After travelling through the investment climates of Europe and South East Asia, it’s clear that a tide of optimism is rising for early-stage startups, including those based in Australia. The terrain for securing funding has become more conducive, but how should an Australian entrepreneur navigate this promising period? Let’s explore. Global trends, local implications Firstly,… 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 »
The journey of a startup is seldom a solitary endeavour. It’s an expedition steeped in camaraderie, mentorship and, crucially, timely intervention. A pivotal lifeline, often undervalued or misunderstood, is the startup accelerator. Today, as a technology venture capitalist and a mentor with the Founder Institute, I’d like to share why accelerators warrant serious consideration from… Read more »
In the neon-lit glory of the 1990s, the dawn of the internet era, I took my first steps into the world of entrepreneurship. A period defined by the dot-com bubble, the era was rife with nascent technologies, untapped potential and a burgeoning belief that technology was an alchemical touch transforming everything into gold. This was… Read more »
I recently returned from Silicon Valley where I had insightful conversations with a diverse range of founders and investors. These discussions shed light on the challenges faced by technology startups in the current funding landscape. With venture capitalists (VCs) taking longer to respond and valuations subdued, it is crucial for founders to approach these obstacles… Read more »
As we embark on another year in the world of startups, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges that tech founders will face in 2023. This year, top performing startups will have an easier time raising capital than average performing ones. Startups that have extended their runway by making cuts must ensure that they have strong… Read more »
Founders have a deep relationship with the business they start and are heavily invested in the dream of its long-term success. Their role extends far beyond a standard CEO title and the responsibilities that come with the top job in any other type of business. For this reason, cutting the umbilical cord is difficult for… Read more »
I recently took part in a one-day workshop on business strategy. Run by Harvard Business School professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee, he outlined a framework for how companies can achieve more by doing less and argues whether you’re a large business with multiple product lines or a startup that’s chasing a burgeoning market opportunity, by following a… Read more »
Last week I was at an international board meeting. While we’ve met countless times using Zoom over the last two years, it was our first in-person meeting since the beginning of 2020. Expectations were high as we welcomed new board members and reconnected with existing board members. There were lots to catch up on,… Read more »
The Australian Open captures the hearts and minds of Australians for the last two weeks of January each year. This year was no different, especially with the dream run of the world’s number one tennis player, Ash Barty, as she cruised into the finals of the grand slam. Despite being down in the second… Read more »
During one of my recent office hours, I was asked by a founder about how to best prepare for their first formal board meeting. While the two founders had previously held informal board meetings and separate sessions with an advisory board, this would their first meeting with external board members. The fast-growing startup had recently… Read more »
Last week I was chatting with a founder who claimed they had achieved product-market fit with their novel technology business. She and her co-founder had been working hard on the product for months. Their solution was in beta, it already had several users, and was generating valuable feedback from these users. She proudly explained that… Read more »
You’re a product visionary. You’ve incorporated customer feedback into your business. Your revenue model is scalable. Your brand is on point and cutting through. Your prototypes and proof of concepts are gaining customer traction. Your metrics are pointing in the right direction. Now all you need is funding to support your go-to-market. While we’ve previously… Read more »
In the final of a three-part series, I explore key areas for innovation in 2021 From banking to healthcare, and cyber security to marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by executives to drive efficiency and automate decisions. At last count, there are around 500 AI startups in Australia using machine learning to solve… Read more »
In the second of a three-part series, I explore key areas for innovation in 2021 Digital health came of age in 2020. There really is nothing quite like a global pandemic to drive innovation and modernise Australian healthcare infrastructure. And with growing levels of comfort and an increase in the number of health tech businesses… Read more »
The lessons from Uber, Ola and rideshare’s disruption is that in the end, the consumer still pays 
Unicorn dehorned: Nasdaq-listed Brisbane EV charging venture Tritium collapses into receivership 
Here are the finalists in Fintech Australia’s 2024 Finnies awards 
‘Have I gone too far?’ How founders can beat their startup demons 
Daily startup news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
