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Start-up Founders, Venture Captial, Private Equity, Accelerators - hear them all talk about their stories where they went wrong, what went right and what they learned!
Give It A Nudge
Give It A Nudge
Transcribed
1 OCT 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Michael Batko, CEO of Startmate, to dive into how he’s building one of the most successful startup accelerators in Australia. Michael shares the story of his journey from consulting to startups, the growth of Startmate, and his vision for the future.
They discuss how Startmate is supporting founders, investors, and job seekers while scaling a vibrant startup community. Michael also gives a sneak peek into his productivity-focused side hustle and reveals his ambitious plan to build a "Startmate City" for founders and innovators.
Timestamps:
00:18 - Welcome Michael Batko to the show
00:53 - What is Startmate and its mission
01:31 - Michael’s background in consulting and transition to startups
02:18 - Early days at Mad Paws and lessons from scaling startups
03:50 - The value of making mistakes in startups
06:49 - Trekking through the Amazon: Lessons from Michael’s travels
10:00 - Returning to Australia and the serendipity of landing at Startmate
13:09 - Setting up and scaling an incubator at Startmate
14:42 - The challenges of running a startup accelerator
16:00 - Michael’s thoughts on community-driven growth and marketing
17:05 - The vision for Startmate’s future and building "Startmate City"
20:48 - The success of Startmate’s investments and community-driven venture fund
24:00 - Michael’s productivity side hustle and teaching AI tools
26:13 - The hardest lessons Michael has learned in fundraising and people management
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Transcribed
24 SEP 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Scott King, co-founder of Zapme, an innovative global communications platform that simplifies international travel by providing seamless connectivity.
Scott dives into the story of how Zapme was born out of the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic while working overseas, sparking the idea for a service that offers global numbers, data, and messaging—all in one app.
Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Alice Springs to working in Japan, Miami, and on cruise ships before founding Zapme. He reflects on the importance of solving problems, the lessons learned along the way, and Zapme’s potential to help not only travellers but professionals, recruiters, and even dating app users.
Scott also offers a glimpse into Zapme’s exciting future, including plans to expand into B2B markets and how the platform can be used beyond travel. He emphasises the importance of building a global community and solving everyday communication challenges.
Timestamps:
01:00 - What Zapme does and Scott’s inspiration
03:00 - The impact of COVID-19 on Zapme’s creation
06:45 - Scott’s entrepreneurial background: From Japan to cruise ships
09:30 - How Zapme solves global communication issues for travellers
13:00 - Expanding Zapme’s use cases: Recruiters, dating apps, and more
16:30 - Scott’s vision for Zapme’s future and the B2B market
19:00 - The importance of community and solving global problems
Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring conversations with founders, innovators, and industry leaders!
Transcribed
17 SEP 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Ruth Hatherley, Founder & CEO of MoneyCatcha, a fintech company making waves by using open banking data to revolutionise the home loan process for consumers and brokers alike.
Ruth shares the story of MoneyCatcha's evolution, starting from blockchain technology to leveraging open banking to democratise data and offer faster, more competitive home loan solutions. She dives into the impact of COVID-19 on the financial landscape, how the shift toward digital processes changed the game for brokers, and her passion for improving the customer experience in the home loan industry.
Ruth also discusses the challenges of being a first-time founder, the resilience required to build a fintech startup, and her exciting plans for MoneyCatcha’s future, including expansion into other industries and markets.
Timestamps:
00:57 - What MoneyCatcha does and Ruth's journey
03:30 - Shifting from blockchain to open banking
05:00 - The impact of COVID-19 on the home loan industry
07:45 - Helping brokers use data to provide better loan options
09:30 - Ruth’s personal journey from banking to fintech founder
12:00 - Open banking and its impact on consumers
15:00 - The future of MoneyCatcha: Expanding beyond banking
18:30 - Ruth's thoughts on resilience and growth as a founder
Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more amazing conversations with startup founders, innovators, and industry leaders!
Transcribed
10 SEP 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace chats with Cameron Smith from Take2, a company that provides individuals who have had contact with the justice system a second chance at life through a three-year tech training and employment program.
