Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Jack Qi
Do Budget changes to family trusts mean they’re dead for tech founders?
Skip to content Article Do Budget changes to family trusts mean they’re dead for tech founders? 8 October 2026 | Minutes to read: 5 This article was originally published in Startup Daily For as long as founders remember, the default answer to ‘how should I hold my founder shares?’ has almost always been a family trust. It was flexible, it offered some asset protection, and it let you decide each year who received income and capital gains.
Do Budget changes to family trusts mean they’re dead for tech founders? What you need to know
It was flexible, it offered some asset protection, and it let you decide each year who received income and capital gains. For a founder whose company might be worth nothing or might be worth nine figures, that optionality was hard to beat. That default is no more. In line with its May Budget announcement, the Federal Government has released draft legislation for a 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts.
The changes to CGT are still problematic, but here’s why it’s not the end of the world for startups
When it comes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT), the amount of noise and outrage right now is somewhat justified, but it’s important to look at things objectively so a balanced and well-informed opinion can be made about how this affects the tech sector in Australia, and what founders should actually do about it. So let’s cut through the noise and look at where things currently stand with CGT.
Why Budget 2026 could fundamentally reshape startup tax planning
The biggest talking point in the lead up to the budget has been the removal of the CGT discount. From 1 July 2027, the 50% CGT discount will be replaced by cost base indexation for assets held for at least 12 months. A detail that people have not been expecting, however, is that a 30% minimum tax rate will be imposed on capital gains, regardless of the taxpayer’s marginal tax rate for the income year.
Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD): Implications for Australian startup and scaleup funding
Brief the Chief | Navigating Fringe Benefit Taxes Webinar | Save your spot - 26 March Skip to content Article Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD): Implications for Australian startup and scaleup funding 23 March 2026 | Minutes to read: 4 This article was originally published in Startup Daily The Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) by an independent panel chaired by Tesla chair Robyn Denholm has released its long-awaited final report titled “Ambitious Australia – Strategic...
What you need to know about the Australian government’s R&D review
Alex is a Partner in William Buck’s Tax Services division, working with a range of private and public companies in the technology sector, including companies that specialise in SaaS, Fintech, Data Science, Biotech, Regtech, IoT and Advanced Manufacturing. Alex has the knowledge and expertise to advise on complex tax issues including the R&D Tax Incentive, Export Market Development Grant, employee share schemes, tax consolidation and corporate restructures.
Tax issues Australian scaleups must know when going global
Going global is often seen as a rite of passage for many Australian scaleups as it can provide the company with access to new overseas markets, a broader pool of investors or the ability to attract and retain key talent from around the world. During this period of growth, founders often focus on product-market fit, customer acquisition, and operational challenges. While these priorities are vital, one area that too often sits in the ‘deal with it later’ basket is international taxation.
Funding not fairy tales: Why the NSW Innovation Blueprint is a pile of magic beans
Looking at the NSW Innovation Blueprint 2035, it’s disappointing to see how disconnected it is from the day-to-day realities of being an innovator. Just like magic beans – big on promises, but scant on mechanisms. Without knowing the responsible government executives, the funding, the timelines and specific actions, it’s very hard to believe it will live up to its name.
Strong Room AI's administrators press ahead with sale amid court battle over $10 million
Creditors of Strong Room AI will get a chance to stare at the financial entrails of the drugs managements startup next week, when administrators for the business hold its first creditor’s meeting on April 8.
Data analytics startup WhyHive is shutting down 2 years after raising $600,000
The founders of data analytics startup WhyHive are swarming at the end of the month, shutting down on April 28. The Melbourne startup, which described itself as “like Canva, but for data”, let users can upload surveys, sales, product reviews or spreadsheets and other data sources to the WhyHive app and create a quick and easy analysis with just a few clicks. Cofounders T Guthrie and Matt Cohen came up with the idea while running a social enterprise data consultancy together.
'The investor’s role is to build, not to destroy': StrongRoom AI's Seed backer takes aim at EVP amid pending legal battle over $10.4 million
A UK investor with close ties to one of the defendants in legal action against besieged medtech startup StrongRoom AI has come out swinging against Sydney VC EVP, which is fighting to get its $10.4 million investment back. Aaron Michelin, a director of Tyson & Blake – named after founder Chris Tornblom’s dogs – has flagged potential legal action against EVP, which backed StrongRoom with $10.4 million in February, leading a $17 million raise for the eight-year-old medicines management startup.
The NSW Innovation Blueprint is finally here - and now the government needs to act
The NSW Innovation Blueprint finally dropped on Monday – 18 months after innovation, science and technology minister Anoulack Chanthivong first announced it in September 2023. And if you’re wondering if it was worth the wait, the feeling is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Minns government needs to get cracking, and quickly. It has lost ground to make up after such a long wait. Accompanying reports confirm that fact.
Rough seas ahead for R&D tax incentives?
