Jessie Summons

Aligning incentives with your preferred outcomes The Australian Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, was quoted this morning as being open to a review of the R&D tax credit scheme Australia uses to reward companies for undertaking 'risky', early stage product research and development. The aim of the scheme is to make these efforts less financial uncertain, and encourage Australian innovation and invention*. The article cited examples of companies from the gaming industry - think slot machines ('pokies') - claiming a tax break for coming up with new ways for people to gamble. Gambling is simply one example of how the current R&D tax credit scheme provides incentives for activities that we might otherwise, as a nation and a society, choose not to encourage. R&D tax credits can be paid out to any organisation working on product research, regardless of the product. Australia recently agreed to a 2030 deadline for a transition to a circular economy, with work going on at Federal and state levels currently exploring exactly what that might mean. Whenever I've had the chance, I've highlighted the importance of using government levers like the R&D tax credit scheme to encourage the development of the types of products we want to see - long-lasting, repairable, modular, able to be disassembled, recyclable, and free of toxic materials - and to stop rewarding companies developing products that meet none of these criteria. A similar argument can be made about the new Future Made in Australia fund - aimed at encouraging domestic manufacturing capability. The fund currently has little or no controls in place to stop government grants going towards companies producing undesirable products. We'll potentially be directly funding the creation of products we are otherwise trying to phase out. This is a good example of where a systems lens can provide a really useful perspective on the design of a policy framework, including recognising when it is no longer fit for purpose. #strategicdesign #systemsdesign #policy * Arguably, the period when Australia was at its most inventive and productive was when the corporate tax rate was much, much higher than it is today, encouraging businesses to reinvest surplus income. That's potentially a post for another day.

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It’s amazing to finally see the new ABC News digital experience properly out in the wild.   It's been months of work, across a huge number of teams within not just Digital Product but a significant collaborative effort with our friends in both News and Marketing. It encapsulates a significant step forward for us. One that is a deliberate attempt to appeal to a broader set of the Australian public through a modern, fresh and hopefully more inviting look and feel. It’s important as ABC News constitutes well over half of our weekly digital audiences. It acts as a key gateway into our other products such as ABC iview and ABC listen. So by doing a better job of attracting and retaining audiences through News, we anticipate a rising tide effect elsewhere. Yesterday morning at 6am, we had a raft of teams across Digital Product up early to support the launch. The best launches are the uneventful ones and that was very much the case yesterday. It’s a sign though of solid preparation when a rollout of this magnitude goes according to plan. We wanted to coincide the Web launch with the TV brand refresh that hit audiences via ABC News Breakfast. I must say felt the rebrand was looking sensational across TV yesterday. From black to blue – it's really a much more engaging News brand overall now and seeing it coordinated across TV, digital and third party speaks to the incredible collaboration behind the scenes. One unexpected positive from the launch was witnessing an overall server demand drop, as our morning audience traffic increased from 6am. This is a very rare set of events to occur simultaneously! It was due to the new homepage being built a lot more efficiently than its predecessor. Thus requiring less resources and ultimately delivering faster page load times for our audiences. Although you might have seen some minor changes with the ABC News App, there’s a lot more to come here. We made a collective call to stagger the releases here so that we could de-risk the rollout. So watch this space in the coming weeks. Super proud of what the team's have achieved here 😁 https://lnkd.in/gx9zZXDw

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I’m always inspired seeing Australian consumer tech founders doing great things. Lucy Mort is no exception – as the co-founder and CEO of Sunroom, a consumer app that provides a space for women to earn money by creating content and connecting with their communities, Lucy has used product and design to create a space that feels unique, and caters to their specific community. Building a product that can sometimes confuse people (wait - I can only talk on Wednesday?!), I loved these product design insights from Lucy’s interview with Natasha Gillezeau: 📈 Most Advanced, Yet Acceptable: Pioneered by Raymond Loewy, product design should be innovative, whilst accessible and familiar. In essence, as advanced as your target customer is willing to accept. The iPhone is a great example of this, providing incremental changes over time, whilst maintaining enough of the previous design so that it is familiar. ⬇ Less is More: Build on the assumption that your users have no idea what your product is. The more features, the more complexity, the greater the barrier to adoption. Strip things back, listen to your users and your metrics, find your 1-2 key features driving value and stickiness and double down. 👌 Selective perfectionism: Work smarter. Some features will require significant A/B testing and iterating and others won’t. Have a framework to understand the demand, value and ROI you are creating to guide what will move the dial and where to invest your time. Via Missing Perspectives

