Australian Entrepreneurs Moved Overseas in 2026
Regulatory changes and regional tax incentives spurred a wave of founder relocations to Singapore and other global hubs.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Startups
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In 2026, Australian tech entrepreneurs relocated their business operations to international hubs like Singapore, Dubai, and San Francisco. This trend emerged alongside new Australian capital gains tax reforms and significant innovation funding commitments elsewhere.
Why it matters
The migration reflects founders reacting to Australia's shift toward inflation-linked capital gains tax rates, which replaces the existing 50 per cent discount. Entrepreneurs are choosing markets that offer stability and specialized research funding, such as Singapore's S$37 billion innovation pledge.
Corporate service providers recorded an average of 12 relocation inquiries per month during August and September 2026. This follows the May 2026 announcement of a minimum 30 per cent tax on capital gains starting July 1, 2027, replacing the prior 50 per cent discount.
The players
Ben Lindsay
An Australian technology entrepreneur who transitioned his business operations to Singapore in March 2026.
Adrian Portelli
An Australian entrepreneur who announced his relocation to Dubai in August 2026.
Fred Schebesta
An entrepreneur who moved his operations to Singapore in October 2026.
The details
Founders are leveraging corporate service providers to move operations to environments perceived as more pro-business, specifically targeting regions with high connectivity and established startup ecosystems. Singapore's strategy involves a S$37 billion investment in research and innovation over five years, which began in April 2026. Meanwhile, Australia's revised regulatory framework aims to settle into a new incentive structure by May 2027 to address capital gains concerns.
Timeline
March 2026: Ben Lindsay relocated from Sydney to Singapore.
April 2026: Singapore launched a five-year, S$37 billion innovation investment pledge.
May 2026: Australia announced major capital gains tax reforms.
August 2026: Adrian Portelli announced a move to Dubai.
July 1, 2027: A minimum 30 per cent capital gains tax takes effect in Australia.
The Tech Race
The exodus follows the introduction of Australian capital gains tax (CGT) discount reforms that fundamentally altered the financial incentives for local founders. This move places Australia in competition with jurisdictions like Singapore, which are using multi-billion dollar innovation pledges to capture high-growth tech operations.
Founders and investors should monitor the implementation of Australia's new 30 per cent capital gains tax floor on July 1, 2027, as it will alter long-term exit calculations. Entrepreneurs are expected to continue utilizing Singapore as a primary hub for regional expansion throughout 2027.
The takeaway
The trend of Australian founders moving abroad highlights a significant shift in how regulatory and tax policy shapes the geography of global innovation. Keep watching the Australian government's implementation of the new incentive framework expected by May 2027.
Further reading
For broader analysis on how policy affects founder mobility, visit our coverage of Startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South China Morning Post.
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