LinkedIn ranks Australia's top startups as AI booms

LinkedIn has published its 2026 Top Startups Australia list, with health technology and artificial intelligence companies dominating this year's cohort.

Fourteen of the 20 companies are first-time entrants, based on LinkedIn's analysis of hiring, engagement, job interest and talent attraction on its platform. The ranking covers privately held, independent companies that are five years old or younger and have at least 30 full-time employees.

Health technology businesses took five of the top eight places, led by Melbourne-based Heidi in first and Everlab in second. Andromeda, which makes the humanoid companion robot Abi for aged care residents, ranked third. Lyrebird Health rose to fourth and Kismet placed fifth.

Heidi offers software that automates clinical documentation and is also developing an AI agent for clinicians' administrative work. The company raised USD $475 million in September, giving it a valuation of USD $1.26 billion.

Everlab, also based in Melbourne, focuses on preventative health through assessments, diagnostics and AI-driven care plans. It raised USD $65 million in June at a valuation of USD $500 million.

Andromeda was among the more unusual entrants. Its Abi robot is designed for personalised conversations and group entertainment in aged care settings, and the company is valued at USD $100 million after a USD $23 million funding round completed last year.

Beyond healthcare, the list points to broad AI adoption across business services. Sydney-based Lorikeet, ranked seventh, builds customer support agents for voice, chat and email, while CORTO, in 17th, develops software for legal research, drafting and automation. Firmable, ranked sixth, uses AI in sales intelligence.

Advanced technology companies also featured prominently. Semiconductor business Syenta placed 11th, quantum computing company Diraq ranked 14th, and defence drone developer Praetorian Aeronautics came 15th.

The inclusion of Diraq and Syenta suggests investors and recruits are paying closer attention to hardware and deep-technology startups in Australia, an area often overshadowed by software-led ventures. Praetorian Aeronautics also stands out as defence technology attracts more interest in several markets.

Other companies on the list reflect a wider spread of consumer and business problems being addressed by younger firms. They include pet care platform Fetch, advertising agency Howatson+Company, property finance providers Bridgit and Skip Loans, construction management platform BuildPass, digital healthcare service Updoc, investor communications business InvestorHub, Pilates equipment provider Your Reformer and banking software firm Constantinople.

The ranking is geographically concentrated. Melbourne-based companies took nine places on the list, while Sydney-based businesses accounted for most of the rest. Adelaide and Mornington were also represented.

AI themes

LinkedIn linked the list's make-up to wider AI adoption by smaller companies. Separate research it cited found that 57% of small and medium-sized business owners said starting and running a business is easier today because of AI, while 79% of Australian small business marketers said AI helps smaller brands compete more effectively.

It also cited Microsoft's 2026 Work Trend Index, which found that 63% of Australian AI users say they are producing work they could not have produced a year earlier. That helps explain the spread of AI-focused businesses across healthcare, customer service, legal work and sales.

Brendan Wong, LinkedIn Australia Career Expert, said the list reflects a startup market that is changing quickly as AI tools move into more sectors.

"This year's list shows how quickly Australia's startup scene is evolving. AI is turning up in everything from health and aged care to customer support and legal services, helping companies reduce admin and support customers in new ways.

"For jobseekers, it's a reminder to look beyond the obvious roles. Startups need all kinds of skills as they grow, and understanding the problem a company is trying to solve can help you make a much stronger case for why you belong there," Wong said.

Method and hiring

LinkedIn measures startups on four pillars: employment growth, engagement, job interest and attraction of top talent. Employment growth must be at least 10% over the measurement period, and companies are excluded if they cut 10% or more of their workforce between the start of July 2025 and the launch of the list.

To qualify, businesses must be fully independent, privately held, headquartered in Australia and no older than five years. Staffing firms, think tanks, venture capital firms, law firms, consulting companies, nonprofits, accelerators and government-owned entities are not considered.

For jobseekers, the largest job functions listed for many of the ranked companies suggest where demand is strongest. Engineering appears repeatedly across health technology, AI, semiconductors, quantum computing and defence, while sales, marketing and information technology roles are also common at firms including Firmable, BuildPass and Howatson+Company.

Wong said startups are looking for a wide range of candidates as they grow.

"This year's list shows how quickly Australia's startup scene is evolving. AI is turning up in everything from health and aged care to customer support and legal services, helping companies reduce admin and support customers in new ways.

"For jobseekers, it's a reminder to look beyond the obvious roles. Startups need all kinds of skills as they grow, and understanding the problem a company is trying to solve can help you make a much stronger case for why you belong there."