The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit Agarwal

Ben Grabiner is a Partner at Side Stage Ventures, a newly formed Venture Capital firm in Australia. Previously he co-founded Platoon which was acquired by Apple. Platoon was created during Ben's time working at Local Globe, as an early employee at the firm. (Local Globe is now recognised as a leading seed stage VC fund in Europe). It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!(Timestamps below)***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! ***💥 This episode is brought to you by Fullstack Advisory, Australia's top tech accounting firm, designed specifically for innovative tech founders and investors. They provide founder-friendly support across Accounting & Tax, R&D Tax Incentives, Bookkeeping, and CFO Advisory -- so you can focus on what you do best, innovating and growing your business. Get in touch with Stuart and the team today! ***00:55  - Where were you born and live now? 02:06 - What was your first job and now? 02:39 - High Flyer in Ben’s life 03:28 - Big family with 3 siblings 07:08 - Independently minded 08:50 - Career aspirations at age 18 11:25 - First date with media and tech 14:00 - Leaving corporate to found his first startup 16:45 - Struggling to raise capital 18:36 - UK startup ecosystem in 2014 20:14 - Joining Local Globe as a VC investor 24:00 - The problem that led to creating Platoon 28:25 - Business model with music labels 30:35 - Reflections on differences between the two startups he’s built 32:09 - How did the sale to Apple happen 34:55 - Balancing family and career 37:30 - Moving from the UK to Australia 40:50 - Building a network from scratch 42:54 - Origin story of Side Stage Ventures 45:09 - Applying a founder mindset to building a VC 47:17 - Uncovering unique founders early on 48:55 - Growing Side Stage with co-founder in Markus 50:17 - Rapid fire final sprint*** 

Private equity managers from Telstra Super and Australian Super discuss how super funds impact the Australian VC industry, exploring career transitions, professional journeys, and the impact of super funds on society through VC investments. They also discuss interactions with founders, evolution of Australian VC investments, managing expectations during startup failures, and the benefits of Superfunds investing in venture capital for innovation and retirement growth.

 Tom Humphrey is an Investor with Blackbird Ventures, a globally top ranked venture capital fund supercharging the most ambitious founders. Prior to Blackbird, Tom was a partner with Access Ventures based in Denver USA and was on the management / founding teams of two successful startups. Tom was COO of OurDeal, a “group-buying” ecommerce website in Australia that over 12 months scaled to a team of 80 and a successful exit to News Corp, and then became COO of Kanopy, a B2B video streaming platform that he guided to an exit in 2018 delivering a 14x return to investors. In this episode #138 w Tom Humphrey, learn about:Tom’s sunrise in Sydney, Australia being the youngest of 4 siblings, with his mother a high school teacher and then business executive and dad an architect. I loved his reflections on how his older sister, stayed up at night and sometimes missed school because she was looking after Tom, and then their journey later in life building Canopy for nearly a decade to now being one of the top 10 M&A exits for a tech company out of Australia. 14x return on investmentI asked Tom about the key differences between Australian and US culture given his 10 years living, studying and working in the US, his reflections on his time in Bhutan and learning about the economics of happiness, his insecurities and how he manages them, how he’s learn what good looks like in sales and go to market for startups, the concept of deposits in the care bank to be a great manager and his balancing act on decision making with analytics and gut feel. We also cover his transitions from consulting to a a startup at a time when startups weren’t the buzz they are today and his reflections on what he would change if he could start his career today.It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!(Timestamps below)***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! ***💥 This episode is brought to you by Fullstack Advisory, Australia's top tech accounting firm, designed specifically for innovative tech founders and investors. They provide founder-friendly support across Accounting & Tax, R&D Tax Incentives, Bookkeeping, and CFO Advisory -- so you can focus on what you do best, innovating and growing your business. Get in touch with Stuart and the team today! ***03:30  - Where were you born and live now? 03:57 - What was your first job and now? 04:57 - High Flyer in Tom’s life 07:09 - Youngest of 4 children 09:01 - Sports, Studious and Adventure 10:29 - Australia vs USA friendship culture 13:04 - Hungry not the proven 14:08 - Falling into Law due to a timetable clash 16:33 - Should you join a startup straight out of university? 19:40 - FullStack message 22:13 - 7 to 85 people in 10 months 24:46 - Economics of happiness 28:05 - Learning how to lead people 31:04 - Joining his sister in building a startup in the US 33:34 - Experiences taking VC capital money 36:06 - Door knocking universities in the US 39:13 - Learning sales and go to market 41:40 - Chip on his shoulder 44:39 - Learning from founders 45:45 - Slack vs HipChat vs Microsoft teams 47:18 - Strength of talent in Australia vs the world 52:44 - Most valuable career experiences 56:38 - Perception of self worth and happiness 58:52 - Deposits in the care bank and connection to leadership 01:01:54 - Building trust with a new team member 01:04:34 - Balance with analytical and intuition muscle 01:08:30 - Being a VC or working at a startup? 01:10:55 - Final sprint rapid fire***