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We have two strongly-held values at Something New ✨ — reinforced at the start of each dinner. 1) confidentiality: this is all totally "off the record" .. we run these events under chatham house rules / cone of silence, safe space for folks who aren't yet "open" about their plans to leave and start something new (i.e. with current employer, colleagues) 🤫 👀 2) spirit of service: don't come in asking "what's in it for me" ... join us and ask "what can I do for someone else here." The chances the exact person you need (co-founder, early believer, etc) is in the room at that moment is ultimately fairly low... but the chances someone in that room knows someone outside it they can introduce you to are much higher. Rising tides lift all boats 💪 ✨

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At the Launch Vic Awards Nights, there was a lot of talk about the VC’s in our ecosystem, and quite a bit of mention of Angel Syndicates, but no mention of Venture Studios. In fact when people ask me what I do, I often have to explain what a Venture Studio is. So let me make the Venture Studio pitch. Firstly, what is a Venture Studio? Venture Studios give life to startups in two main ways. 1. Ideas are incubated and validated within the Venture Studio, once validated, the team finds the external resources/ people needed to bring the idea to life. 2. External founders brings ideas to Venture Studios, in which the Venture Studio provides services and resources to the founder in exchange for equity. So who is a Venture Studio good for? High Quality Founders, with scalable ideas: The success of a Venture Studio relies on the success of the startups they work with so naturally Venture Studios are looking for the highest quality founders / startups. Early stage founders who are missing a technical partner: During the early days of your startup, if you don’t have a technical partner, you generally require investment or you need to take significant financial risk to fund your MVP build. While most investors won’t want to invest until you have a functional MVP, this is the exact stage many Venture Studio’s like to play in. Why choose a Venture Studio over a development agency? Your developers will have skin in the game The app development process often goes wrong, because building apps is hard. If things go wrong, it’s easy for relationships to sour, and shortcuts to be made. Since Venture Studio’s success is so heavily tied into the success of their startups, by choosing a Venture Studio you have the peace of mind that your developers are so heavily incentivised to deliver an awesome product. Support beyond development Again because the success of the Venture Studios are so heavily tied to the success of the startup, it’s in the our best interest to ensure you are supported beyond your product build. So when it comes to GTM, capital raising and beyond, we aim to provide support and introductions where we. De-risk your financial position So this is the obvious benefit, get to launch without paying or paying a lot less. All of this is not to say, VC’s, Angel’s, Dev Shops all don’t play an important role in this ecosystem, I just feel the Venture Studio voice needs to be heard a bit louder.

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The Australian VC landscape is thriving, but gender disparity still casts a long shadow. As revealed by Cut Through Venture's Cut Through Quarterly Q3 report, women-led startups are gaining traction but face an uphill battle as they mature through funding rounds, with participation dropping dramatically from 50% at pre-seed to just 14% at Series A. In our latest Antler article, we explore how persistent barriers are widening the funding gap and why it’s critical to support women founders from day zero - supporting them from the start and providing continued backing throughout their journey. https://lnkd.in/gZds-cyk We're dedicated to pushing forward for a more inclusive and resilient ecosystem and invite all ambitious founders to join our February 2025 residency in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

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Startup founders and supporters Startup Muster the only comprehensive survey of Australian startups and their supporters. The survey reaches throughout the ecosystem to count every person that contributes to supporting founders and startups 🎉 Calling all diverse founders - we need you and your voices and experiences to be seen and heard 📣 We can’t measure what we can’t see and we can’t change what we don’t know - this survey is so important ✊🏼 Fill in the survey today 📝https://startupmuster.com #startup #diversity #entrepreneur #founder #culturaldiversity String Nguyen Mikaela Jade FTSE Dor Akech Achiek Nirary Dacho 🌏 Usman Iftikhar UNSW Founders UTS Startups

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Huge news in the business and climate reporting space for those that missed it last week. Mandatory climate reporting is here! Our founder Catherine (Cat) Long shared her thoughts on what this means for business with Startup Daily #climateaction #netzero #reporting #esg #carbonfootprint #climaterisk #financialreporting

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$20.7M was poured into Australian start-ups last week, and I noticed something about this.   Reading the article by Eloise Keating on SmartCompany I noticed something poignant.   All the start-ups listed were Australian Climate Tech companies.   Undoubtedly, there were other start-ups and non-Climate Tech ones that confirmed raises last week, which were not reported, but this is an impressive week for Climate Tech.   Mick Liubinskas rightly said that funding for Climate has been hard to come by, but I sincerely hope we see more weeks like this.   Congrats to the teams at KC8 Capture Technologies, Sircel Limited, EVOS Energy and Fugu for their raises.   Also to Woodside Energy, Cemex Ventures, Kilara Capital, Investible, Jelix Ventures and Electrifi Ventures et al for driving these funding events.   Climate Tech ecosystem, drop a comment below - is funding on the up or this is a bright spot in a challenging time?

