Open the Pod Bay Doors E24 - Bill Bartee, Main Sequence Ventures
Nov 8, 2017
Bill Bartee, a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Blackbird Ventures, shares his rich journey in the startup world and his passion for Deep Tech Founders. He reveals insights about his new $100 million investment fund backed by CSIRO. The conversation dives into the unique challenges of navigating deep tech investments, highlighting the importance of resilient teams. Bill also discusses excitement over emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing, while sharing a fun moment by naming 'Rick and Morty' as his favorite show.
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Growing Up With Rockets
- Bill grew up near NASA's Wallops Island and watched rockets regularly which seeded his lifelong passion for science.
- That early exposure motivated him to apply to be an astronaut and later keep astronomy as a personal hobby.
From Carpentry To Tech Investing
- Bill began working as a carpenter during university and later joined an insurance company's investment arm, where he saw early biotech like Genentech.
- Those experiences combined practical building skills with exposure to tech investing and shaped his career path.
Selling A Startup Led To Sydney
- After moving to the West Coast Bill became an entrepreneur, started companies, and sold a software business which enabled him to move to Sydney.
- In Sydney he used his US experience to help local startups sell into the US and later joined Macquarie Bank's venture team.
