LinkedIn Top Startups 2022: The 25 Australian companies on the rise

The 2022 LinkedIn Top Startups list reveals 25 emerging Australian companies on the rise. Backed by unique LinkedIn data measuring different elements of growth and demand, the list reveals companies like Immutable , me&u and Driva that you should be paying attention to.?

Australia is fast becoming the poster child of the startup world, producing world class firms such as Atlassian, Canva and more. Almost 2.5% of the world's tech unicorns — a privately held company valued at more than $1 billion — have been founded in Australia, even though the country's global share of GDP is just 1.6%. It's prompted hopes Australia could overtake Singapore, China and Japan to become the main tech hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

But while Australia's economy may be faring better than those of Europe and the US, according to a recent OECD report, an environment of rising interest rates, rampant inflation and global economic headwinds has created a challenging landscape for young companies to get investment and grow quickly — pushing them to take a deeper look at expansion plans and ensure they're hiring the right talent.

Our 5th annual LinkedIn Top Startups list is the resource to find the startups to pay attention to right now, featuring 25 Australian companies that are rising to the challenges of the moment and continuing to innovate and gain attention in 2022.

To compile the list, we looked at LinkedIn data across four pillars: employee growth; job seeker interest; member engagement within the company and its employees; and how well these startups pulled talent from our flagship LinkedIn Top Companies list. (You can learn more about our methodology and eligibility requirements at the bottom of this article.)

This list is ultimately meant to be a resource for job seekers excited by the opportunity to innovate, solve big problems and grow their skills. If joining a startup is the right fit for you, check out which skills and job functions are in demand at each company —?and view the linked LinkedIn Learning courses to study up. If you see a company that sparks your interest, take a look at who you may know and turn on job alerts to stay on top of future opportunities.?

Here are this year’s 25 Top Startups in Australia — and join the conversation using #linkedintopstartups

Full-time headcount: 300 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2018 | Most common skills: Development Tools, Web Development, Leadership | Largest job functions: Engineering, Arts and Design, Human Resources | What they do: Our top startup this year is a crypto-based web game development and publishing business, which became a unicorn in March 2022. While Immutable’s name literally means “unchanging”, it is nevertheless on a mission to advance the coming generation of web games, through enabling players to own their in-game items by means of NFTs publicly recorded in blockchain.

See jobs at Immutable | See people you may know at Immutable

Full-time headcount: 90 | Headquarters: Byron Bay | Year founded: 2017 | Most common skills: Business Management, Leadership, Development Tools | Largest job functions: Engineering, Sales, Finance | What they do: Born and based in Byron Bay, this fintech was originally known as Split Payments when it was founded in 2018, before rebranding as Zepto in 2021. Its API (Application Programming Interface) payment infrastructure is used by a variety of merchants to ensure that account-to-account digital payments from their customers can be made securely.

See more about Zepto | See people you may know at Zepto?

Full-time headcount: 65* | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2019 | Most common skills: Development Tools, Web Development, Digital Literacy | Largest job functions: Engineering, Information Technology, Arts and Design | What they do: This ethical employee data platform is powered by artificial intelligence that analyses information relating to an organisation’s workforce. It is designed to help employers fully realise the potential of their employees by providing maximum visibility of their skills.

See jobs at Reejig | See people you may know at Reejig

Full-time headcount: 80 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2017 | Most common skills: Leadership, Digital Literacy, Data Science | Largest job functions: Engineering, Marketing, Arts and Design | What they do: Dovetail develops software for the user research market. Through its data analysis software, it provides a research platform that allows organisations to analyse their customer research information, as well as to manage it, store it and share it with others.

See jobs at Dovetail | See people you may know at Dovetail

Full-time headcount: 85 | Headquarters: Adelaide | Year founded: 2015 | Most common skills: Business Management, Project Management, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) | Largest job functions: Engineering, Sales, Information Technology | What they do: This South Australia-based space company constructs nanosatellites to facilitate effective communications networks. It has particular expertise in enabling remote satellite connectivity —?launching the country’s first commercial nanosatellites in 2018, followed by launches in 2021 and 2022.

See jobs at Fleet Space Technologies | See people you may know at Fleet Space Technologies

Full-time headcount: 120* | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2018 | Most common skills: Digital Literacy, Communication, Project Management | Largest job functions: Customer Success and Support, Business Development, Engineering | What they do: This company’s contactless at-table ordering system has been implemented by numerous hospitality venues across the nation, with its smart menu recognising customers’ preferences such as favourite foods and dietary requirements.

See more about me&u | See people you may know at me&u

Full-time headcount: 120 | Headquarters: Melbourne | Year founded: 2018 | Most common skills: Project Management, Construction Engineering, Procurement | Largest job functions: Program and Project Management, Operations | What they do: Based in Melbourne’s Docklands area, Kapitol’s experts work on commercial and residential buildings as well as educational institutions and infrastructure projects. The company has spent the last two years investing in wellbeing initiatives to improve fatigue, burnout and staff retention in the construction sector.

