Rampersand

📣 Building early-stage companies is hard enough; staying on top of what matters shouldn’t be. Every two weeks, we share a quick, no-fluff newsletter with: – Wins, raises & job opps from across our portfolio – The latest in #VC (in Aus + beyond) – Big tech news worth knowing – Real talk on how to #startup – Events you’ll find us at. Thousands of founders, operators & investors already get it in their inbox. No spam. Just sharp info, every fortnight. 📬 Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gxNtbMxh

☕ but first, COFFEE! Thank you to everyone who turned out on this chilly Melbourne morning for a cuppa and to share their epic stories of hustle: in conversation with Renece Brewster GAICD and Helen Souness. Special thanks to those featured in our wrap-up vid below (in order of appearance) for sharing your stories: Jennifer Graham, Jessica Box, Alita Harvey-Rodriguez, Trevor Brunton, Rod Hamilton, & Dr Angela Lim. Have FOMO? Want to know what stories were shared? Well, that's for those who were able to make it. Don't miss the next one - subscribe to our SubStack to find out when we're hosting next. Big thanks to the legends (Mark "Z" Zmarzly 🦄and Nikita Le Messurier) at AWS Startups for sponsoring the caffeination!

🚀 We’re thrilled to be backing the phenomenal Cuttable | Good Ads, Instantly team as they close out their seed round - raising an incredible $10M, one of the largest seed rounds in Aus #startup history. Cuttable, led by the world-class trio of Sam Kroonenburg, Jack W., and Edward R., is building the world’s first #AI creative agency for growing #ecommerce brands, helping them create in minutes what once took weeks. 50+ ecommerce brands are already using Cuttable to turn their existing images and videos into hundreds of ready-to-run Meta ads in minutes. We couldn’t be prouder to support the team on this journey. And right now, to mark the launch, Cuttable is offering to build your first campaign free! Get started at cuttable.com

☕ Last chance to grab a spot for "but first, Coffee - Epic stories of Hustle", our in-person coffee event with Helen Souness and Renece Brewster GAICD at 8:30 next Tuesday, 12th August. Tickets were sold out, but we have opened up a few more spots due to demand. So get in quick! The coffee is free and delicious (thanks to the folks at Here or There, sponsored by AWS Startups - Mark "Z" Zmarzly 🦄), and the conversation is set to be EPIC! RSVP below 👇

Startup Muster 2025 is open: Be counted. Shape the future Take the survey 👉 https://startupmuster.com Australia’s most comprehensive startup ecosystem survey drives data that helps shape: • Government policy and support • Investor insights and attention • Founder support programs and talent pipelines Why take part? Because the stronger the data, the better the decisions, and that flows back to you. More relevant support. More capital. More visibility for founders like you. ⏳ Closes: Aug 18

Huge month ahead in Melbourne for Investor Month with Stone & Chalk. 🙌

This week, I’m reflecting on my recent trip to San Francisco where I saw firsthand how the pace of change is accelerating faster than ever before. In startup land, speed is always our edge. We pride ourselves on moving fast, making decisions, and pivoting quickly. But right now, things are moving at an unprecedented rate. Whether you’re in Silicon Valley or Australia, one thing is clear: the speed of change is intensifying. AI is transforming industries, opening new opportunities in security, multi-modal use cases, and more. SaaS companies can still thrive, but they must adopt AI to stay relevant, or risk falling behind. Founders, time is of the essence. If you want to keep up (or leap ahead) in this rapidly evolving landscape, let’s talk. In this edition, we cover: 🚀  AI’s rapid acceleration and what it means for SaaS companies 🔐 New opportunities in security and AI-powered software 🛠️ Tips on building defensibility in AI-driven startups 🗞️ The upcoming launch of GPT-5 and key tech news 💼 Updates from Australian VC and our portfolio companies Stay ahead of the curve and subscribe to Ramplify for more insights: https://lnkd.in/gSZajMpp #AI #Startups #VC #TechInnovation #BusinessGrowth #AIRevolution #SaaS #SiliconValley

🔥 Very limited spots are left for "But First, Coffee - Epic Stories of Hustle" on Aug 12th. This is a morning of no-fluff convos, seriously good coffee, and the kind of startup stories that don’t usually make it to LinkedIn. 🎤 Featuring: Helen Souness, Renece Brewster GAICD and YOU! Register here: https://lnkd.in/g-heAjkM

🤔 What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done for your business? Snuck into a conference you weren’t invited to? Pretended to be your own assistant? Sent a gutsy cold email you definitely weren’t qualified to send? At 'But First, Coffee', we’re swapping the kind of stories that don’t usually make it to LinkedIn. Join us for a morning of good coffee, better conversations, and a chat between Helen Souness (Venture Partner at Rampersand) and Renece Brewster GAICD (Her Tech Circle | March Collective) about the scrappy, unpolished moments behind their careers in leadership, startups, and building. Supported by our friends at Amazon Web Services (AWS) for Startups. Free coffee, limited spots. ☕ Tuesday 12 August - 8:30 AM 📍 Rampersand at Sleeves Up, Cremorne RSVP here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g-heAjkM

📣 Melbourne Event Alert! Join us on Thursday, 14th August at Stone & Chalk as part of Investor Week for an exciting panel discussing 'Pathways to Funding Your Startup'. We'll be joined by: 💎 Shishir Chowkse | Birchal 💎 Joanna Lee | Giant Leap 💎 Paul Naphtali | Rampersand 💎 Nicholas Jerrat | IdeaBank This event was jam-packed last year, so secure your spot early: https://lnkd.in/gzuUqEwb