Tim Burrowes
About Tim Burrowes
Tim Burrowes is an Australian media and marketing journalist and publisher. He started the industry news site Mumbrella in December 2008 with Martin Lane and Ian Wakeling. He worked on it for 13 years. Before that he worked in newspapers, magazines and online in the UK, the Middle East and Australia.
Mumbrella was sold to Diversified Communications. In a later deal, The Intermedia Group acquired it from Diversified, and Burrowes returned as a shareholder and as publisher and managing director of Mumbrella Media.
He also wrote the book Media Unmade, published by Hardie Grant, and publishes the newsletter Unmade, which covers media and marketing from an Australian angle. He presents Medialand on ABC Radio National and lives in Tasmania.
Burrowes calls himself an occasional early-stage investor. On his public profile he lists small investments in quantum computing, fintech, edtech, outdoor advertising technology, manufacturing software and crisis management. The profile does not name the companies or give dates. He has not published a fund, a syndicate or a check size.
The one AI round on the Lounge deals desk is Manifest's $2M pre-seed, announced in April 2026. Manifest is a Sydney-based, AI-powered operational intelligence platform for advertising agencies. It was founded by Freddie McKenzie and Henry Collinson. Brand Fund by Previously Unavailable led the round. Burrowes (Mumbrella) is named among the industry angels alongside agency and media executives such as Henry Innis of Mutinex and Mark Coad, formerly of IPG Mediabrands.
Burrowes has not published an investment thesis, so the focus below is inferred from his listed investments. They are small, early-stage investments across several sectors. His one confirmed AI investment is in a tool for the media and marketing industry he has covered for years, and he is better placed to assess pitches there. He is based in Australia, and Manifest is a trans-Tasman company. Check size is not public.
- Manifest: AI-powered operational intelligence platform for agencies. Burrowes was one of the angels in its $2M pre-seed round, announced April 2026.
- helpareporter.com/journalist/tim-burrowes
- bandt.com.au/ai-based-agency-operations-platform-startup-manifest-rais
- mumbrella.com.au/manifest-raises-2m-amid-australian-agency-roll-out-92
- smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/manifest-raises-2-million-help-ad-age
- marketing-interactive.com/manifest-launches-with-2m-backing-to-help-ag
- businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/the-intermedia-group-buys-mumbrella
- mediaweek.com.au/mumbrella-sale-tim-burrowes
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbrella
Investing activity
Tim Burrowes appears in 1 AI deal tracked by the Lounge deals desk. The rounds are mostly Pre-seed, with a median round size of $2M. The most recent is Manifest (Pre-seed, $2M, Apr 2026).
Tim Burrowes most often invests alongside Brand Fund, Mark Coad, Jordan Taylor-Bartels and James Hutchinson, and the companies they back on Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Tim Burrowes
Who is Tim Burrowes?
Tim Burrowes founded the Australian media and marketing site Mumbrella and now publishes the Unmade newsletter. He is also the author of Media Unmade and an occasional early-stage investor.
Does Tim Burrowes invest in AI startups?
Yes, at least once publicly. He was named as an angel in Manifest's $2M pre-seed round in April 2026. Manifest builds AI-based operations software for advertising agencies.
What check size does Tim Burrowes write?
It is not public. He describes his investments as small and occasional, but he has not published a check size or a fund size.
What stage does Tim Burrowes invest at?
He describes himself as an early-stage investor, and his known AI deal was a pre-seed round. He has not set out a formal stage policy.
Which sectors does Tim Burrowes back?
His public profile lists small investments in quantum computing, fintech, edtech, outdoor advertising technology, manufacturing software and crisis management. His Manifest investment is in marketing and agency technology.
How can founders reach Tim Burrowes?
He is active on X as @timburrowes and publishes Unmade at unmade.media. He has not published pitch guidelines.
Is Tim Burrowes an angel investor?
Yes. Tim Burrowes invests personally as an angel.
What AI companies has Tim Burrowes invested in?
Tim Burrowes's AI investments include Manifest. The 1 round on Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
Who does Tim Burrowes co-invest with?
Tim Burrowes's most frequent co-investors on Lounge are Brand Fund (1 deal), Mark Coad (1 deal), Jordan Taylor-Bartels (1 deal), James Hutchinson (1 deal) and Connon Bray (1 deal).