What Co Ventures does

Co Ventures is an Australian pre-seed venture capital fund focused exclusively on backing software-led companies with at least one Australian founder that are built for global scale from day one. Positioned as Australia's first dedicated pre-seed fund, the firm invests at the idea stage before traction, deliberately excluding hardware, biotech, and businesses with high regulatory burdens. The fund operates two vehicles—Fund I and Fund II—through corporate authorised representative structures under Boutique Capital Pty Ltd (AFSL 508011), and has backed approximately 35 companies and 66 founders across both funds with a reported 93% acceptance rate among companies offered investment.

The firm is led by two General Partners—Maxine Minter (Australia's first solo female GP, with Stanford/Oxford/Macquarie pedigree) and Alexey Mitko (ex-Canva early operator who helped scale it from 23 to a global team, and Eucalyptus co-founder)—and supported by a Platform Lead (Joanna Lawson, ex-Wealthfront), a Brand & Communications Lead (Franko Ali), and a Platform Advisor (Dani Pinkus, ex-Blackbird). A venture partner network of operators from Linktree, Eucalyptus, Mr Yum/me&u, Ambience Healthcare, and Forage provides day-to-day founder support and deal sourcing, while a 400+ community of operators, angels, and LPs compounds deal flow through referrals.

The business model is conventional venture capital: equity stakes in pre-seed startups with returns generated via exits or follow-on rounds, augmented by a unique structural feature where 5% of the fund's upside is shared back with the founders the firm works for. Co Ventures does not develop proprietary technology; the platform is a community/co-investment layer that includes a community syndicate on the Aussie Angels platform enabling vetted angels to co-invest alongside the fund, and regular co-investment partnerships with leading ANZ VCs (Blackbird, Airtree, Skip Capital) and US/global funds (Designer Fund, Figma Founders). Investment is restricted to wholesale/qualified investors in Australia, the US, UK, EU, and New Zealand.

Name

Co Ventures

Legal name

Co Ventures Pty Ltd

Website

https://coventures.vc

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Co Ventures is an Australian pre-seed venture capital fund backing software-led companies with at least one Australian founder, operating Fund I and Fund II through Boutique Capital's AFSL with a GP team, venture partner operator network, and community syndicate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pre-Seed Venture Capital Funding

NAICS

All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Emerging Managers / Seeding Platforms (FSAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Pre-seed venture capital
• Early-stage startup funding
• Australian founder backing
• Venture capital fund management
• Founder community syndicate

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Returns: Co Ventures generates returns through equity investments in pre-seed startups. The fund takes equity stakes in portfolio companies and returns capital through exits (acquisitions, IPOs) or follow-on funding rounds. They share 5% of their upside across the founders they work for.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Co Ventures manages dedicated pre-seed venture capital funds (Fund I and Fund II) that take equity stakes in Australian software-led companies at the idea stage before traction is established. Alongside capital, portfolio founders receive strategic guidance from operators with experience scaling companies from zero to Series B+, plus active introductions to US and international networks. The firm packages these offerings through its "Co" Community platform, a belief-engine ecosystem connecting founders, venture partners, LPs, and operator angels.

