KPMG said the partnership will provide Australian corporates, superannuation funds and industry bodies a unique opportunity to become involved with the Australian start-up network.
The professional services firm said both KPMG and Artesian will engage with a large pipeline of scalable, high-growth businesses, as well as accelerators, incubators and universities and will host “regular events to foster and promote the local start-up industry”.
There are also plans to analyse data and develop research models to better understand the growing sector and its future direction.
Artesian partner and chief operating officer Tim Heasley said it was time for the start-up industry in Australia to mature, and “to operate with a new level of professionalism without losing its edge”.
“We need to mobilise, professionalise, build a cohesive structure around the industry to take it to the next level,” said Mr Heasley.
He said the alliance with KPMG, which was selected following a competitive process, will help Artesian Venture Partners identify and introduce corporate and other partners to the opportunities associated with start-ups.
KPMG Australia head of innovation Martin Sheppard said the alliance represented an important milestone for doing business with the rapidly rising entrepreneur set which has the potential to contribute upwards of $100 billion to the Australian economy within two decades.
Mr Sheppard said proactively engaging with Australia’s start-up ecosystem is critical to the firm’s innovation strategy.
“It will expose us and our clients to new growth opportunities; provide early insights into emerging and disruptive technologies; and help us and our clients stay ahead of the curve,” said Mr Sheppard.
“Combined with our Fintech work and other initiatives to be announced over coming months, it will position KPMG as an authority in this dynamic sector.”
