Technology
Adelaide SaaS Firm Raises $46M as Tech Investment Surges
The Series A for the local SaaS company forms part of wider funding and policy steps that include a new Qantas centre and data-centre fast-track rules.
How we reported this
Splose closed a $46 million Series A earlier in 2026, the largest ever recorded by a South Australian SaaS startup, according to state development records. The round arrived as Adelaide’s startup ecosystem sits at number five nationally and coincides with several physical expansions in the CBD.
Policy and Infrastructure Moves
The South Australian government classified data centres as essential infrastructure in late 2025, which created faster approval paths for new builds aimed at AI and deep-tech workloads. That step followed a $24 million state investment directed at raising Adelaide’s profile in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Qantas opened its first Product Innovation Centre outside Sydney inside the Adelaide CBD in March 2026; the facility is projected to add more than 420 technology roles, including software engineers and AI specialists, over three years.
Lot Fourteen, the seven-hectare precinct anchored by the Australian Space Agency and SmartSat CRC, now houses Stone & Chalk, which supports more than 130 entrepreneurs working in cleantech, space, machine learning, AI and defence. Fleet Space Technologies maintains operations there, while Gilmour Space Technologies opened an Adelaide office in early 2026. Technology Park Adelaide, located 12 kilometres north of the CBD, hosts more than 100 companies including Lockheed Martin and Saab Australia.
Workforce and Salary Data
Current figures list roughly 3,500 hi-tech jobs in Adelaide with an average annual salary of $86,200. Experienced specialists in the sector earn between $110,000 and $160,000, while systems analysts average $122,200. Entry-level IT positions typically start between $75,000 and $80,000. Job boards currently show more than 430 information-technology openings in the Adelaide area.
These placements and funding flows point to continued demand for full-stack developers, cyber-security engineers and machine-learning roles. Companies seeking staff can contact local recruitment offices such as Peoplebank in the CBD or review listings on major platforms for hybrid positions. Firms planning new facilities should consult the updated state planning pathways for data-centre projects established after the 2025 policy change.