Open The Pod Bay Doors

Ian sits down with Hugo Bieber, Partner at Think & Grow, and Jacqui Tucker, Head of Employment, Taxes & Reward, Enterprise, KPMG, to discuss the 2021-2022 Australian Startup Salary Guide by Think & Grow and KPMG High Growth Ventures. Supported by Tech Council of Australia, the guide was produced with 20 leading VCs, surveying over 3,000 positions across 140 companies and is designed for startups looking to recruit and retain the best talent in the ecosystem. The panel discusses a variety of topics around recruiting, attracting, paying, rewarding, and motivating talent.Ian and panel discuss the guide in detail, including…The need for the salary benchmarking guide within the startup ecosystemDifference in salary ranges between early stage startups and later stage startupsThe importance of transparency within the marketHow ESOPs can be used for attraction and retentionThe great resignation and what it means for Australian companiesThe trend toward flexible work arrangements...and more!Download the 20

Manuri Gunawardena is the Founder and CEO of HealthMatch. HealthMatch was founded in 2017, after Manuri won TechnCrunch’s Startup Battlefield. It is a Medtech platform built to help patients connect with clinical trials. It operates as a marketplace, allowing patients to have access to the latest treatments and trials.Manuri is an ambitious founder with an extensive medical background. She is the winner of the 2021 Bold Future Award by Veuve Clicquot and has been named as one of The Australians top 100 innovators of 2021. As a former medical student turned entrepreneur, Manuri is passionate about combining her medical experience and technology to deliver better healthcare.Ian & Manuri discuss a variety of topics, including…The importance of patient accessibility to clinical trialsEmpowering patients as drivers in healthcareManuri’s journey from medical student to entrepreneurThe impact the Covid-19 vaccine development had on the medical worldThe consumer approach of HealthMatchHealthMatch’s recent expansi

Max Cunningham is currently the Group Executive of Listings at ASX. Previously, he was the Head of Equity Capital Markets at Goldman Sachs in New York and the Director of the Macquarie Group in London. Max has a wide array of global experience and provides unique insight into the state of the Australian market.Max and Ian discuss many topics, including…The emergence and growth of the tech sector in AustraliaTech becoming the largest sector for issuing secondary capitalWhy some US companies choose to list in AustraliaThe potential future of work in AustraliaMacro-trends that could positively impact the ecosystemThe importance of building community...and much more!Quickfire RecommendationsBook: Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs by Walter IsaacsonPodcast: The Ideas Exchange Podcast, Conversations with People Who Hate MeNews Source: The New York TimesApp: PhysiAppProductivity Tool: “My wife”Favourite Tech CEO: Richard White, WiseTechFavourite TV Show: Ozark, FaudaTed Talk Topic: “The confluence of

Welcome to another edition of the OTPBD News Special, our series which analyses the news that matters for Australian and Kiwi startups. This week, we’re focusing on news stories centred around climate tech and renewable energy.Meet this week's panel…Mick Liubinskas, Climate SaladAli Cluines-Ross, ArtesianTopics we discuss: Australia's goal of net zero emissions by 2050, The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Grok Ventures becoming Australia’s first $1b VC fund to invest in climate tech, Loam Bio raising a $40m Series A with backing from Marc Benioff (TIME Ventures) and Mike Cannon-Brookes (Grok Ventures), Australian energy company Woodside partnering with US-based solar startup Heliogen, Square Peg backing waste reduction startup Zero Co in $6m raise, Bitcoin mining coming to Byron Bay with a data centre powered by renewable energy, and Atlassan’s new 40-storey HQ which will operate on renewable energy.Additional information can be found below:https://www.climatesalad.com/https://events.humanitix.

