Eleanor Salt and Melissa Ran sign on with Innovation Bay

Two leading women in Australia’s startup sector have joined tech community builder Innovation Bay.

Eleanor Salt, who recently returned to Australia from Singapore after working with Sydney-based fintech Nano Lending Solutions, has signed on as Innovation Bay’s as community manager.

Former Airtree head of community Melissa Ran, is joining as investment ambassador for the organisation’s angel investor community, Horizon.

Phaedon Stough, CEO and cofounder of Innovation Bay, said they’re they’re an ambitious, dedicated duo who will elevate the overall member experience and discover untapped deal flow potential.

“Angels in the Horizon community are an elite group of incredibly successful and experienced business leaders who all believe in the entrepreneurial spirit and the power of technology,” he said.

“Horizon’s vision is to become Australia’s premier tech investment community, where discernment meets dynamism and support. In this space, experienced investors and visionary early-stage founders come together to create not just groundbreaking technology companies, but a future where innovation, education, and community engagement are at the forefront.

“By exclusively focusing on tech and fostering an environment of collaboration and insight, Innovation Bay is committed to nurturing the most networked, insightful, and engaged community of tech investors in Australia, dedicated to propelling the next generation of industry leaders.”

Salt has worked in the startup ecosystem for a number of years, predominantly in fintech, healthtech, proptech and corporate advisory with roles extending from Westpac, Seed Partnerships and AOK Pass.

She said she plans to lead community engagement and experience to ensure Innovation Bay’s angel investors are getting ultimate value out of membership.

“I’m excited to meet and learn from some of Australia’s most seasoned angel investors and entrepreneurs. Everyone’s background and reason for being in Horizon is different, and I think it creates an incredible community of like-minded people who have something unique to offer,” she said.

Prior to Airtree, Melissa Ran was program manager for UNSW’s founders program, and has worked in and with a number of startups.

She will lead engagement with founders and early stage tech companies keen to pitch to Innovation Bay’s Horizon angels, who have backed more 25 founders, investing over $5 million.

Ran said she’s searching for companies with a robust technological component, with founders who have strong domain and technical expertise in the problem they are solving, and are post product and in the early stages of growing revenue with signs of enthusiastic customer adoption.

“Many of the founders I’ve worked with over the last 13 years have achieved huge successes with their businesses and it’s a special privilege to have seen the 0 to 1 to 100 process up close,” she said.

“The same journey is awaiting those starting right now! I’m super excited to uncover the next generation of brilliant founders that the Horizon and wider Innovation Bay community can get behind.”

Angel and high net worth investors interested in learning more about the Horizon community, can find out more here.

Applications are currently open for founders to apply to pitch to Innovation Bay’s angel investor community here.