Scalare Partners Acquires Planet Startup

Scalare Partners has acquired 100% of Planet Startup, a Brisbane-based virtual CFO (vCFO) services company providing financial advisory and strategic support to early-stage technology founders across Australia.

Founded by Marc Orchard and Rhys Cupples in 2022, Planet Startup has established itself as a trusted adviser to startups from ideation through to exit, helping founders manage financial performance, identify growth opportunities, and prepare for investment or exit.

This acquisition will see Planet Startup fully integrated into the Scalare ecosystem, strengthening Scalare’s ability to provide comprehensive financial management, advisory, and capital-readiness support for technology companies at every stage of growth.

Strategic Rationale

Planet Startup delivers essential vCFO services that enable founders to better understand financial performance, identify opportunities for growth, and build sustainable businesses. Despite being less than three years old, the company has achieved strong year-on-year growth, with annualised revenue increasing by 26% from FY24 to FY25, while maintaining profitability.

This acquisition supports Scalare’s strategy to embed deeper financial insight within its ecosystem and improve decision-making across its portfolio of early-stage companies. By consolidating its internal financial capability under the Planet Startup brand, Scalare will expand its vCFO service line and strengthen its relationships with founders through greater transparency and operational alignment.

Planet Startup’s expertise will also create opportunities to cross-sell complementary services across Scalare’s broader ecosystem, including Tank Stream Labs, Inhouse Ventures, Tech Ready Women, and the Australian Technologies Competition.

Through this acquisition, Scalare will welcome Marc Orchard, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet Startup, who will continue to lead the business and drive its growth. Planet Startup’s values and founder-first approach align closely with Scalare’s mission to support technology entrepreneurs through every stage of their journey.

This acquisition is expected to enhance Scalare’s service offerings, increase its reach across the national startup community, and further establish its position as a leading accelerator and ecosystem partner for technology founders.

“This acquisition marks yet another milestone in the execution of Scalare’s long-term strategy. Planet Startup has built an impressive reputation for delivering high-quality work and is highly regarded by its growing customer base for its professionalism. We are excited to be working closely with Marc, the Planet Startup team, and their customers to drive even greater impact across the startup ecosystem.” — Carolyn Breeze, CEO, Scalare Partners

“Joining Scalare Partners is a significant step in our journey to build a meaningful presence in the Australian tech ecosystem. A key benefit for us is that our customers will now have access to a broader range of services and expertise to help them succeed. The Scalare community is deeply engrained in the local tech scene and committed to supporting the success of the industry. This partnership enables our customers to tap into a wider suite of services and expertise, empowering them to achieve even greater success.” — Marc Orchard, Co-Founder & CEO, Planet Startup

Scalare’s Expansion Strategy: Ongoing Acquisitions

Planet Startup marks Scalare’s fifth acquisition since April 2023, following the acquisitions of Tank Stream Labs (September 2025), Inhouse Ventures (March 2025), Tech Ready Women (April 2024), and the Australian Technologies Competition (April 2023).

By maintaining a disciplined approach to acquisitions, Scalare continues to strengthen its position within the Australian technology ecosystem while supporting the founders and businesses it brings into its portfolio.