Steve Fanale is the CEO and Founder of DriveYello, a company that helps businesses provide last mile delivery service to their customers. DriveYello’s mission is becoming the smartest gig economy management platform. Steve has been an active member of the startup ecosystem since the early 2000s, before it was fully established in Australia. Steve’s story of founding and building DriveYello is one of tenacity, resilience, talent, and leadership. He is an open and passionate founder, who shares a variety of insights around his experience.Steve and Ian discuss...What Steve learned during his time as a professional sportsmanSteve’s varied career history and how it led him to where he is todayHow the idea of DriveYello came to be in 2014The gig economy in Australia and how gig economy businesses operate and scaleHow DriveYello was able to enable businesses to survive during Covid-19 lockdownsSteve’s experience as a Summit member and how it has provided him supportWhat is next for DriveYello...and much more!Quickfi

Nicky Jackson is the founder and CEO of RangeMe, a product discovery and sourcing platform that allows retailers and suppliers to connect. RangeMe owns and dominates within the United States market, where they currently have 200,000 active suppliers and 10,000 retail buyers in their network. RangeMe works with over 75% of leading US-based retailers.Nicky has spent several years working for large multinational companies, bringing brands to market. RangeMe was founded in 2013 after Nicky developed her own skincare range and found it difficult to get a foot in the door at major retailers. She recognised this pain point and sought to create a platform that could seamlessly connect retailers and brands to one another. Nicky’s story is an amazing one of tenacity, hustle, product focus, and team culture.Ian and Nicky discussed a broad range of topics, including…The challenge of securing funding for RangeMe prior to the existence of a thriving startup ecosystemThe story of RangeMe’s acquisition and why they decided t

Welcome to another edition of the OTPBD News Special, our fortnightly series which analyses the news that matters for Australian and Kiwi startups.Meet this week's panel...Matt Allen, Tractor VenturesAndrea Kowalski, Tidal VenturesTopics we discuss: The Global Startup Genome Report, Clearco tapping into the Australian e-commerce boom, early stage venture capital fund Tidal Ventures launching Tidal’s Expert Network, new Sydney VC fund Black Nova, the Iconic teaming up with circular economy provider Airrobe, Lawpath’s recent $7.5m raise, Kate Morris & Justin Ryan joining together in a new private equity venture: Glow Capital Partners, and several recent raises in Fintech.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to another edition of the OTPBD News Special, our fortnightly series which analyses the news that matters for Australian and Kiwi startups.Meet this week's panel...John Henderson, AirTree VenturesStew Glynn, TEN13Topics we discuss: Christian Porter resigning as Industry Minister, Immutable securing $82 million in funding, Canva raising $200 million at a $40 billion valuation, Microsoft acquiring Brisbane-based Clipchamp, BNPL platform Scalapay becoming a unicorn, Delegate Connect’s $10 million seed round, Insurtech Open raising $31 million in a series B, and Startmate proposing a change to startup investment rules.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex McCauley is the Founder and Executive Director of Tech Council of Australia. Previously, he was the Founding CEO of StartupAUS, which recently morphed into Tech Council of Australia. Prior to joining StartupAUS, Alex worked as a Diplomat for the Australian government in Israel. Alex is an intelligent and dynamic founder who is passionate about technology and the startup ecosystem. He has a wide range of knowledge on policy, technology, innovation, advocacy, and more!Ian & Alex discussed several topics including…The growth of the Australian startup sectorAlex’s experience over the past 6 years as CEO of StartupAUSWhy StartupAUS is becoming Tech Council of AustraliaThe process of establishing the Tech Council teamThe release of The Crossroads ReportAlex’s experience at Stanford and how it will benefit him going forwardWhat Alex hopes Tech Council will achieve...and more!Quickfire RecommendationsBook: Masters of Rome Series by Colleen McCulloughPodcast: Reply AllNews Source: The EconomistProductivity To

Welcome to another edition of the OTPBD News Special, our fortnightly series which analyses the news that matters for Australian and Kiwi startups.Meet this week's panel...Lauren Capelin, StartmateMichael Batko, StartmateAlex Scandurra, ex-Stone & ChalkTopics we discuss: Alex Scandurra stepping down as CEO at Stone & Chalk, Startmate's plan to build an "Innovation City," we get the inside line from our host Ian about Jelix Ventures doing their first $17m close, AfterWork Ventures closing a $10m fund, Canva ranking #3 in the Forbes Cloud 100, the transition of StartupAUS to the Tech Council, Bendigo acquiring Melbourne-based fintech Ferocia for $116m, Latitude acquiring lending fintech Symple for $200m, the 2021 Mid-Year Global CVC Report, & Kevin Rudd joining the advisory board of Crimson Education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Pfisterer is the CEO and Co-Founder of Zeller, an alternative to business banking. Prior to founding Zeller, Ben was the country manager for Square in Australia. Zeller was founded in early 2020 and has seen massive growth since then, with several rounds of capital raises and a team of 100. Zeller is just getting started, with sights on becoming a multigenerational business that changes the landscape of the Australian payments industry and expands globally. Ben is an ambitious, fast-moving, and highly capable founder with many insights to share.Ian sits down with Ben to discuss…A high-level view of the payments industryHow Zeller raised a large amount of money in a short period of timeWhy each employee should be part-owner of the businessSquare’s recent acquisition of AfterpayThe growth of the Buy Now, Pay Later sectorHow resilience played a role in Ben’s journeyThe mental health pressures that many Founders experience...and much more!Quickfire RecommendationsBook: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by