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This month's Aussie Founders Club meet up on Community Building is one you don't want to miss!! Date of Event: Thursday the 15th of August! Building a community can be a huge driver in differentiating your startup from the others in the mix. It can be the joy of your founder life to pull together passionate advocates, connected by the purpose of your business, and the reason it becomes clear to investors that your business could achieve 10x / $100 million dollar status. SO, I've pulled together some of the best community builders in the Ecosystem to share their wisdom with us. Let me introduce the panel: Alan Crabbe co-founder of Birchal & pozible. These are some of the original platforms that saw Australian Founders bypass traditional investors to allow their communities to directly support AU Startups and Businesses in their raise. And now he's back to work building Frontcover - a platform we personally use to centralise our community and recently secured funding from Antler!! 🎉🎉🎉 Paz Pisarski co-founder of The Community Collective, a community for community builders in the startup space. The CC runs THE community cohort that has been behind leveling up some of Australia's best community builders. They have just opened applications for Cohort 5 and if you haven't already seen, Paz has managed to secure Seth Godin as a speaker!! Frances Goh, Head of Community of One Roof, go-to business community for women entrepreneurs. If you're a female entrepreneur in Victoria, you'd be hardpressed to not have heard of One Roof. With Frances at the helm of the community front, One Roof has built a space for Women to connect, learn, and grow together - something we are looking to emulate with the wider Founder Community in Melbourne. I'm looking forward to hearing our panels insights on the role Community can play in the growth of Startups and Businesses alike. If you are too, secure your seat via our event on Luma or Meetup! Also, if you think I pulled this panel together so I could learn from them myself, no I didn't... 😂 Rick Giner EverestEngineering Tom Webster Craig Brown

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Scaling isn’t just about resources—it’s about networks with “boots on the ground” insight. Startup ecosystems like French Tech Australia (FT AU) connect founders to mentors, resources, and markets, offering local knowledge that is crucial for expansion. These networks lend credibility, open doors, and provide on-the-ground insights to navigate new markets with confidence. From strategic partnerships to market access, ecosystems are invaluable in a startup’s journey from local success to global presence. Tip: Use your ecosystem’s resources proactively—growth is faster with the right boots on the ground. How has your network helped you scale? Share your experiences below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gmuYeYDB #StartupGrowth #ScaleUp #BusinessNetworking #GlobalExpansion #StartupCommunity #EcosystemSupport #InnovationHub #EntrepreneurTips #MentorshipMatters #CrossBorderBusiness Resumption - Sales, Marketing, and Operations Consulting

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We can’t manage what we don’t measure and we can’t grow what we don’t fund. While the sucking sound of Aus super and VC investment going to US companies is becoming deafening, the Australian Business Growth Fund backing an ambitious cohort of innovator companies has flown under the radar. If Aus has a sovereign future, as opposed to vassal state dependence writ large and irreversible, we need 10 more commercially and globally funds to acknowledge a long forgotten asset class.

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Having worked with numerous startups across Australia, we've seen firsthand how challenging it can be to communicate your vision effectively - especially when pitching to investors. What keeps us up at night isn't selling design services - it's seeing brilliant innovations struggle to get the attention they deserve because their story isn't being told as powerfully as it could be. Real talk from our experience: → Great tech isn't enough - investors buy into your whole package → Consistency across all touchpoints builds credibility → Sometimes the smallest brand details make the biggest impact We're sharing this because we genuinely want to see more Australian tech companies succeed on the global stage. Whether you work with us or not, consider how your brand identity supports your pitch. For those heading to _SOUTHSTART 💚 We're happy to review your brand presence and offer suggestions - no strings attached. Just reach out via DM. The future of Australian tech is bright, and we're here to support our ecosystem however we can. 🚀 Apply here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gtXzHfHY #AussieTech #StartupCommunity #_SOUTHSTART #GrowingTogether

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A Climate Solutions opportunity roadmap