Cameron explains how Take2 offers not just technical training but also essential life skills, aiming to break down barriers and create employment pathways for those who have faced significant challenges.
Cameron shares his journey into founding Take2, his background in recruitment, and how witnessing the discrimination faced by people with convictions inspired him to launch the organisation. The conversation dives into the difficulties of getting prisons, funders, and employment partners on board, and the challenges of implementing the program in both New Zealand and now Australia.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Take2's mission: A second chance for those in the justice system
02:03 - Cameron's background and inspiration for starting Take2
03:30 - Overcoming initial challenges in launching the program
05:00 - The transformative power of employment for marginalised individuals
07:00 - Launching in Australia: Adapting the model for a new market
09:30 - Building employer partnerships and breaking down prejudices
11:15 - Success stories from Take2's graduates
13:00 - How to get involved and support Take2’s mission
Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring stories from the world of startups, scaleups and high-growth companies!
Transcribed
3 SEP 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Sophie Hood, founder of Seoul Tonic, to explore her journey of creating a unique health tonic inspired by South Korean traditions.
Sophie shares her story from starting in consulting and finance to diving into the world of consumer health products. She discusses her fascination with Korean skincare, which led her to discover traditional ingredients that help with alcohol metabolism and liver detoxification.
Timestamps:
01:17 - Quick pitch on Seoul Tonic
01:43 - Sophie's inspiration from South Korea
03:12 - Transition from consulting to Moet Hennessy
04:52 - Experience at Moet Hennessy and Red Bull
06:29 - Starting Seoul Tonic and creating the product
09:59 - Finding the right manufacturer during COVID
13:10 - Distribution challenges and initial marketing
15:59 - Winning Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars
21:04 - Expansion into international markets
25:35 - Bootstrapping the business and maintaining equity
30:26 - Future plans and new product launch
Stay ahead of the curve—subscribe to Give It A Nudge for the latest conversations from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies!
27 AUG 2024 · In this episode of Give It a Nudge, Steve chats with Alex Kerr (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-kerr-6599b7197/), the founder of Kumo Study (https://www.kumostudy.com/), a study management tool for students with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity.
Steve and Alex discuss her journey from university to founding Kumo Study, the unique challenges she faced as a non-tech founder, and how she successfully bootstrapped the business. They also explore Kumo Study's innovative approach to digitising occupational therapy techniques to create an effective learning tool for neurodiverse students.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and setting the scene
00:18 - Meet Alex Kerr of Kumo Study
01:06 - Quick pitch on Kumo Study and its mission
02:21 - Alex’s background and journey to founding Kumo Study
03:13 - Realising the impact of ADHD on her own study habits
06:29 - Transition from university to startup life
09:18 - Importance of setting up the right study environment
12:30 - Features of Kumo Study: digitising occupational therapy techniques
15:00 - Addressing comorbidities: Dyslexia, Autism, and ADHD
20:21 - Bootstrapping and building Kumo Study
25:35 - Current state and future plans for Kumo Study
This episode is perfect for anyone interested in how technology can support neurodiverse students in their academic journey, and how personal challenges can lead to innovative solutions.
Stay ahead of the curve—subscribe to Give It A Nudge for the latest conversations from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies!
Transcribed
20 AUG 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Gabriela Scharf, Founder of Get Cool Brands. Gabriela's fascinating career journey takes centre stage as she shares her experiences moving from Brazil to Australia, working with major brands like Red Bull and WeWork, and eventually finding her passion in purpose-driven initiatives.
Gabriela recounts the challenges of starting anew in Australia, initially working in hospitality before landing marketing roles. Her time at WeWork during COVID shaped her views on the importance of flexibility and community, leading her to focus on building communities and promoting sustainable brands through Get Cool Brands.
Gabriela also discusses her role as an ambassador for the Community Collective, a global network for community managers, and emphasises the value of human interaction and community in a post-COVID world.
Timestamps:
00:18 - Introduction to Gabriela Scharf
01:22 - Moving from Brazil to Australia
03:00 - Early career struggles and transition
06:19 - Working at WeWork during COVID
08:14 - Importance of community and human interaction
11:46 - Founding Get Cool Brands
15:20 - Supporting sustainable brands
18:24 - Ambassador role at Community Collective
21:50 - Future plans and goals
Subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring stories from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies!