Sam Kroonenburg is the CEO and Founder of A Cloud Guru, a disruptive online learning platform for cloud certification and training. A Cloud Guru has recently been acquired by Pluralsight, a US company, in the largest-ever acquisition of an Australian software company. The story of A Cloud Guru is an amazing example of product-market fit and successfully getting the product into the hands of the customers who need it most.Sam has an extensive background in software development; he spent years at Microsoft as a Software Design Engineer. Sam also spent time honing his software development skills at Kiandra IT, where he worked as a Software Development Lead and a Software Development Manager.During their chat, Ian & Sam discuss…Sam’s extensive background in software developmentWorking in an ever-changing industryEngaging customers through educationThe natural progression of adding B2B servicesThe process of negotiations that led to the acquisition by PluralsightThe unique set of challenges A Cloud Guru faced

Joined by Paul Naphtali (Rampersand), Sarah Nolet (Tenacious Ventures), and Rachel Yang (Giant Leap), Ian sits down for a deep dive into family offices. The panel discusses a variety of topics related to family offices and provides a wealth of information for potential VC investors as well as those looking to learn more about who is behind VC funds.Ian & the panel discuss…The role family offices play in Australia and how it is evolvingHow family offices can help innovation become a core part of the Australian economyThe differences between a family office and an individualThe intergenerational nature of family officesDeal flow as a determinant of success in first-time fundsThe importance of ESG (environmental, social, governance)Trends among family offices...and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashik Ahmed is the Co-Founder, CEO, and CTO of Deputy, a workforce management software platform. Deputy seeks to simplify shift work for hundreds of thousands of customers around the globe. Ashik is a genuine, open, and honest CEO with a multitude of insights on the founder journey.Ashik is back on Open the Pod Bay Doors to discuss…The difficulties Deputy faced during the pandemic and how they overcame themHow Deputy adapted to place more of a focus on the healthcare industryDeputy’s recent rebranding and how it came to beThe concept of “clocked-in for the customer”The startup landscape in Australia and how COVID-19 has impacted itHow he is largely driven by courage & compassion...and much more!Quickfire RecommendationsBooks: Shoe Dog by Phil KnightPodcast: The Tim Ferriss ShowNew Source: Facebook videoApp: WiZ AppFavourite Tech CEO: Jeff Bezos (Amazon)Productivity Tool: Screen time on iPhone, turning notifications offTV Show: The PlaybookTed Talk Topic: “Being selfless and owning that selflessness”______

Lauren Hall is the Founder and CEO of iVvy, a venue and event management software company. Prior to founding iVvy, Lauren worked across a variety of industries including clothing, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and technology. Lauren is a tenacious founder with an indomitable spirit; her story is one of talent, hustle, resilience, and success.Lauren & Ian discuss a wide array of topics including…How Taekwondo impacts several areas of Lauren’s business and lifeGrowing up in South Africa and how it sparked Lauren’s desire to immigrate to AustraliaThe process of healing post tragedy and traumaLauren’s introduction into the events industry and how iVvy came to beHow Lauren successfully led iVvy through COVIDThe ways in which COVID has impacted the events industryPreparation for iVvy’s upcoming IPOThe existence of hybrid events and the future of the events industry...and more!Quickfire Recommendations:Book: Scale or Fail by Allison MaslanPodcast: The Joe Rogan ExperienceTech CEO: Mike Cannon-Brookes & Scott Farquh