Product overview

Co Ventures is a pre-seed venture capital firm that provides investment funding, strategic guidance, and network access to Australian founders building software-led companies for global scale. The firm does not offer a product or service in the traditional SaaS sense—it provides capital and operator support rather than a software platform. Co Ventures operates a collaborative platform connecting founders, VPs, LPs, and operator angels, offering community engagement through their "Co" Community initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Co Ventures Pre-Seed Fund I (Fund I) Pre-seed venture capital vehicle that takes equity stakes in Australian software-led companies at the idea stage before traction is established, paired with operator guidance and introductions to US and international networks. For pre-seed software founders with at least one Australian founder building for global scale.
• Co Ventures Pre-Seed Fund II (Fund II) Second pre-seed venture capital vehicle continuing the same conviction-investment thesis as Fund I—equity stakes at idea stage in Australian software-led companies with global intent, plus operator support and active network introductions.
• "Co" Community A collaborative community platform connecting pre-seed founders, venture partners, LPs, and operator angels; designed to compound value through shared infrastructure, deal sourcing, and ongoing support. Open to vetted operators and angels for community syndicate participation via Aussie Angels.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TechstarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform Lead Joanna Lawson is a mentor with Techstars. Co-invested in Go Tradie alongside Techstars. Techstars provides accelerator program access and mentorship network for portfolio companies.
• StartmateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform Lead Joanna Lawson is a mentor with Startmate, Australia's leading accelerator program. Startmate provides network access and mentorship for Australian startups.
• Aussie AngelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo Ventures operates its community syndicate through the Aussie Angels platform. Aussie Angels provides pooled syndicate infrastructure for angel investing in Australia and APAC, enabling operators and angels to co-invest alongside the fund.
• LinktreecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnthony Zaccaria and Alex Zaccaria (Linktree founders) serve as Venture Partners, sharing experience, advice, and network from building Linktree from zero to global scale.
• EucalyptuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharlie Gearside (formerly Eucalyptus) and Alexey Mitko (co-founded Eucalyptus) serve as Venture Partners. Eucalyptus grew to 500+ people, and founders share that operational experience with portfolio.
• Mr YumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKerry Osborn (me&u, formerly Mr Yum) serves as Venture Partner, contributing restaurant/retail tech experience to portfolio companies.
• Ambience HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMike Ng (Ambience) serves as Venture Partner, contributing healthcare AI experience. Ambience has raised significant funding as a category-defining company in medical dictation.
• ForageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTom Brunskill (Forage) serves as Venture Partner, contributing payments/infrastructure experience to portfolio companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Airtree Ventures: One of Australia's most established early-stage VCs, writing checks across pre-seed through Series A in Australian software companies. A direct co-investment partner of Co Ventures (Build Club, Handle) and a frequent follow-on lead, making it closely comparable in stage and deal-flow overlap.
• Macdoch Ventures: Australian early-stage VC backing founders from pre-seed through Series A, with a strong focus on technology-enabled businesses. A co-investment partner of Co Ventures in Flagship, and comparable in stage focus and ANZ founder base.
• Blackbird Ventures: One of Australia's most prominent early-stage VCs, operating across pre-seed (via the Giants Program) through growth. Blackbird is both a direct co-investment partner for Co Ventures and a follow-on lead investor in many of the same portfolio companies (Adora, Build Club, Cartesian, Cotiss, Marloo, Handle), making it the closest comparable in terms of stage focus and founder base.
• Startmate: Australia's leading accelerator-style pre-seed and seed program, providing initial capital, mentorship, and a network for early Australian and New Zealand founders. Directly comparable in mission, founder base, and stage, and a partner via shared mentors (Co Ventures' Platform Lead mentors at Startmate).
• Archangel Ventures: Australian early-stage VC focused on deep tech and biotech, with growing activity in software-led ANZ pre-seed deals. A co-investment partner of Co Ventures in Lyngo and operating in the same Australian pre-seed market, though with a more sector-tilted thesis.
• Tidal Ventures: Australian seed-led venture capital firm backing founders from seed through Series A in software and consumer companies. Comparable in stage orientation and Australian focus, and a co-investor with Co Ventures in Flagship alongside Coreline, Veridical Ventures, and Macdoch Ventures.
• Skalata Ventures: Australian venture studio and pre-seed/seed fund focused on supporting founders from idea through to Series A. Comparable in stage, geography, and founder-support orientation, and a co-investor with Co Ventures in Lyngo.
• Icehouse Ventures: New Zealand-headquartered early-stage VC supporting founders from pre-seed through Series A in ANZ. Comparable in pre-seed, founder-led thesis and a co-investor with Co Ventures in Cotiss, sharing the same trans-Tasman founder base.
• Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator running residency-style pre-seed programs that source and fund founders at the idea stage. Directly comparable in pre-seed, founder-led model and has co-invested alongside Co Ventures (e.g., Lyngo), serving a similar Australian founder cohort.

Broad incumbents

• Square Peg Capital: One of Australia's largest and most established venture capital firms, investing across seed, Series A, and growth in ANZ and Israel. While it does not focus exclusively on pre-seed, it operates in the same Australian software ecosystem and provides a downstream capital source for Co Ventures' portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/co-ventures-vc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments9 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Co Ventures