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
Multigenerational living is moving mainstream: how agents, developers and lenders can monetise the shift
Australia’s quiet housing revolution is no longer a niche lifestyle choice; it’s a structural shift in demand that will reward property businesses prepared to redesign product, pricing and ...Read more
Property
Prestige property, precision choice: a case study in selecting the right agent when millions are at stake
In Australia’s top-tier housing market, the wrong agent choice can quietly erase six figures from a sale. Privacy protocols, discreet buyer networks and data-savvy marketing have become the new ...Read more
Property
From ‘ugly’ to alpha: Turning outdated Australian homes into high‑yield assets
In a tight listings market, outdated properties aren’t dead weight—they’re mispriced optionality. Agencies and vendors that industrialise light‑touch refurbishment, behavioural marketing and ...Read more
Property
The 2026 Investor Playbook: Rental Tailwinds, City Divergence and the Tech-Led Operations Advantage
Rental income looks set to do the heavy lifting for investors in 2026, but not every capital city will move in lockstep. Industry veteran John McGrath tips a stronger rental year and a Melbourne ...Read more
Property
Prestige property, precision choice: Data, discretion and regulation now decide million‑dollar outcomes
In Australia’s prestige housing market, the selling agent is no longer a mere intermediary but a strategic supplier whose choices can shift outcomes by seven figures. The differentiators are no longer ...Read more
Property
The new battleground in housing: how first-home buyer policy is reshaping Australia’s entry-level market
Government-backed guarantees and stamp duty concessions have pushed fresh demand into the bottom of Australia’s price ladder, lifting values and compressing selling times in entry-level segmentsRead more
Property
Property 2026: Why measured moves will beat the market
In 2026, Australian property success will be won by investors who privilege resilience over velocity. The market is fragmenting by suburb and asset type, financing conditions remain tight, and ...Read more
Property
Entry-level property is winning: How first home buyer programs are reshaping demand, pricing power and strategy
Lower-priced homes are appreciating faster as government support channels demand into the entry tier. For developers, lenders and marketers, this is not a blip—it’s a structural reweighting of demand ...Read more
Property
Multigenerational living is moving mainstream: how agents, developers and lenders can monetise the shift
Australia’s quiet housing revolution is no longer a niche lifestyle choice; it’s a structural shift in demand that will reward property businesses prepared to redesign product, pricing and ...Read more
Property
Prestige property, precision choice: a case study in selecting the right agent when millions are at stake
In Australia’s top-tier housing market, the wrong agent choice can quietly erase six figures from a sale. Privacy protocols, discreet buyer networks and data-savvy marketing have become the new ...Read more
Property
From ‘ugly’ to alpha: Turning outdated Australian homes into high‑yield assets
In a tight listings market, outdated properties aren’t dead weight—they’re mispriced optionality. Agencies and vendors that industrialise light‑touch refurbishment, behavioural marketing and ...Read more
Property
The 2026 Investor Playbook: Rental Tailwinds, City Divergence and the Tech-Led Operations Advantage
Rental income looks set to do the heavy lifting for investors in 2026, but not every capital city will move in lockstep. Industry veteran John McGrath tips a stronger rental year and a Melbourne ...Read more
Property
Prestige property, precision choice: Data, discretion and regulation now decide million‑dollar outcomes
In Australia’s prestige housing market, the selling agent is no longer a mere intermediary but a strategic supplier whose choices can shift outcomes by seven figures. The differentiators are no longer ...Read more
Property
The new battleground in housing: how first-home buyer policy is reshaping Australia’s entry-level market
Government-backed guarantees and stamp duty concessions have pushed fresh demand into the bottom of Australia’s price ladder, lifting values and compressing selling times in entry-level segmentsRead more
Property
Property 2026: Why measured moves will beat the market
In 2026, Australian property success will be won by investors who privilege resilience over velocity. The market is fragmenting by suburb and asset type, financing conditions remain tight, and ...Read more
Property
Entry-level property is winning: How first home buyer programs are reshaping demand, pricing power and strategy
Lower-priced homes are appreciating faster as government support channels demand into the entry tier. For developers, lenders and marketers, this is not a blip—it’s a structural reweighting of demand ...Read more
