Business strategy

15 tech archetypes: the good, the bad, the mixed and downright ugly 

- February 6, 2025 6 MIN READ

The tech and innovation ecosystems are dynamic and interconnected networks fuelled by startups, investors, institutions, corporates, individuals and other entities. Startup Genome suggests that ecosystems are often defined within a 100km radius from a central city, providing governments with data-driven insights to benchmark success and focus their efforts. But what really happens inside an ecosystem?… Read more »

Catalan tower
Advice

CapXcentric founder Warwick Donaldson on slowing down, staying small and when to avoid VC funding

- January 20, 2025 5 MIN READ

In April 2024, I started my eighth business, CapXcentric, a pre-seed to Series A capital raising coaching business. And I made a deliberate decision: I’m not scaling it.  I know, it sounds ironic. CapXcentric exists to guide founders through the capital raise process, often for high-growth, hyper-scale startups. But despite working in a space that’s… Read more »

Business

Why this futurist believes entrepreneurs need think to 2040 to succeed when launching a startup

- January 10, 2025 5 MIN READ

With a new year, ripe with possibilities, underway, Swinburne entrepreneurship expert Bridgette Engeler is urging small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to think beyond 2025 to set themselves up for future success. “Everyone is probably thinking about the coming 12 months,” she says. “But what’s on the radar beyond that? Is your business future-fit? You should… Read more »

Sydney Startup Hub Microsoft Reactor
Accelerator

The NSW government is evicting the Sydney Startup Hub from its CBD location, moving it to ‘somewhere’ in Tech Central in late 2025

- December 13, 2024 6 MIN READ

The Sydney Startup Hub above Wynyard Station in the heart of the CBD will be relocated to an undetermined site somewhere across the six square kilometres around Central Station known as Tech Central by the NSW government in October next year. In a rare announcement involving tech and startups from NSW innovation, science and technology… Read more »

Maxwell Plus
Business

The founder of one of Main Sequence’s first investments, medtech Maxwell Plus, on failure, timing, and being ahead of the pack

- December 8, 2024 6 MIN READ

Founders by their very nature see things others have yet to realise. Their challenge is to then get others to see that vision, believe in and back it. And then convince their customers to use a solution they didn’t know they need. Seven years ago, Dr Elliot Smith’s Maxwell Plus was just such a startup.… Read more »

Husky dogs are pulling sled in snow
Business strategy

5 HR strategies you need to run startups

- December 5, 2024 3 MIN READ

Building a successful and sustainable business as a startup or scaleup goes beyond developing great products or services. Your people are arguably the most critical success factor for growth, and having strong HR strategies in place is essential. Overlooking HR can lead to significant long-term issues, including high employee turnover, misaligned team goals, legal and… Read more »

Business strategy

Pre-Money vs Post-Money SAFE Notes: What Australian founders need to know

- November 26, 2024 5 MIN READ

Raising capital using SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) notes has become a go-to tool for Australian founders. SAFEs streamline the fundraising process by postponing valuation debates until a future funding round. However, understanding the distinction between pre-money and post-money SAFEs is critical, as it directly impacts founder dilution and investor ownership. In this article,… Read more »

Business strategy

A ‘MUD’ MAP: how to avoid getting stuck as you shift from startup to scaleup

- November 4, 2024 3 MIN READ

The startup journey is a rollercoaster – exciting, exhilarating, undeniably daunting and not for the faint-hearted. While social media tends to glamorise the #hustlelife, the reality of scaling a business is far more complex. It’s the point where a company moves from proving its concept to expanding operations, growing its customer base, and increasing market… Read more »

Business strategy

After studying 100 successful startup founders – and here’s what I learnt

- November 1, 2024 4 MIN READ

In the world of startups, success is often attributed to a complex interplay of factors ranging from personal characteristics to strategic decision-making. This report analyses 100 of the top startup founders to identify what separates the successful from the rest. By examining their backgrounds, leadership styles, strategic approaches, and other critical factors, we aim to… Read more »

office arm wrestle
Advice

Why founders should be wary of de-valuing themselves during negotiations

- October 29, 2024 3 MIN READ

The core of negotiation is about navigating uncertainty, and if you’re in the world of startups, uncertainty is something you’ve already embraced. Unlike traditional business owners with proven business models, products, and services, you’re operating in a space where creativity and adaptability are fundamental to your success. You’re invested in your business on every level,… Read more »