As a developer at DataStax, I often find myself trying to explain what I do for a living. For people working in tech and using AI tools or coding copilots, telling them I work with generative AI is often well understood. Sitting around the table at Christmas lunch with the family can be a different… Read more »
This time last year, Chaz and I were in the closing stages of our $7m Seed round. From the outside, raising capital may seem… exciting and sexy? That’s the Instagram version, you know it well. The reality is it’s an all-consuming and exhausting grind with zero margin for failure and the potential of changing an… Read more »
When Zeller CEO and cofounder Ben Pfisterer raised $100 million in a Series B that valued the then two-year fintech at $1 billion, he was talking to his US investor from behind a $19 IKEA desk. Pfisterer has spent his career in payments, including six years building Square in Australia for Jack Dorsey, and has… Read more »
Two Tractor Ventures OGs have teamed up to help deeptech founders with their funding plans. Warwick Donaldson’s CapXcentric has partnered with GROUP GROUP, the new specialist advisory and storytelling curation firm founded by Garry Williams. CapXcentric helps Australian technology startups access funding on the best terms, from the most appropriate investors. works with a range… Read more »
In entrepreneur Jamie Pride’s book, Unicorn Tears, he states that the failure rate of startups is 92% – alarmingly high, but there are things that founders can do to improve these odds. Based on my own experiences in founding and leading software companies, I discovered a way to steward SMEs. I call this way ‘succession… Read more »
“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.” This insightful quote from the famous 1960s American baseball player Vernon Law perfectly encapsulates the entrepreneurial journey. While experience may be a hard teacher, the spirit of winning and losing is governed by lady luck. Entrepreneurs must navigate continual learning, with… Read more »
The federal government has chosen four organisations under its AI Adopt Program to give small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to provide expert advice on how to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations. Each centre will target businesses in key priority areas of the National Reconstruction Fund. The centres will demonstrate how AI can modernise… Read more »
Anxiety is a huge issue that many in society go through. It is considered the most common mental health condition in Australia and America. More than one in six Australians had an anxiety disorder such as social phobia or post-traumatic stress disorder in the previous 12 months, while in America, over 40 million adults accounting… Read more »
Over the past five years, accelerator and incubator programs in Australia have had their ups and downs. Some have opened, while others have closed, and through it all thousands of startups have applied for a chance to increase their odds of survival and growth. Having now completed three corporate run accelerator programs (with KPMG, PepsiCo,… Read more »
(Note: the following are general observations only and do not constitute tax advice) News this week of Macquarie Bank writing off its $46 million investment into software company Plutora has once again brought to light the devastating impact that denied R&D tax incentive claims can have on a startup. Whilst the exact circumstances of Plutora’s… Read more »
In our journey through the business world, we often encounter hurdles that test our resolve, creativity, and strategic thinking. Transitioning from corporate burnout to building a six-figure business within a year, I learnt the indispensable role of essential systems in achieving scalability and profitability. I want to take some time to share with you the… Read more »
‘Reformed’ founder turned academic, Chris Edwards, analyses the most prevalent startup failure factor. In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s more important than ever to put customers first. But how do you find the time to do that when you’re running a startup or small business, where seemingly everyone and everything is vying for your time and… Read more »
Another year, another Black Friday has been and gone. Black Friday is generally the shopping spree that sends consumers into a buying frenzy and businesses into a logistical tangle, but more and more we’re seeing the sale period drag away from the big day and into a month’s worth of offers for savvy shoppers. For… Read more »
About seven years ago, I stood at an art gallery in Sydney in front of a crowd not dissimilar to this one and pitched our startup as part of the first batch of the UNSW Founder 10x program. On that demo day, we did not come across as the best startup, we did not get… Read more »
Entrepreneurship is a thrilling and challenging journey. At its core lies the profound decision of selecting a co-founder, a choice that shapes the very destiny of a startup. The landscape of this relationship encompasses more than skills and expertise; it’s a delicate balance of shared values, mutual trust and a harmonious blend of commercial and… Read more »
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