A week of record highs for the ASX, a billion-dollar rebound in startup funding, and nationwide AI awareness events marked Australia’s vibrant tech and business landscape for October 20–26, 2025.
Australia’s tech and business scene showed remarkable momentum this week, blending digital inclusion initiatives with strong capital markets and a powerful comeback for startups. Here’s what shaped the week of October 20–26, 2025.
🧠 Major Events & Announcements
Get Online Week 2025 – Building AI Confidence Across Australia Hundreds of free community events were held across the country during Get Online Week 2025, aimed at improving Australians’ digital confidence and awareness of artificial intelligence. New research revealed that nearly one in three Australians often can’t tell the difference between AI-generated and real content. While many expressed concerns about scams and misinformation, enthusiasm was strong for learning how to use AI more safely and productively.
ASX Performance & US–Australia Investment Deal The ASX200 reached a record high mid-week, powered by optimism over a major US–Australia investment deal focused on critical minerals—key for batteries, renewable energy, and tech exports. This collaboration sent positive signals through the mining and technology sectors, strengthening ties between the two economies and reinforcing Australia’s role in the global clean tech supply chain.
Tech Startup Funding Rebounds Above $1 Billion Australia’s tech startup ecosystem roared back to life in Q3 2025, raising more than $1 billion—the strongest quarter of the year. Leading the charge was Firmus Technologies, which secured a landmark $330 million round to become the nation’s newest unicorn, highlighting deep tech and AI’s dominance in the funding landscape. However, a persistent issue remained: women-led startups received just 11% of total capital, reflecting the need for more inclusive funding practices.
📈 Sector & Stock Market Trends
ASX Indices Surge Past 9,000 Points The S&P/ASX200 climbed above the 9,000 mark during the week, showing resilience despite inflation worries and weak jobs data. Financial stocks led the charge, buoyed by global deals and optimism following the Trump–Albanese discussions on trade and technology collaboration.
Hot Sectors: Mining and Tech Mining—particularly rare earths and critical minerals—and technology continued to outperform, with investors flocking to small-cap and innovation-driven companies. The momentum reflected strong confidence in Australia’s emerging innovation clusters and export-oriented tech strategies.
🏢 Key Company & Industry Moves
Corporate Headlines
- Litchfield Minerals and Australian Strategic Minerals launched major capital raises to expand operations in the critical minerals space.
- Broker upgrades rolled in for Aussie Broadband, Adore Beauty, Computershare, Jumbo Interactive, and Northern Star Resources, signaling investor optimism in both digital and resources sectors.
Digital Transformation & Cybersecurity As scams become increasingly sophisticated, companies and communities doubled down on cyber resilience and AI-driven fraud detection. Organizations such as Good Things Australia highlighted the importance of digital safety skills, while leading tech firms continued to invest in protecting consumers and businesses from emerging AI-related threats.
⚙️ Notable Trends & Challenges
1. AI & Digital Safety Awareness The blending of AI and daily digital life has made it harder for Australians to identify scams and misinformation. This has triggered a surge in national digital literacy campaigns aimed at improving public trust and safe AI adoption.
2. The Gender Funding Gap Persists Despite record-breaking startup activity, female and mixed-gender founding teams continued to face funding disparities, capturing the smallest share of venture capital in six quarters. Addressing this imbalance is becoming a growing priority across Australia’s innovation ecosystem.
💡 The Big Picture
This week underscored a defining moment for Australia’s tech economy: strong market confidence, a booming AI-driven startup scene, and an urgent call for digital upskilling. From grassroots community workshops to billion-dollar investment deals, the momentum suggests that Australia is gearing up not just to participate—but to lead—in the next wave of global digital transformation.