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Lumir Ventures
Curtis Shi and Yigal Bino run Lumir Ventures in Melbourne, a firm that channels Israeli deep-tech deal flow to Australian institutional LPs.
Lumir Ventures
Shi and Bino launched Lumir Ventures in 2018 to solve a specific access gap: Australian superannuation funds and family offices wanted direct exposure to Israel's high-density technology ecosystem but lacked on-the-ground sourcing capability. The firm registered a fund structure in Australia and established a matching office in Tel Aviv, creating a dedicated pipeline rather than a generalist cross-border mandate. Lumir writes initial checks from Seed through Series B, concentrating on enterprise software, cybersecurity, AI/ML, autonomous systems, and fintech infrastructure. The firm co-invests alongside Israel's established early-stage syndicates and leads rounds where it can add value through its Australian LP network. Confirmed portfolio positions include data-streaming platform Kaskada (acquired by Google Cloud in 2022) and identity-security firm Silverfort (per CTech, 2022). The firm also holds interests in robotic process automation and API-security companies, though full portfolio disclosure remains limited. Lumir raised a new fund vehicle in 2023 to continue its core Israel-Australia strategy (per AVCJ, 2023). The firm operates without a large carried-interest engine — its value proposition rests on curated access rather than fund-of-funds aggregation — and functions as the primary allocation vehicle for several institutional LPs seeking targeted Middle Eastern technology exposure outside traditional US and Chinese venture corridors. Lumir's dual-soil architecture is its structural differentiator. A Melbourne general partner sources committed Australian institutional capital; a Tel Aviv-based investing partner executes sourcing, diligence, and board-level portfolio work on the ground. That split eliminates the pattern-travel cost that erodes returns for fly-in funds and creates governance alignment most single-office cross-border investors cannot match.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2018
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Australia
City
Melbourne
Corporate office
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Additional offices
Tel Aviv, Israel
Principals
Curtis Shi
Managing Partner
Yigal Bino
Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions at Lumir Ventures?
Investment decisions are driven by Managing Partner Curtis Shi from Melbourne and Partner Yigal Bino from Tel Aviv. Shi manages LP relationships and portfolio construction, while Bino leads Israeli-based sourcing and diligence. The firm operates with a lean partnership structure designed for rapid decision-making on early-stage rounds.
How does Lumir Ventures source its proprietary deal flow?
Lumir sources almost exclusively through Yigal Bino's on-the-ground network in Tel Aviv's technology ecosystem. The firm co-invests with local Israeli venture syndicates and angel networks, accessing rounds that rarely reach Australian institutional investors directly. This embedded Tel Aviv presence is the firm's primary sourcing advantage.
Is Lumir Ventures structured as a venture capital firm or a family office?
Lumir Ventures operates as a traditional venture capital fund manager, not a family office. It raises committed capital from Australian institutional investors — primarily superannuation funds — and deploys that capital into Israeli technology companies through a standard venture fund structure.
What investment stages does Lumir Ventures target?
Lumir invests from Seed through Series B, with flexibility to follow into later-stage rounds when portfolio companies demonstrate strong commercial traction. The firm prefers to lead or co-lead rounds where its LP network can provide strategic value beyond the capital commitment.
Which sectors does Lumir Ventures focus on?
The firm concentrates on enterprise software, cybersecurity, AI/ML, fintech infrastructure, and robotics and automation. Lumir selects these sectors based on Israel's established R&D density in each vertical and the corresponding appetite among its Australian institutional limited partners for technology exposure outside legacy sectors.
How is Lumir Ventures related to the broader Israeli venture ecosystem?
Lumir positions itself as a dedicated institutional bridge, not a competitor to established Israeli VCs. It co-invests alongside firms like Aleph, Glilot Capital, and Vertex Ventures Israel, often entering rounds those syndicates have already sourced and structured. The relationship is symbiotic: Israeli GPs gain access to Australian institutional capital; Lumir gains deal access.
Does Lumir Ventures maintain philanthropic structures or separate operating entities?
There is no public record of a linked philanthropic foundation or separate operating entity under the Lumir brand. The firm appears to focus entirely on its venture investment mandate without ancillary wealth-management or charitable structures.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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