See jobs at Kapitol Group | See people you may know at Kapitol Group

Full-time headcount: 475 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2015 | Most common skills: Business Management, Digital Literacy, Project Management | Largest job functions: Engineering, Information Technology, Sales | What they do: Founded by military veterans to support fellow veterans in their search for post-military employment, this startup provides a platform to identify candidates’ skills and assist them in finding a technology-related job. It also provides training and mentoring programs.

See jobs at WithYouWithMe | See people you may know at WithYouWithMe

Full-time headcount: 55 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2018 | Most common skills: Digital Literacy, Web Development, Leadership | Largest job functions: Customer Success and Support, Engineering, Marketing | What they do: This fintech’s investment platform offers a streamlined online share trading experience for its users. The company has recently announced its plans to merge with Brisbane-based cryptocurrency broker Swyftx, which will enable users to invest in an extended variety of assets.

See jobs at Superhero | See people you may know at Superhero

Full-time headcount: 55 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2019 | Most common skills: Teamwork, Research, Digital Literacy | Largest job functions: Operations, Engineering, Research | What they do: This biotech food company wants to change the way the world consumes and considers meat. Through cultured meat technology, Vow uses animal cells to produce real meat in factories rather than farms and abattoirs.

See jobs at Vow | See people you may know at Vow

Full-time headcount: 235* | Headquarters: Melbourne | Year founded: 2017 | Most common skills: Data Storage Technologies, Computer Networking, System Administration | Largest job functions: Engineering, Information Technology, Program and Project Management | What they do: This cloud technology solutions provider enables commercial entities and government organisations to transform and accelerate expansion of their business through the use of cloud-based technology.

See jobs at LAB3 | See people you may know at LAB3

Full-time headcount: 135 | Headquarters: Melbourne and Sydney | Year founded: 2017 | Most common skills: Advertising, Digital Marketing, Graphic Design | Largest job functions: Marketing, Media and Communication, Sales | What they do: This full-service independent marketing agency, which combines business-focused 'thinkers' with creatively inclined 'tinkers', offers integrated creative, PR, research and strategy services.

See jobs at Thinkerbell | See people you may know at Thinkerbell

Full-time headcount: 450 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2017 | Most common skills: Digital Literacy, Business Management, Leadership | Largest job functions: Operations, Engineering, Information Technology | What they do: Originally founded as an e-bike rental startup for Sydney-based Deliveroo drivers, this company rebranded as Zoomo in 2020. In addition to making, selling and renting e-bikes, Zoomo also provides bike-related software, servicing and financing, and has now expanded its operations into the US and UK markets.

See jobs at Zoomo | See people you may know at Zoomo

Full-time headcount: 65 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2019 | Most common skills: Digital Literacy, Communication, Web Development | Largest job functions: Finance, Engineering, Consulting | What they do: Driva offers a platform to apply for car finance and loans online, providing options for comparing lenders and obtaining finance, with the goal of simplifying the process of purchasing a car.

See more about Driva | See people you may know at Driva

Full-time headcount: 80 | Headquarters: Melbourne | Year founded: 2016 | Most common skills: Leadership, Digital Literacy, Business Management | Largest job functions: Engineering, Customer Success and Support | What they do: This Melbourne-based cryptocurrency brokerage company was founded in 2016 to assist clients with their trading on the crypto market. With more than 20,000 clients worldwide, the company offers 24/7 personalised broking services and trading through a single secure system.

See jobs at Caleb & Brown | See people you may know at Caleb & Brown

Full-time headcount: 175 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2016 | Most common skills: Business Management, Leadership, Digital Literacy | Largest job functions: Operations, Marketing, Real Estate | What they do: :Different combines property management experts with user-friendly technology, in an online platform that is used by thousands of property owners and tenants across NSW, Victoria and Queensland. The platform is available for users to access at any time of day, seven days a week, for informed responses and real-time updates.

See jobs at :Different | See people you may know at :Different

Full-time headcount: 190 | Headquarters: Melbourne | Year founded: 2020 | Most common skills: Web Development, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Computer Networking | Largest job functions: Engineering, Sales, Operations | What they do: This fintech was launched in 2021 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, to provide Australian businesses with an alternative business banking solution. Fast forward a year and it’s now a unicorn with more than 10,000 Australian businesses on its client roster.

See jobs at Zeller | See people you may know at Zeller

Full-time headcount: 60* | Headquarters: North Sydney | Year founded: 2015 | Most common skills: Advertising, Business Management, Product Marketing | Largest job functions: Sales, Marketing, Business Development | What they do: This advertising technology startup provides free wifi services in over 450 shopping centres across Australia, studies users’ activities and provides tailored data to shopping centre managers, retailers and advertisers.

See more about Shopper | See people you may know at Shopper

Full-time headcount: 60* | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2019 | Most common skills: Development Tools, Business Management, Leadership | Largest job functions: Engineering, Arts and Design, Media and Communication | What they do: Virtually Human uses blockchain and other emerging technologies in the development of its entertainment products, such as virtual horse racing game Zed Run, in which players can purchase NFTs representing different racehorses. Earlier this year, the company acquired virtual production company Spectre Studios.

