at how the math wasn’t mathing when it came to the original Milkrun business model.

A few months after the collapse the grocery giant bought the brand and social channels in order to reskin its Metro60 app, and seven months later it seems to be doing well. Having used it myself quite a bit, Woolworths has done a good job with the brand.

The rest of our top stories were a bit of a mixed bag — with our exclusive investigation into the Boosting Female Founders fund ranking highly, alongside a big acquisition story from Liven.

It was heartening to see some positive stories in there, including some grants and mentorship pieces, as well as the creation of the AI Builder’s Club in Sydney.

Check out our most-read startup stories right here:

The 10 most-read startup stories on SmartCompany in 2023

1. Former worker sues CBA-backed startup over 60-hour work week

2. Milkrun is back from the dead after Woolworths acquisition

3. “Completely useless”: Boosting Female Founders program continues to hold back startups

4. Liven acquires four startups for $152 million in hope of becoming hospitality’s one-stop-tech-shop

5. Meet AI Builder Club: The free short residency program for Australian AI startups

6. ‘As strong as plastic bags’: Aussie startup wins eco award for bag that dissolves in water

7. ‘The math didn’t make sense’: Why Milkrun didn’t work in Australia

8. Aussie eco soap startup Single Use Ain’t Sexy acquired by global travel amenities company Buzz

9. Eucalyptus lands $50 million amidst online prescription concerns

10. MVP Ventures Program returns in NSW with up to $50,000 for early-stage startups