Welcome to another edition of the OTPBD News Special, our fortnightly series which analyses the news that matters for Australian and Kiwi startups.Meet this week's panel...Tessa Court, IntelligenceBankDanny Gilligan, ReinventureKevin Jochelson, The Tech RooportTopics we discuss:The discussion kicks off with the biggest headline of the fortnight: Square's $39 billion acquisition of AfterPay. The panel dives into the implications of the deal for the BNPL sector, and banking in general. We also discuss the new innovation hub opening up in the new Salesforce Tower in Sydney, Australia's first crypto credit card from CoinJar, the new $270 million VC fund from Airwallex, and new raises by IntelligenceBank and Culture Amp._______Subscribe to The Tech Rooport for a daily dose of headlines from the ANZ startup ecosystem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Boyle is the CEO of Newcastle-based Pegasus, a competency management software and services organisation. Adam joined Pegasus as a General Manager in 2007 and became CEO in 2010, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. Pegasus was recently acquired by U.S. company Avetta; the deal was finalised last week after receiving regulatory approval.During their chat, Ian & Adam discuss many topics including...The transition of Pegasus from a labor hire company to a tech companyPegasus’s recent acquisition by Avetta and how it came to beThe benefits and challenges of running a Newcastle-based tech organisationPegasus operating with a growth mindsetManaging the tension between sales and development...and more!Quickfire RecommendationsBook: t by Andy AllenThe Next ElemenPodcast: How I Built ThisNews Source: The Newcastle Herald, AFR, The AustralianFavourite Tech CEO: Ryan Smith (Qualtrics)Favourite App: HeyYouProductivity Tool: CoffeeFavourite TV Show: Loki, The Footy ShowTed Talk Topic: “How m

Welcome to another edition of the OTPBD News Special, our fortnightly series which analyses the news that matters for Australian and Kiwi startups.Meet this week's panel...Melissa Widner, Lighter CapitalPeter Dunne, Herbert Smith Freehills & Safety CultureBarnaby Marshall, Icehouse VenturesTopics we discuss:Our panel kicks off with a discussion of the recent call from leading Australian tech investors and founders for a plan to end the lockdown crisis and then transitions to talk about funds, raises, and acquisitions from the Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem. Some major headlines we cover: new funds from ANZ, Tennis Australia, Our Innovation Fund, and Tractor Ventures and raises and exits by Go1, Rokt, Sweat, Invoice2go, and Employment Hero._______Horizon, Innovation Bay's angel investor community, is hosting a number of upcoming pitch events. Apply to pitch here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Ferguson is the CEO and co-founder of Immutable, a platform that provides scalable blockchain infrastructure for video games. James is a driven founder with a growth mindset that has led Immutable to build a staff of 100 and raise $20m. James and his brother/co-founder, Robbie Ferguson, have been featured on the ‘Forbes 30 under 30’ list for their impressive work in growing and scaling Immutable.Ian sits down with James to discuss…His journey to founding ImmutableThe process of recruiting a successful teamBuilding a team culture centred around a growth mindsetThe gaming industry as a wholeImmutable operating in a carbon-neutral wayThe history and future of NFTs...and more!Quickfire RecommendationsBook: The Three Body Problem trilogy by Liu CixinPodcast: The Tim Ferriss ShowNews Source: Stratechery by Ben Thompson, Matt Levine newsletter in BloombergTech CEO: Patrick Collison (Stripe) & Sam Bankman-Fried (FTX Exchange)App: DeliverooProductivity Tool: Polymail (a tool to tackle email)TV Show: Drive to

Matthew Koertge, Managing Director of Telstra Ventures, is an unsung hero of the Venture Capital industry with a portfolio including 78 investments, 28 liquidity events, 12 unicorns, and a staff of 19 globally. He is a passionate and dynamic advocate for the startup industry, where he has been active since 1998. Prior to starting at Telstra Ventures in 2011, Matthew worked across a variety of industries including positions at Accede Capital Venture Partners, Deutsche Bank, Macquarie Group, and Fujitsu.In his chat with Ian, Matthew discusses:The GP LP structure of Telstra Ventures and why it worksTelstra Ventures operating as a thematic investorThe Telstra customer network and why it is an asset for Telstra VenturesThe growth of the Australian startup ecosystem over the past 10 yearsThe existence and future of secondary marketsAustralia’s venture capital market in comparison to other countries globally...and more!Quickfire Recommendations: by Yuval Noah Harari, by Ben Horowitz, & by Bill Carr and Colin