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🎬 New Episode Alert! 🎬 This week on The Growth Cartel's Weekly Wrap, we dove into the latest insights on startup investments and the importance of diversity in leadership. 📊 The release of the Cut Through Venture's report and its impact on the Australian startup ecosystem 👩‍💼 Why diversity in leadership is not just important but essential for driving innovation and success in the startup world. 🚀 Watch the full conversation for even more on AI, Quantum tech, and major investments shaping the future! We cover the biggest developments of the week, what we have coming up and you won’t want to miss it. 👉 Catch the full episode here and stay up-to-date with all things startups, funding, and leadership: 📺 YouTube - https://lnkd.in/gV3vb3cb 🎧 Spotify - https://lnkd.in/gzUMQVH7 🍎 Apple - https://lnkd.in/gg_wuMQ3 #InvestmentTrends #Diversity #Leadership #GrowthCartel #StartupCommunity #Innovation #CutThroughVentures

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Change starts with individuals taking inspired action 🌟 I'm really excited to be involved in this initiative by StartupWA and Women in Technology WA Inc. (WiTWA) Diversity and inclusion are often key pillars in an organisation's strategic plan. Bringing these initiatives to life requires intentional action and thoughtful design. The intersectional and complex nature of these efforts can be overwhelming for both individuals and organisations. Knowing where and how to start can be tricky. Learning from the saying "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time," starting small is invaluable. This approach was very much the focus of the Creating Safe Spaces Round Table. Participating in the Creating Safe Spaces Round Table discussion was a fantastic opportunity to dive into brainstorming practical, operational-level implementation strategies that can help build inclusive practices as a foundational step in hosting start-up and entrepreneurship events. This small step contributes to a much bigger picture. I'm looking forward to moderating this panel discussion with experts in the field and discussing some of the ideas for change that came out of the round table and associated survey. Come along and be part of the movement towards implementing real, practical steps for change in our ecosystem. #changemakers #diversity #inclusion #community #access #innovation #entrepreneurship Thank you Lacey Filipich Jason Balchand Jo Hawkins, PhD Elizabeth Lang

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It was an honor to share insights on our Global Unicorn Investment Strategy on AFR. Since 2018, we've provided Australian investors access to top global tech unicorns like Airbnb, DJI, Klarna, and Stripe. In the AI era, we're observing significant transformations: AI performance is rapidly improving, costs are decreasing, and businesses and users are increasingly embracing AI, signaling a new era of productivity revolution. Since 2022, we've actively engaged in this space, witnessing the growth of companies like Databricks, Rich Data Corp, and OpenAI. Looking forward, we are committed to amplifying our efforts in this domain, eager to explore new applications and drive substantial economic value. #GlobalInvestment #TechUnicorns #AI #ProductivityRevolution

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🌿 Final Day to Join X-Hemp's Mission: Capturing Carbon & Building a Better Future 🌿 Over $700k raised so far in an absolutely incredible performance by Andi Lucas and her passionate community! X-Hemp Pty Ltd's CSF campaign on Birchal closes TONIGHT! Don’t miss your chance to invest in a truly transformative business at the forefront of eco-friendly building materials. X-Hemp is Tasmania’s ONLY hemp fibre processing mill and one of only five in Australia. With strong first-mover advantage, they’ve already tripled the number of hempcrete homes built in Tassie, proving the demand for fire-and-flood-resistant, carbon-neutral building materials. Founded and operated by the trailblazing Andi Lucas, X-Hemp isn’t just building homes; they’re building a movement. Their innovative products like hempcrete, HempWood®, and HempWool® are tackling climate change from both sides of the construction supply chain. With contracts in hand, MOUs with U.S. partners, and a warehouse full of raw materials ready to convert into retail and B2B goods, they’re perfectly positioned for rapid growth. This is your last chance to be part of X-Hemp’s mission to replace traditional building materials with plant-based alternatives, while locking carbon into homes and delivering long-term environmental benefits. Invest now to help them scale their production, diversify their product range, and continue disrupting the building industry. Always consider the offer document and general CSF risk warning before investing. #EquityCrowdfunding #Innovation #Sustainability #Hempcrete #ClimateAction #FemaleFounders #CarbonNeutral #Startups #EcoFriendlyBuilding 🌏

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Commencing in March 2025, the program will provide significant support to 10 pre-seed and seed climate-tech companies in New Zealand. Here’s what start-ups can expect: - Up to $50k investment to help your venture grow - Expert support and guidance from Creative HQ and Fractal Climate. - A Demo Day with 500+ attendees, including all of NZ’s top VC funds Lachlan Nixon

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