David Adams

Melbourne

Business journalist at Smart Company (Australia)

Business journalist @smartcompany | Tips, gossip, music recommendations to [email protected]

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Articles

Queensland budget: 19 things small businesses need to know

4 days ago | smartcompany.com.au | Tegan Jones |Eloise Keating |David Adams

The Queensland 2025–26 state budget was handed down on Tuesday, promising targeted support for small businesses and startups. The first budget the Liberal National Party has handed down in over a decade focuses on long-term debt reduction and preparations for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Treasurer David Janetzki has pledged a “responsible” budget while targeting structural support in health, housing, crime, and cost of living.
NSW startup Cauldron wins entry to World Economic Forum tech pioneer cohort

4 days ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

Something special is brewing at biomanufacturing company Cauldron, which has become the latest Australian business recognised as a technology pioneer by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Cauldron, which develops advanced fermentation systems for the food and chemical manufacturing sectors, was on Tuesday named in the WEF’s latest pioneer cohort.
Kiki relaunches in London, confirming new home after NYC exit

4 days ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

New Zealand-born subletting startup Kiki plans to relaunch in London, after mounting regulatory pressure saw the business depart New York City. Co‑founder and CEO Toby Thomas‑Smith on Tuesday said Kiki will establish a new base in the United Kingdom, marking the latest major transformation for the seven-year-old startup.
"Day two problem": Salesforce AI chief calls optimising agents the next big challenge

4 days ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

After bringing artificially intelligent agents to customers, Salesforce’s global AI chief says its next update will help businesses fine-tune their digital workforce. CRM titan Salesforce on Tuesday unveiled what it dubs Agentforce 3.0, the third iteration of the artificially intelligent agent system revealed in September.
Tech on tap: Aussie AI tools are spreading overseas, but local growers are slower to adopt

5 days ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

Japan, South America, the US, and Europe are more receptive to innovative Australian artificial intelligence technology than many homegrown businesses, says an expert in cutting-edge agricultural tools. Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes, a researcher at the University of Melbourne, says local firms are often slower to adopt tools like advanced sensors and machine learning software than their global counterparts.
New twist in SurfStitch saga as Nike seeks wind-up order against collapsed business

1 week ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

Sportswear giant Nike Australia is pursuing a winding-up order against SurfStitch Pty Ltd, which has fallen into administration after the reported sale of SurfStitch’s brand, business, and assets. The fresh legal action and administration add another unusual twist to the story of SurfStitch, which has collapsed into administration and re-emerged once before.
Temu web traffic spikes after Catch exits Australian market

1 week ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

Budget-conscious shoppers seeking alternatives to Catch may be visiting discount mega-retailer Temu instead, according to new analysis of Australian web traffic. Online marketplace Catch closed its virtual doors on April 30, after posting years of losses under parent company Wesfarmers. The pioneering e-commerce site departed the market after 19 years, leaving a gap for established competitors and upstarts alike.
DigiDirect eyes Australian retail dominance after Mwave acquisition

1 week ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

Digidirect has its sights on becoming the largest privately held retail group in Australia, its retail chief says, after the acquisition of computer gaming webstore Mwave. The DigiDirect Group, which includes the titular camera and audio gear retailer, major online bookseller Booktopia, and library supplier James Bennett, announced the Mwave purchase on Tuesday.
Canva acquires Sydney AI marketing tech startup MagicBrief

1 week ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

Canva has acquired Sydney startup MagicBrief, saying its AI-powered digital marketing tools are a perfect companion to Canva’s graphic design technology. Founded in 2022 by George Howes and Dan Nolan, MagicBrief helps brands develop social media campaigns, track their performance against competitors with AI technology, and analyse their top-performing assets.
Choice shares "rigorous, independent" sunscreen test data after Ultra Violette speaks out

1 week ago | smartcompany.com.au | David Adams

Choice has released the full testing data and methods from its landmark sunscreen survey, defending its “rigorous, independent” approach, after Ultra Violette’s co-founder questioned a process that failed one of its most popular SPF products. The consumer advocacy publication on Monday released the lab data for the 20 sunscreens it tested, and data from a secondary test on Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen.