South Asian Australian founders have raised at least $1.6 billion in investment through to 2025, in fields as varied as artificial intelligence, mental healthcare, and sustainability, according to a new report celebrating the local startup sector.
The figure demonstrates the growing influence of South Asian founders, says Sandeep Varma, whose SAARI Collective on Thursday published a list of 101 leading figures across the community.
But more can be done to support those building innovative companies and connecting them to the world, Varma says, calling for increased investor involvement and the recognition of forward-thinking women entrepreneurs.
The 2025 South Asian Australian Startup Founders List highlights figures like Airtrunk founder Robin Khuda, Deputy co-founder Ashik Ahmed, and Secure Code Warrior co-founder Jaap Karan Singh, through to the founders of emerging businesses, like Sonia Kaurah of Tala Thrive.
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The 101 founders on the list have collectively raised $1 billion in investment, but the full cohort of 240 businesses that participated raised $1.6 billion, $400 million more than SAARI Collective’s last impact report in 2023.
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SAARI Collective marked the launch of the list and its latest report in Sydney, where entrepreneurs and investors gathered to celebrate the contributions and potential of South Asian founders in Australia.
“It was actually the biggest gathering of South Asian founders and investors that’s ever been in Australia,” Varma told SmartCompany.
“Most people couldn’t speak to the fact that kind of room has ever existed before, or they’ve been in one like that.”
The event was a chance for many attendees to connect, share stories, and celebrate what many know as jugaad, a Hindi term for savvy adaptation and improvisation in the face of hardship.
“That ability to break free from a pattern, look at things beyond that, and bring a sense of considered logical judgment, are really strengths of South Asian founders,” said the SAARI Collective founder.
Founders from South Asian migrant backgrounds are especially capable of linking businesses built in Australia to the world, Varma said, providing avenues for growth outside predominantly English-speaking markets like the US and Europe.
The report and the gathering also provided an opportunity to reflect on the barriers facing many South Asian founders.
VC funds like Artesian, Antler and Startmate earned plaudits for funding startups led by South Asian founders, but participants said the Australian startup scene remains risk-averse compared to American and Asian funds.
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The founders list counts 29 women founders, who have collectively raised $50 million for their businesses, but the report heard many women in the space feel they must over-deliver just to be recognised by investors and the media.
Some 60% of subjects who took part said they had faced some form of discrimination or racism, and the shocking anti-immigration protests held in Australian cities through 2025 also rippled through the report.
“It’s not easy,” said Varma.
“We know there’s racism out there. We know there’s discrimination in various sectors. We know the tech sector is working on that, but there’s still a lot of systems that aren’t designed in that way, and there are barriers and biases that exist.”
“But I think South Asian founders are taking those experiences and channeling them back into building better,” he continued.
“The ultimate trophy is building a really successful business, and they’re motivated by that, and they’re driven by that.
“I think that sense of resilience was really powerful in everyone we spoke to at the event last night and in the report.”
You can access the full 2025 list and report here.
