I often hear founders say “Australian VCs are so conservative, they all want traction before they’ll invest! You have to go to the US!”. While the idea that you must go to the US for funding merits a longer write-up, let’s talk about VCs asking for traction. VCs, like most people, can be bad communicators.… 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 »
For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or –273.15°C). That’s because the quantum phenomena that grant quantum computers their unique computational abilities can only be harnessed by isolating them from the warmth of the familiar classical… Read more »
The tech sector was one of the only industries in Australia which saw the number of job ads increase over the last month but was also the only sector that saw wages go backwards, according to reports. New data from Seek showed the number of jobs ads posted in the information and communications technology sector… Read more »
Semiconductors are the basic building blocks of microchips. These technological marvels are in everything from lightbulbs and toothbrushes to cars, trains and planes, not to mention the vast array of electronics that have become integral to many people’s daily lives. The 21st century chip manufacturing industry has been described as “at least as significant geopolitically… Read more »
Investor Rayn Ong pointed out recently that “VCs (and angels) say no to 95% of the founders they meet with”. That’s ignoring the many more no responses over emails and even DMs (from some brave founders). As anyone in startup land will attest, the no comes in many forms. There is of course the quick,… Read more »
We’re living longer than in previous generations, with one in eight elderly Australians now aged over 85. But the current gap between life expectancy (“lifespan”) and health-adjusted life expectancy (“healthspan”) is about ten years. This means many of us live with significant health problems in our later years. To increase our healthspan, we need planned,… Read more »
Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they come close to making streaming services look generous. By law, no radio station can be made to pay more than 1% of the station’s gross revenue for… Read more »
How I became a customer of, and then an ex-customer, of a password/security startup, PassCamp What happened (or didn’t happen) at PassCamp that lead to their demise What they could have done differently to (potentially) avoid their fate Lessons to takeaway in what they did well for sunsetting a product Most businesses fail. Of the… Read more »
Australia’s startup world glorifies venture capital as the holy grail—the insider’s ticket to fast scaling and billion-dollar valuations. FOMO sets in when headlines splash record-breaking funding rounds, fuelling a culture that views VC backing as the singular metric for success. As an ecosystem, we fixate on spinning the VC roulette wheel. Even founders who don’t… Read more »
The first Pride Pitch Night dedicated to LGBTIQA+ founders in the Southern Hemisphere was a fantastic celebration of diversity, inclusion, and innovation, showcasing the untapped potential within Sydney’s LGBTIQA+ entrepreneurial community with an estimated 75% of LGBTIQA+ founders not comfortable disclosing their identity. This is concerning not just for LGBTIQA+ entrepreneurs seeking funding but for… Read more »
A five-month legal showdown between three tech titans has kicked off in Australia, with Fortnite-maker Epic Game’s case against Apple and Google to have potentially huge ramifications for how we use our smartphones. Epic’s legal battle with Apple and Google began in Federal Court in Melbourne on Monday, centred on the dominance of the tech giant’s app… Read more »
Are you too trusting or too sceptical? Launching and running small businesses and startups have many moving parts to stay in the game and be successful. So many decisions are at play and risk minimisation is a key. Being too trusting or too sceptical will cause angst. Reaching a beneficial middle requires strong discernment muscles.… Read more »
2023 was a tough funding year across the market, so many founders are looking hopefully ahead to the promise of 2024. While I believe there is going to be some recovery this year for startups seeking funding, this will be gradual and geared towards the larger end of the market, as mergers and acquisitions and… Read more »
In the East coast bubble, it’s easy to forget that Australia’s economy is in large part powered by heavy industry and of course, agriculture. Recently, the technology and agriculture sectors collided at the evokeAG conference in Perth, organised by Agrifutures Australia. Within a theme of Exceptional Edge, Agrifutures Chair Cathy McGowan highlighted the importance of connecting, building communities… Read more »
‘Have I gone too far?’ How founders can beat their startup demons 
Tassie carbon accounting startup banks $5.3 million Seed round 
Unicorn dehorned: Nasdaq-listed Brisbane EV charging venture Tritium collapses into receivership 
The lessons from Uber, Ola and rideshare’s disruption is that in the end, the consumer still pays 
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