Transcribed
13 AUG 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace chats with Jessie Hughes, Senior Creative Technologist at Leonardo.Ai, just days after their acquisition by Canva.
Steve and Jessie discuss the groundbreaking features of Leonardo.Ai, a generative AI-powered content creation suite designed to democratize creativity by making high-quality content creation accessible to everyone.
Jessie shares insights into the company’s rapid growth, innovative tools like real-time canvas doodling and high-resolution upscaling, and the strategic benefits of the Canva acquisition while maintaining Leonardo.Ai's independence.
They also explore Jessie’s unique career path, from her background in interaction design and VR filmmaking to her role in the AI industry, highlighting the importance of adaptability and the transformative potential of AI in various sectors.
The conversation touches on the future of AI, the balance between technological advancement and human creativity, and the collaborative efforts to ensure AI's positive impact on society.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:18 - Meet Jessie Hughes of Leonardo.Ai
00:36 - Canva's acquisition of Leonardo.Ai
03:30 - Overview of Leonardo.Ai's tools and features
08:23 - Democratizing creativity with AI
12:29 - Jessie's career journey and impact of AI
15:36 - Synergy between Leonardo.Ai and Canva
23:10 - Future of AI and creative industries
27:09 - Navigating rapid technological advancements
Subscribe to Give It A Nudge for the latest conversations from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies!
Transcribed
6 AUG 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Stephen Zilioli, the Founder & CEO of PostLock (https://www.postlock.com.au/), a revolutionary new savings product designed to help aspiring homeowners keep up with runaway property prices.
Steve and Stephen discuss the journey from a stable banking career to founding PostLock, the difficulties of navigating government regulations, and the unique approach PostLock takes in partnering with governments to provide secure, inflation-adjusted returns for home savers. They also explore the significant progress made in the UK, the strategy behind choosing the UK market, and the future plans for expansion and capital raising.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:18 - Meet Stephen Zilioli of PostLock
00:33 - Quick pitch on PostLock and its mission
03:30 - Challenges of saving for home deposits
08:23 - How PostLock works
12:29 - Flexibility and potential exceptions
15:36 - Government partnerships and UK progress
23:10 - Raising capital and ideal investors
27:09 - Surprises and easiest aspects of the journey
Stay ahead of the curve—subscribe to Give It A Nudge for the latest conversations from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies!
Transcribed
30 JUL 2024 · In this very exciting episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Dickie, known as "the hype man" for the Australian tech and innovation ecosystem.
Dickie talks about his unique career path, starting from law school and the Territorial Army, moving on to become a Moroccan country specialist in the travel industry, and finally diving into the Australian startup world. He shares his colourful experiences and the impactful roles he's had, highlighting his passion for promoting Australian innovation.
Steve and Dickie discuss his move from Melbourne to Sydney and his impact on the startup community through roles at Startup Victoria and his current project, Tech Australia Advocates. This initiative aims to connect the Australian tech ecosystem with global partners and create a more inclusive community.
Dickie also talks about his dedication to creating meaningful content and fostering innovation. He reveals his long-term dream of becoming a travel writer, telling global innovation stories and linking them to Australia.
Timestamps:
00:18 - Introduction to Dickie, the hype man
01:08 - Dickie's unique career journey
06:19 - Startup experiences in Australia
10:02 - Role at Startup Victoria and Tech Australia Advocates
18:43 - Moving from Melbourne to Sydney
22:00 - Dickie's dedication to content creation and innovation
26:45 - Balancing work-life and avoiding burnout
32:15 - Dickie's long-term dream of becoming a travel writer
36:30 - Importance of diversity and inclusion in tech
40:50 - Final thoughts and future outlook
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Start-up Founders, Venture Captial, Private Equity, Accelerators - hear them all talk about their stories where they went wrong, what went right and what they learned!
Information
Author | Steve Grace |
Organization | Steve Grace |
Categories | Business , Entrepreneurship , Careers |
Website | www.spreaker.com |
steve@thenudgegroup.com |
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