Invest
Why wealthy Aussies are turning to start-up investments
They have the money, but do they have the know-how?
Why wealthy Aussies are turning to start-up investments
High-net-worth (HNW) investors, defined as investors with investable assets of at least $1 million, are looking to invest in start-ups, often due to their personal connections with the business type, specialist banking group Investec has said.
“A lot of these [HNW] families are interested in the space,” Investec’s David Phillips told media this week.
“They obviously all made their money – particularly if they're still first generation or second generation wealth – and so this is something they'd like to allocate some capital to.”
However, HNW investors may not be “geared up” as a family office to undertake the research and management needed to invest in start-ups, he added.
“They're probably … geared up to make sure that they have some money with the right listed equities managers, fixed income here and some property there. In fact, I'd say most family offices can do property themselves anyway, and property is a space where they will generally be entrepreneurial,” Mr Phillips said.
He said HNW investors are turning to companies like Investec for their institutional approach to investing, and also for validations.
“We know a lot of HNWs who are family offices and they like investing but they don't really have the skill sets that we have,” Investec’s Hein Vogel added.
“A lot of HNWs might have capital and a few friends and connections, but they don't really do the thorough analysis that we do, so those HNWs like partnering with us. So, we are able to find a deal, give them some feedback and we'll invest together. It's very much a relationship approach.”
A changing psyche
Commenting on the changing start-up landscape, Mr Vogel said that in addition to a more friendly policy and regulation arena, start-ups are also being fuelled by a “psyche that’s been changing”.
“There’s no doubt that the support is there and the government has put some tax-efficient legislation in place to support start-ups. I'm not sure that they're telling enough people about it, but it's very attractive for those types of investors that are in there,” he said.
“In terms of major changes, I think there's a changing psychology for talent. A lot of people nowadays finish university and they don't dream of being a career banker or lawyer or accountant; they actually dream about stepping into a business and starting up something.
“Lots of guys have done very well by choosing that route, so I think there's a bit of a thematic there. It's a psyche that's been changing.”
Mr Phillips echoed this view, arguing that Australians are more prepared to “have a go”.
“To actually have the courage as a 20-year-old to step out is a huge step and I think we see way more of it now … than we have in the last two generations,” he said.
RELATED ARTICLES
Property
ANZ’s mortgage growth, profit slump: why volume without margin won’t pay the dividends
ANZ lifted home-lending volumes, yet profits fell under the weight of regulatory and restructuring costs—an object lesson in the futility of growth that doesn’t convert to margin and productivityRead more
Property
Rate pause, busy summer: where smart capital wins in Australia’s property market
With the Reserve Bank holding rates steady, the summer selling season arrives with rare predictability. Liquidity will lift, serviceability stops getting worse, and sentiment stabilises. The ...Read more
Property
The 2026 Suburb Thesis: A case study in turning trend lists into investable strategy
A new crop of ‘suburbs to watch’ is hitting headlines, but translating shortlist hype into bottom-line results requires more than a map and a mood. This case study shows how a disciplined, data-led ...Read more
Property
From signals to settlements: A case study in turning property insight into investable action
Investor confidence is rebuilding, first-home buyers are edging back, and governments are pushing supply — yet most property players still struggle to convert signals into decisive movesRead more
Property
Australia’s rental choke point: why record-low vacancies are now a boardroom issue
A tightening rental market is no longer just a housing story—it’s a macro risk, a labour challenge and a strategic opening for capital. With vacancies near historic lows and rents still rising, ...Read more
Property
Rents are rewriting the inflation playbook: what record‑low vacancies mean for Australian business
Australia’s rental market is so tight that housing costs are now a primary transmission channel for inflation and interest rates. This isn’t just a property story; it’s a business risk story—affecting ...Read more
Property
Off-market real estate is going mainstream — and changing the rules of dealmaking
With public listings tight and sales still climbing, Australia’s investors are shifting to off-market channels that reward speed, networks and data advantage. The playbook is closer to private equity ...Read more
Property
Australia’s rental squeeze is now a business problem: inflation, capacity and the new growth calculus
Record-low rental vacancies are no longer just a social headline – they’re reshaping cost structures, wage dynamics and capital allocation across corporate Australia. With economists warning of a ...Read more
Property
ANZ’s mortgage growth, profit slump: why volume without margin won’t pay the dividends
ANZ lifted home-lending volumes, yet profits fell under the weight of regulatory and restructuring costs—an object lesson in the futility of growth that doesn’t convert to margin and productivityRead more
Property
Rate pause, busy summer: where smart capital wins in Australia’s property market
With the Reserve Bank holding rates steady, the summer selling season arrives with rare predictability. Liquidity will lift, serviceability stops getting worse, and sentiment stabilises. The ...Read more
Property
The 2026 Suburb Thesis: A case study in turning trend lists into investable strategy
A new crop of ‘suburbs to watch’ is hitting headlines, but translating shortlist hype into bottom-line results requires more than a map and a mood. This case study shows how a disciplined, data-led ...Read more
Property
From signals to settlements: A case study in turning property insight into investable action
Investor confidence is rebuilding, first-home buyers are edging back, and governments are pushing supply — yet most property players still struggle to convert signals into decisive movesRead more
Property
Australia’s rental choke point: why record-low vacancies are now a boardroom issue
A tightening rental market is no longer just a housing story—it’s a macro risk, a labour challenge and a strategic opening for capital. With vacancies near historic lows and rents still rising, ...Read more
Property
Rents are rewriting the inflation playbook: what record‑low vacancies mean for Australian business
Australia’s rental market is so tight that housing costs are now a primary transmission channel for inflation and interest rates. This isn’t just a property story; it’s a business risk story—affecting ...Read more
Property
Off-market real estate is going mainstream — and changing the rules of dealmaking
With public listings tight and sales still climbing, Australia’s investors are shifting to off-market channels that reward speed, networks and data advantage. The playbook is closer to private equity ...Read more
Property
Australia’s rental squeeze is now a business problem: inflation, capacity and the new growth calculus
Record-low rental vacancies are no longer just a social headline – they’re reshaping cost structures, wage dynamics and capital allocation across corporate Australia. With economists warning of a ...Read more