There is a prevailing belief that the 2025-2026 Federal Budget was a non-event for the majority of us in the Australian tech sector. But besides being a missed opportunity to move the dial for Australian founders, are there any risks to watch out for in the Budget? Well, yes, actually. In our view, one particular aspect of the Budget could have significant and long-lasting repercussions for many Australian businesses, regardless of their size or industry.
Gen Zs are taking a mid-career 'micro-retirement' to prevent burnout, but there's still a cost
For young people in the early stages of their career, the idea of waiting 40 years or more to retire might feel like a marathon. For those already feeling burnt out, it can be an excruciating thought. So – why not take a break or two somewhere along the way? The concept of “micro-retirement” is having a moment. While the term appears to have been first coined in 2007, it’s recently found new popularity on social media.
There are signs in the Budget of increased scrutiny for startups using the R&D tax incentive
There is a prevailing belief that the 2025-2026 Federal Budget was a non-event for the majority of us in the Australian tech sector. But besides being a missed opportunity to move the dial for Australian founders, are there any risks to watch out for in the Budget? Well yes, actually. In our view, one particular aspect of the Budget could have deep and long-running repercussions for many Australian businesses, regardless of size and industry.
Veteran Canberra quantum cybersecurity firm cracks $20 million
The Labor government’s flagship National Reconstruction Fund is deploying 0.1% of its $15 billion war chest to fund a $20 million raise for 20-year-old Canberra cybersecurity firm QuintessenceLabs. The $15 million from the independent NRF comes as the government moves into caretaker mode ahead of a federal election on May 3.
ASX-listed accelerator Scalare Partners buys VC marketplace Inhouse Ventures for $1.73 million
ASX-listed startup accelerator and investor Scalare Partners (ASX: SCP) has made its third acquisition, snapping up VC matching marketplace Inhouse Ventures in a deal worth up to $1.73 million. Scalare initially invested in the marketplace in November 2023, taking a 20.7% stake. Venture studio Shadowboxer also backed Inhouse, which was founded by CEO Elliot Spiegel in June 2022.
The quantum computing startup already making millions of light-powered chips
American quantum computing startup PsiQuantum announced that it has cracked a significant puzzle on the road to making the technology useful: manufacturing quantum chips in useful quantities. PsiQuantum burst out of “stealth mode” in 2021 with a blockbuster funding announcement. It followed up with two more last year. The company uses so-called “photonic” quantum computing, which has long been dismissed as impractical.
Private equity firm Quadrant takes a $50-100 million slice of startup veteran LegalVision
Sydney investment firm Quadrant Private Equity has made another foray into startups, with plans to take an equity stake in Legal Vision. The size of the investment was not disclosed, but it’s the first from the Sydney PE firm’s latest and 10th fund, the $660m Quadrant Growth Fund 3, which looks to invest between $50 million to $100 million in a business.
eCommerce platform Amp raises $20 million and goes shopping
An AI-driven eCommerce software platform with the same name as one of the country’s best known Australian financial services companies has raised $20 million. Amp, founded in 2022, has been backed by existing investor, Singapore’s Openspace Ventures, with Sydney’s One Ventures also hitting the EFT button.
The Australian innovation in Google's new quantum chip
A quantum computing innovation developed by researchers at the University of Sydney is being used in Google’s latest quantum chip, called Willow. The processor, which was unveiled by the tech giant in December, utilises a breakthrough in error correction which can improve the performance of quantum devices.
How to create a tax-effective exit for your startup
For founders, the day that someone comes to buy their startup can be bittersweet. Whilst many startups and scaleups forge their own independent path by continuing to grow their market share, for others, a successful exit will be a huge validation of what the whole team has built over the years. Given the hard work and financial investment that goes into building a startup, it will be critical to maximise the value for shareholders in an exit.
REPORT: Deep tech is trying to thrive, but investors and corporates are twiddling their thumbs
Australian deep tech inventors have given the world wifi, Google Maps, cochlear implants and the goon bag, but a new report into the state of play for the sector suggests that while there’s no shortage of ideas, that potential is being stifled by limited support from venture capital, industry, and government. Pioneering deep tech incubator Cicada Innovations has taken a deep dive into what’s going on as it gears up for the annual Tech23 showcase later this year.
R&D tax incentive landmines and how to steer clear of them
Treasurer of South Australia Stephen was appointed Treasurer in the Labor Government in March 2022. Stephen was first elected as the Member for Lee in the South Australian Parliament in 2014. In 2014, he was appointed the Minister for Transport & Infrastructure, and in 2016 added the portfolios of Housing and Urban Development.
Sydney startup Vow is about to serve its cultured quail protein in a Singapore restaurant
“You’re not going to change consumer behaviour by offering them something which is a similar enough version of what they already consume,” he argues “We believe the only way for us to change our behaviour is to offer new foods that we also choose selfishly in occasions where we would otherwise eat meat.
ATO analysis reveals how tough it is to run a tech business in Australia, with Apple, Google and others struggling to make a buck
Accounting tricks are helping Big Tech firms avoid paying tax on up to 96.6% of their Australian income, according to a new analysis of Australian Taxation Office (ATO) figures that showed Apple was the worst offender when it came to corporate tax minimisation.