See jobs at Virtually Human | See people you may know at Virtually Human

Full-time headcount: 130 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2016 | Most common skills: Digital Literacy, Leadership | Largest job functions: Finance, Engineering, Operations | What they do: This fintech company’s digitised car, home and travel insurance products have been embedded into the digital experiences of a range of businesses across the globe, providing customers with access to up-to-date and easily manageable insurance.

See jobs at Open | See people you may know at Open

Full-time headcount: 135 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2017 | Most common skills: Digital Literacy, Leadership, Business Management | Largest job functions: Finance, Engineering, Operations | What they do: Headquartered in Sydney, Stake was originally founded with the goal of making the US stock market readily accessible to Aussies for no brokerage fee through its online share trading platform, which it now also offers in New Zealand, Brazil and the UK. It is especially popular with younger investors — its customer base has an average age of 35.

?See jobs at Stake | See people you may know at Stake

Full-time headcount: 135 | Headquarters: Sydney | Year founded: 2016 | Most common skills: Leadership, Business Management, Project Management | Largest job functions: Information Technology, Engineering, Business Development | What they do: This safety services startup provides 24/7 wellbeing support to organisations in a range of industries. Its qualified team gives members technology-led assistance and advice about personal safety, mental health or medical issues as well as on-the-ground support.

See jobs at Sonder | See people you may know at Sonder

Full-time headcount: 75* | Headquarters: Melbourne | Year founded: 2017 | Most common skills: Web Development, Development Tools, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) | Largest job functions: Engineering, Business Development, Product Management | What they do: This Melbourne-based regulatory technology company provides banks and other financial services firms with protection against fraud in digital transactions.

See jobs at FrankieOne | See people you may know at FrankieOne

Full-time headcount: 55* | Headquarters: Haymarket, Sydney | Year founded: 2017 | Most common skills: Web Development, Development Tools, Business Management | Largest job functions: Engineering, Product Management, Sales | What they do: This software startup provides companies with a strategic planning platform that integrates a range of digital tools — removing the need for multiple spreadsheets and presentations.

See more about Cascade | See people you may know at Cascade

Full-time headcount: 180 | Headquarters: Brisbane | Year founded: 2015 | Most common skills: Development Tools, Data Science, Web Development | Largest job functions: Engineering, Business Development, Product Management | What they do: VALD’s human measurement technologies offer insights into human movement, performance and rehabilitation. They are used by elite athletes across the globe as well by hospitals, clinics, tertiary institutions and defence departments.

See jobs at VALD | See people you may know at VALD

Methodology

LinkedIn measures startups based on four pillars: employment growth, engagement, job interest and attraction of top talent. Employment growth is measured as percentage headcount increase over methodology time frame, which must be a minimum of 15%. Engagement looks at non-employee views and follows of the company’s LinkedIn page, as well as how many non-employees are viewing employees at that startup. Job interest counts rate at which people are viewing and applying to jobs at the company, including both paid and unpaid postings. Attraction of top talent measures how many employees the startup has recruited away from any global LinkedIn Top Company, as a percentage of the startup’s total workforce. Data is normalised across all eligible startups. The methodology time frame is July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.?

To be eligible, companies must be fully independent, privately held, have 50 or more full-time employees, be 7 years old or younger and be headquartered in the country on whose list they appear. We exclude all staffing firms, think tanks, venture capital firms, law firms, management and IT consulting firms, nonprofits and philanthropy, accelerators and government-owned entities. Startups who have laid off 15% or more of their workforce within the methodology time frame are also ineligible.?

About company insights

*Company insights were sourced from LinkedIn Talent Insights. Data reflects aggregated public member data from active LinkedIn profiles in the relevant country and includes full-time employee profiles associated with the company on LinkedIn. All data points are measured among hires in the last year. We exclude members who identify as part-time or contractors. Headcounts are provided by the companies directly, unless otherwise noted with an asterisk. Those headcounts are based on LinkedIn data. The insights reflect data as of July 2022. Skills data was derived from measuring the most frequent skills among a company’s employees. Most common job titles represent the occupations that are most common within each company. Largest job function measures the function area most prevalent within each company.?

Reported by: Cathy Anderson , Cayla Dengate , Natalie MacDonald , Marty McCarthy , Mitchell Van Homrigh , Capucine Yeomans , Brendan Wong

Methodology and insights by: LinkedIn Economic Graph team

Honouree companies: 1. Immutable | 2. Zepto | 3. Reejig | 4. Dovetail | 5. Fleet Space Technologies | 6. me&u | 7. Kapitol Group | 8. WithYouWithMe | 9. Superhero | 10. Vow | 11. LAB3 | 12. Thinkerbell | 13. Zoomo | 14. Driva | 15. Caleb & Brown | 16. :Different | 17. Zeller | 18. Shopper | 19. Virtually Human | 20. Open | 21. Stake | 22. Sonder | 23. FrankieOne | 24. Cascade | 25. VALD? ? ? ?