Sydney's Reinventure funding occupies a distinctive niche: a fintech specialist venture fund anchored by one of Australia's big banks. Co-founded in 2014 by Simon Cant and Danny Gilligan, Reinventure Group operates as Westpac Banking Corporation's largest-limited-partner venture arm — independently run, but designed to give founders a strategic relationship with the bank. The firm calls its model Founder-First Corporate Venture Capital.
Thesis, sectors and stage
Reinventure invests in scalable early businesses across two verticals: technology for the financial services industry, and adjacent industries with embedded financial services. Its mandate favours opportunities where a relationship with Westpac can offer a significant advantage, with an Asia-Pacific focus. Key themes span data, payments, lending, digital identity, middleware, regtech, AI and security — plus embedded finance in property, HR, food and healthcare. The firm looks for strong network effects, disruptive business models, proven traction and proven entrepreneurs, investing from seed through to Series A and up.
Fund size and cheque size
The firm reports $150 million in committed funds, structured as three $50 million funds — all supported by Westpac. The firm's cheque size is not publicly disclosed; neither the firm nor credible press coverage states a range, so we have not invented one. What is confirmed is a track record of leading and participating in material early rounds, including a $12 million round led for Open Agent.
Notable portfolio companies
Firm-site-confirmed names include Indonesian BNPL leader Kredivo, fraud and identity platform FrankieOne, payments startup Mx51, digital mortgage lender Athena, blockchain gaming company Immutable, estate-planning platform Safewill, Dataro, Instant and Forte. Earlier coverage adds SocietyOne, Nabo, Zetaris, BrickX, Doshii and HyperAnna — and the fund was an early backer of Coinbase's Series C in 2015. Confirmed exits include Basiq (acquired 2023), SocietyOne (2021), Hyper Anna (2021) and FlareHR (2022).
Key partners
The team is led by co-founder and managing partner Simon Cant, co-founder and managing director Danny Gilligan, and general partner Kara Frederick. Reinventure runs no public accelerator or formal programme beyond its newsletter and industry engagement — the founder relationship with Westpac's customer base and distribution is the platform.
How to apply for funding
Reinventure has no web application form. Its stated route: "The best way to connect with us is through referrals or engagement in the communities we are involved in." If you cannot connect that way, email your idea and pitch deck to [email protected] and the team will review it. A warm introduction through the fintech community — or a demonstrable angle where a banking partnership would accelerate your company — will strengthen your case.
Why it matters for founders
Reinventure funding is the rare fintech-specialist door where a strategic bank relationship comes with the capital. If your startup's growth would be materially accelerated by a partnership with Westpac — payments, lending, identity or embedded finance — this is the fund that exists specifically for that scenario, with $150 million committed behind it.