Australian startups are targeting overseas government contracts for growth – here's what you need to know to succeed
With overseas markets such as America, Europe and Asia providing substantial growth opportunities for Australian startups, overseas government tender opportunities are becoming a popular choice for founders to penetrate new markets and grow. There have been many stories of mixed success – from big contract wins to proposals being binned from the outset. In each stories the many of the same challenges seem to appear. Let’s explore how to overcome them.
The retailer that bought luxury fashion startup The Daily Edited from voluntary administrators 15 months ago went into VA today
Monogramed luxury fashion startup The Daily Edited (tde.) is back in voluntary administration, just 15 months after the brand was sold to former Myer boss Bernie Brookes. Marquee Retail Group (MRG), which scored tde.’s flagship store in Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building, when it bought the 10-year-old business in December 2022, handed the books to administrators Mackay Goodwin today, blaming a slowdown in sales over the Christmas shopping season.
Disability tech accelerator and investor Remarkable goes global, backing US catheter startup's $9.1 million Seed round
Australian disability tech accelerator Remarkable has backed a US med tech startup reducing urinary tract infection (UTI) risks in a US$6 million (A$9.1m) Seed raise. The round for New York medtech startup Aurie, was led by existing investor Lakehouse Ventures.
Kiwi sea crimes startup Starboard Maritime Intelligence floats $4.6 million seed funding round
Starboard has been developed alongside both government and private users in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific to tackle illegal fishing, transnational crime, prevent biosecurity outbreaks, and protect at-sea assets. The funding will be used to strengthen Starboard’s support for a growing number of analysts in the Pacific region, as well as expanding their go-to-market function to increase their impact in other countries and industry verticals.
Antler Investor Memo Series: Unseen makes data intelligence easy to access and use, starting with real estate Antler Investor Memo Series: Unseen is making sophisticated data intelligence easy to access and use, starting with the real estate industry
Early stage investment company Antler Australia recently backed a new cohort of startups as part of its ongoing program to build great local tech companies. Startup Daily is sharing the details of each venture in the “Antler Investor Memos” series, which is designed to give you a quick, sharp understanding of the startups and people involved, with many seeking follow up capital following Antler’s initial pre-seed investment.
How to steer clear of R&D tax incentive landmines when you're a startup
(Note: the following are general observations only and do not constitute tax advice) News this week of Macquarie Bank writing off its $46 million investment into software company Plutora has once again brought to light the devastating impact that denied R&D tax incentive claims can have on a startup.
Here’s how to create a tax-effective exit for your startup's shareholders – and why it starts today
For founders, the day that someone comes to buy their startup can be bittersweet. Whilst many startups and scaleups forge their own independent path by continuing to grow their market share, for others, a successful exit will be a huge validation of what the whole team has built over the years. Given the hard work and financial investment that goes into building a startup, it will be critical to maximise the value for shareholders in an exit.
William Buck's Jack Qi gives the Budget a C minus for startup founders: what you need to know
Federal Budgets are always fun. Throw in accusations of election year pork-barrelling, the need to repay a huge public sector debt pile, war in Europe, the spectre of rising living costs and massive labour market shortages, we suddenly get a very messy picture indeed. It’s hard to know where to look. Last year we rated the Federal Budget a “B-minus”. From the perspective of Australian startups, does this Budget fare any better? In a word – No. Here’s our take.
Everything you need to know about NFTs and tax liabilities in Australia
This article is intended to provide a high-level overview of some of the tax considerations to be aware of when transacting with NFTs. This is general advice only and does not take into account individual circumstances, so reach out to our team for further information. What are NFTs? First launched on the Ethereum blockchain back in 2015, an NFT is a unit of data stored on a digital ledger.
THE WAY FORWARD: A practical guide to what the tech sector should do next after a B- budget
Now that the dust is starting settle around what is one of the most closely-followed Federal Budgets in recent memory, some key themes are starting to emerge as invariably the different sectors of the Australian economy fall into either the “Winners” or “Losers” camps. For the Australian tech sector, this Budget was a missed opportunity – a solid “B minus” where no major backwards step was taken, but then no great leap forward either.
Tax experts William Buck explain everything startups need to know about the JobKeeper 'alternative test' to qualify
Ever since the Australian Government announced the JobKeeper measures, many startups have been eagerly awaiting details of the “alternative test”. Since startups can scale rapidly, many of them are unable to rely on the “basic test” demonstrating a 30% decline in turnover in a particular month or quarter this year to the same month or quarter last year. A year-on-year comparison just doesn’t make sense for many startups.
What startups need to do with their finances to survive the coronavirus
The coronavirus has dealt the world a one-two punch of a deadly health crisis combined with a devastating economic blow. Panic is setting in as hospital systems around the world are placed under tremendous strain whilst economies grind to a halt as shutdowns set in. No business is immune, and despite swift and large stimulus being planned by the government, whether a startup survives largely hinges on its own actions in responding to this temporary crisis.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Jack
Contact Jack, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack