<article><a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Judo%20Capital">Judo Capital</a>, the Melbourne-based specialist lender to the Australian SME sector, has raised A$140 million ($103.9 million) in what it claims is the second-largest fundraising round in the country&#8217;s startup space.</article>

<a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Judo%20Capital">Judo Capital</a>, the Melbourne-based specialist lender to the Australian SME sector, has raised A$140 million ($103.9 million) in what it claims is the second-largest fundraising round in the country&#8217;s startup space.
In a statement, Judo Capital said its investors have also committed to making follow-on investments over the next five years.
The venture round was joined by <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Myer%20Family Investments">Myer Family Investments</a>, <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Abu%20Dhabi Capital Group">Abu Dhabi Capital Group</a>, <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Credit%20Suisse Asset Management">Credit Suisse Asset Management</a>, and <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=OPTrust%20Private Markets Group">OPTrust Private Markets Group</a>. First Avenue Partners acted as the placement agent for Judo.
“The success of this fundraising was in no small measure due to investors recognizing the quality of the Judo team and its credibility in being able to execute on a plan to build Australia’s first challenger bank,” <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=First%20Avenue">First Avenue</a>’s Managing Partner Paul Buckley said.
Judo expects to receive a full banking license from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), Australia’s banking regulator, in December, following the fundraising.
Headquartered in Melbourne, Judo was formally launched in March 2018 to provide an alternative for small- and medium-sized businesses to access the funding they need and deserve. It has a team of close to 50 with plans to roll out nationwide operations in the coming months.
“At Judo, we’re bringing back the craft of relationship banking to transform access to finance for Australia’s small and medium-sized (SME) businesses. Judo is challenging the one size fits all approach of our much larger competitors because we believe every business is unique and should be treated that way,” the company says on its website.
Judo Capital was co-founded by former National Australia Bank (NAB) bankers Joseph Healy and David Hornery.
Hornery was Executive General Manager of NAB’s Corporate, Property, Agribusiness, Health, Government, and Education divisions, covering 90,000 SME customers. He also chaired NAB Group’s Asia Management Board.
Healy, on the other hand, has held executive positions at NAB, ANZ, CIBC World Markets, Citibank and Lloyds Bank.
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The round was joined by Myer Family Investments, Abu Dhabi Capital Group, Credit Suisse Asset Management, and OPTrust Private Markets Group.

Australian SME lender Judo Capital raises $104m in venture round

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Australian SME lender Judo Capital raises $104m in venture round

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