Gold Coast AI startup Zeligate secures DNX Ventures backing

Gold Coast-based AI startup Zeligate has received seed funding from global venture capital firm DNX Ventures in what marks DNX's first investment in Australia.

The funding signals growing confidence in the Gold Coast as a technology hub and supports Zeligate's ambition to scale its AI workforce platform nationally.

This investment is intended to fuel Zeligate's next phase of growth, which includes a target of achieving a Series A round by the end of 2026.

Endorsement from investors

"DNX's decision to make us its first Australian investment is a testament to the hard work of our team and the massive potential of our AI workforce, which we call Zelis," said Denver Naidoo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zeligate.

Naidoo explained that the new backing would support the company's operational expansion and help it develop its AI-powered workforce. "This new funding will allow us to scale our operations, expand our team of AI assistants, and demonstrate how easily organisations can delegate routine tasks to live avatars to unlock human creativity and strategic focus. It also confirms that the Gold Coast is a prime location to build a world-class technology company, which is why we moved here from Brisbane earlier this year."

DNX Ventures, which typically invests in early-stage business technology firms in the US and Japan, highlighted the quality of Zeligate's AI solutions as a decisive factor.

Yurika Imuta, Principal at DNX Ventures, said, "We're excited to invest in Zeligate as our first investment in Australia. We were particularly impressed by the company's AI technology, especially the quality of its AI-driven interview experience. Denver's deep expertise in AI has enabled the team to build a truly multimodal, AI-native SaaS product, with a voice-based interview platform that stands out in a field known for its technical challenges.

Imuta added, "Recruitment is often a complex and imperfect process where candidates are assessed within minutes based largely on their resumes. This puts companies at risk of overlooking talented individuals with strong potential. We believe Zeligate can bridge this gap by enabling a more dynamic and inclusive way to evaluate talent, while providing fairer opportunities for all candidates to present themselves.

"We look forward to Zeligate setting a new standard in recruitment and helping companies unlock broader access to high-quality talent."

National expansion and product development

The company intends to use the capital to deepen product development and support marketing and sales across Australia by promoting its AI-driven Hiring Co-worker solution among other offerings.

Zeligate's Zelis platform, which features live avatars for real-time conversation, is designed to allow companies to automate entire business processes beyond routine task automation. The use of advanced AI avatars is targeted at boosting organisational productivity and providing immersive digital experiences in workplace settings.

Local economic development

Invest Gold Coast, an organisation focused on local economic growth and sector development, publicly welcomed DNX's investment in the Gold Coast technology ecosystem. The investment is viewed as part of a broader strategy to build sectors such as technology and the knowledge economy within the city's future industries plan.

"DNX Ventures' first Australian investment on the Gold Coast signals a powerful shift in strategic capital flows toward our city's rapidly maturing innovation ecosystem," said Ben Foster, Head of Industry Strategy & Alliances at Invest Gold Coast.

Foster added, "It highlights the global confidence in the Gold Coast as a destination where technology, talent, and investment intersect to drive the next wave of economic growth. Japan has long been one of Australia's most trusted and strategically aligned partners, sharing values of innovation, quality, and long-term collaboration, and DNX's investment underscores the strength of that relationship. This milestone demonstrates how global partnerships can accelerate our knowledge economy, create high-value jobs, and enable Gold Coast companies to scale their ideas to the world."

Broader implications

Zeligate indicated that this investment not only provides capital and expertise to support its growth ambitions but also strengthens both the local and national reputation for attracting international venture funds and talent.