Californian media-for-equity fund Mercurius Media Capital (MMC) is setting up shop in Australia with plans to help local startups and growth-stage companies with established product-market fit to expand into the US market.
MMC, which has previously backed Airtasker and currently has US$90 million ($141.5 million) in committed capital, has established Mercurius Bridge as its Australian arm, based on the belief that the country's startup ecosystem is poised for significant growth driven by AI and innovative technologies.
Mercurius aims to provide media capital, strategic mentorship, and a curated network of service providers, underpinned by partnerships with leading media platforms including Sinclair Broadcast Group, Televisa Univision, Atmosphere TV, and others.
"Our team has a ten-year record of bridging international markets with the US across 40-plus transactions. More recently, under MMC, we have successfully facilitated US market entry for Australian companies, including Airtasker," says MMC founding partner Piyush Puri.
"Our strategic mentorship ensures companies establish a strong US presence. By leveraging insights from seasoned operators and collaborating with premium media partners, we craft tailored solutions that help startups overcome market-entry obstacles."
Business News Australia has sought clarification about which other Australian companies Mercurius has assisted with US market entry, which could not be provided in time for publication.
Portfolio companies listed on the Mercurius are primarily based in the USA, with the exception of Singapore-based Deskera, and include reAlpha Tech Corp (NASDAQ: AIRE) Edly, RVnGo, Captain Experiences, and Storybook.
The Australian launch is supported by Tania Yuki, MMC's newest venture partner who studied at UNSW and in 2013 founded social media analytics and measurement company Shareablee, which was acquired by Comscore (NASDAQ: SCOR) in 2021.
Given her 20-plus years of expertise in technology, big data, and entrepreneurship, Mercurius expects Yuki will will empower Australian companies to expand globally while enabling MMC to identify high-growth opportunities.
"Expanding into the US is a major leap, even for companies with strong local traction," says Yuki.
"Success depends on the right go-to-market strategy, effective advertising, and local expertise - otherwise, millions can be wasted. I'm excited to help the next wave of global innovators scale successfully."
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