Scale Up

Redbubble's First XI travel to Sydney. It's been a 10 year slog to get here. Chairman and CEO stand in front of the gathered crowd at the Australian Securities Exchange while the brass bell waits patiently on the wall behind the lectern. But Redbubble didn't have to put itself through the scrutiny of the market, even though it chose to. Links mentioned in the episode - A review of Melbourne's digital marketplaces - Schrodinger’s Cat t-shirt - Redbubble IPO video YouTube - Mr Baxter   Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic.  LaunchVic here to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. www.launchvic.org Facebook LaunchVic Twitter LaunchVicSupport the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From about day 1 Redbubble's market was the world while it's base has always, except for a brief moment of consideration, remained Melbourne. It's rare for Australian companies to do this immediately for the global market, and even rarer for them to succeed to the level Redbubble has. But they've pulled it off, with a few lessons along the way.   Links mentioned in the episode - A review of Melbourne's digital marketplaces - Melbourne Startup Ecosystem Report   Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic.  LaunchVic here to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. www.launchvic.org Facebook LaunchVic Twitter LaunchVicSupport the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a threat in the media, a vote in Federal Parliament and movie partnerships. Redbubble has managed to significantly lessen the chances it will be in court over copyright infringement through a couple of moves and Martin's hard time in the public eye driven by the mission.   Links mentioned in the episode Ground Hog Day brand partnership State Library Victoria competition Hipster Hitler   Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic.  LaunchVic here to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. www.launchvic.org Facebook LaunchVic Twitter LaunchVicSupport the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drifting from crisis to crisis in an uncontrolled environment created by yourself, entrepreneurship is hard. And there's a good chance you'll waste a lot of time and hopefully develop some coping mechanisms. Is there a way out if you need it? Martin Hosking, founder and CEO of Redbubble, opens up about disassociation, the hard Mondays, and where he's come from over a decade a go to now.   Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic.  LaunchVic here to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. www.launchvic.org Facebook LaunchVic Twitter LaunchVicSupport the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the website is an immense logistics network that Redbubble initiates, drives yet barely owns. We drive to Horsham and meet the very first supplier still printing stickers and artwork to this day. It's just one of 15 suppliers globally that prints the creative on the products shipped to individual customers.   Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic.  LaunchVic here to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. www.launchvic.org Facebook LaunchVic Twitter LaunchVicSupport the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martin had drawn a small circle on a bit of paper, then a bigger circle around the small circle. It's the bigger circle that would become and still is the backbone, the mission and the life of Redbubble - the community, both inside the company and on the website. This early strategy, focus and passion for Redbubble remains consistent, nourished and exists far greater that the sum of its parts. For the platform as a marketplace it's invaluable, passionate and fierce.   Links mentioned in the episode Welcome Our Newest Artist-In-Residence: Alle C Instagram: Little Luxuries Loft Redbubble Blog: Mr Baxter asks   Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic.  LaunchVic here to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. www.launchvic.org Facebook LaunchVic Twitter LaunchVicSupport the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The concept is mapped out by Peter, Paul and Martin. Then the pivot. Redbubble company raises $2 million from a business plan and an office is rented, but it's not an office. With enthusiasm and a vision they set about getting the company off the ground. Redbubble is chosen as the name. The early days of Redbubble are in full swing and it seems that someone swinging from the rafters of their first 'office' wouldn't have been out of place. Server in the boot - https://imgur.com/a/VJi3P3n See the website change - https://blog.redbubble.com/2014/02/redbubble-celebrates-7-years/"   Redbubble profiles Martin Hosking Russell Greenwood Paul Vanzella   Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic.  LaunchVic here to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. www.launchvic.org Facebook LaunchVic Twitter LaunchVic   Scale Up is presented by Courtney Carthy.Support the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A two year old Redbubble was also reeling from the Global Financial Crisis. Shocked faces of Wall Street traders and the phrase "we don't know where the bottom is" beomes commonplace on the TV news. The GFC sets in and Redbubble's expansion plans are rapidly rolled back. A "Down Round" becomes necessary.   Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic.  LaunchVic here to support the startup ecosystem in Victoria. www.launchvic.org Facebook LaunchVic Twitter LaunchVic   Scale Up is presented by Courtney Carthy Music in this episode by Dmitriy Diomores, Acedis, Acedis, Yung Ferry and Max Sergeev. Sourced from Fugue.  Support the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Redbubble was founded in Fitzroy, Victoria in 2006 when Peter, Martin and Paul sat around to talk about an idea. It's since become a global three-sided creative marketplace for artists to upload their work and it reproduced on-demand for customers. In 2018 Redbubble, still based in Melbourne, has been through it all; leadership changes, the Global Financial Crisis, a down-round, legal controversy and Initial Public Offering and more. Scale Up is brought to you by LaunchVic, supporting the startup ecosystem here in Victoria. Find out more information by visiting LaunchVic.org   Follow LaunchVic Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Medium Instagram Youtube   Listen to Scale Up wherever you find podcasts. Review, rate and share.   Music by Ilya Marfin and Denis Stelmach from Fugue.Support the show: http://www.launchvic.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martin Hosking, co-founder of Redbubble, shares insights on international business, importance of prior entrepreneurial experience and resilience, early wins and challenges at Redbubble, and navigating investor conversations with empathy.