Founders need more than capital
•Limited access to networks, expertise, & partnerships early on
•A lack of mentorship and tools to scale efficiently
•Insufficient access to markets and industry channels
We built an ecosystem to bridge the gap
•Fund Zero: Tested model combining capital + mentorship + network
•Torus Ecosystem: Tools, networks, and founder-first fundraising support
Jason Atkins attracts founders through reputation, trust, and global networks. 7 years as the face of Cake, mentoring thousands of founders and portfolio cohorts globally. 1,000+ founders engaged annually via events, programs and 1o1 support. Proprietary deal flow from accelerators, referrals, and inbound requests.
Accelerating growth through structured programs.Torus Circle/Club curates exclusive content, tools, and sessions for founders navigating raising capital. Torus proprietary tools and program integrated within Uniquest/UQs accelerators and labs.
Scaling startups with tools and commercialisation power. Cake powers 10K+ startups globally by simplifying equity management, unlocking insights and tremendous goodwill at scale. UEF supports UQ startups with capital, commercialisation, customer acquisition, and global expansion.
Where community meets innovation and capital. Tech Beach Club unites top tech talent, active investors, and experienced founders. Backed by innovation partners (Torus, Cake, Pipeline Capital, Cohort, Cake, Uniquest & Autoguru) and a partners fund.
Fund Zero
Fund Zero proved the thesis that a founder-focused, ecosystem-driven approach can both pick winners and help create them. Torus Fund 1 launches with this head start: a vetted network, a track record of value-add, and confidence in our ability to replicate and amplify that success at a larger scale.
Founder Community & Dealflow
Founders seek us out early – often before they formally fundraise – making Torus their first call for guidance and capital. We see over 200+ qualified startups a year via our community, referrals, university pipelines, and inbound inquiries. Our network-driven deal flow gives Torus a first look at many high-potential startups, creating a self-reinforcing advantage in sourcing the best deals.
Structured Programs & Founder Support
We integrate proprietary programs into our model to actively support portfolio companies. Through Torus Club, Fusion Growth Labs (run in partnership with UQ’s Uniquest/UEF), and tailored mentorship, we coach founders on fundamentals like fundraising strategy, product-market fit, and scaling tactics. Founders in Torus Fund 1 get unfair advantages in knowledge, network and execution, translating to de-risked growth for investors.
Network & Partnerships
Torus has forged unique partnerships across industry and academia that turbocharge our fund’s reach. We have first-look access to university spinouts (via ties with University of Queensland, UniQuest, and other research hubs), giving us early access to cutting-edge IP and talent emerging from labs.
Intelligent Systems (AI): The next wave of software is deeply AI-native, unlocking 30–90% gains in efficiency and creating new workflows. We see a shift from general SaaS to AI-driven “SaiS,” with vertical solutions and proprietary data moats poised to dominate.
Human Health Horizons: Healthcare is moving from reactive to proactive care, leveraging AI, bioinformatics, and precision medicine. Australian universities and research institutions excel here, and we believe early investment can yield both societal impact and outsized returns.
Frontier Technology: Advances in space, quantum, materials, and next-gen energy—supported by government funding and research spinouts—present major opportunities. We aim to back early breakthroughs in these areas that can become tomorrow’s infrastructure and unicorn companies.
Fund Size
Successful first close March 2025 (Complete). Final close June 2025.
Portfolio
Early-stage tech startups (intelligent systems, healthtech, frontier tech).
Follow On
Double-down on successes and maintain pro-rata in competitive rounds.