Michael Traill was the founding CEO of Social Ventures Australia from 2002 -14. Prior to this role, Michael spent 15 years as a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Macquarie Bank's private equity arm, Macquarie Direct Investment. In his time there, the Macquarie Direct Investment team invested in 43 businesses generating a gross rate of return of 32.3%. Michael chairs Australia’s largest charitable foundation, the Paul Ramsay Foundation, is a Director of Australian Retirement Trust, MH Carnegie & Co., Australian Philanthropic Services and Hearts & Minds Investments and was previously Chair of Goodstart Early Learning.  Michael also chairs the Federal Government Social Impact Investing Taskforce and is the author 'Jumping Ship - from the world of corporate Australia to the heart of social investment’, Winner Ashurst Business Literature Prize 2017.In this episode #137 w Michael Traill, learn about:His humble upbringing in country Victoria, with his father being the first in 4 generations to go past grade 10, Michael’s chip on his shoulder being the country kid and making it to rooms where he felt out of place like Harvard and Macquarie and success at age 18 being a career in politics but how he ended up in the business world.I ask Michael about his reflections on his Harvard MBA and was that a hindrance or accelerant, his most painful learning and Questions he asks perspective candidates looking to join his team so he can understand them intimately.And of course we cover how and why he jumped ship from the business world to social investment a day before his 42nd birthday, the difficult first year of making the transition, the role of superannuation in funding climate and impact solutions, and the legacy he wants to leave.It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!(Timestamps below)***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! ***💥 This episode is brought to you by Fullstack Advisory, Australia's top tech accounting firm, designed specifically for innovative tech founders and investors. They provide founder-friendly support across Accounting & Tax, R&D Tax Incentives, Bookkeeping, and CFO Advisory -- so you can focus on what you do best, innovating and growing your business. Get in touch with Stuart and the team today! ***03:29  - Where were you born and live now? 03:48 - What was your first job and now? 04:22 - High Flyer in Michael’s life 06:03 - Father being the first in 4 generations to finish grade 10 08:48 - Chip on his shoulder 11:14 - Standing up and having a voice 12:08 - Influence of athletics and sport 14:44 - Success at age 18 16:25 - Career serendipity and entering business 20:32 - Unlocking opportunities thanks to Harvard MBA 25:10 - Fullstack message 27:34 - Founding the private equity business at Macquarie Capital 31:14 - State of Private Equity and VC 35:43 - Most painful learnings 38:53 - Questions he asks perspective candidates 42:21 - “Jumping ship” to from Banking to Social Impact 44:05 - First year of making the transition 49:57 - What’s different about the social purpose capital market? 54:28 - Role of superannuation in ClimateTech as Chair of $240B fund, Australian Retirement Trust 56:57 - Raising institutional capital for first time fund managers in impact investing 01:00:10 - Three questions to ask to have an impactful life 01:03:35 - Legacy 01:06:00 - Final sprint rapid fire***

Founded in 2017 by Zoe Milgrom and Kunal Kalro, Eugene offers medical-grade genetic testing and counselling services to people anywhere at any time. With a few drops of saliva, Eugene can identify variations in genes that may lead to disease, allowing you to proactively take control of your own health. Eugene was the first company in Australia to make medical grade genetic testing available to consumers directly and at-home, and has screened over 12,000 people across Australia!***Welcome to installment #24 of the Investment Memo series and overall episode #136 on the show. Submit this EOI for your company to be considered in future episodes of this special series!  Today, we’re unpacking the healthcare company that is Eugene, and I’m joined by the two co-founders Zoe Milgrom and Kunal Karlo.Founded in 2017, Eugene offers medical-grade genetic testing and counseling services to people anywhere at any time. With a few drops of saliva, Eugene can identify variations in genes that may lead to disease, allowing you to proactively take control of your own health.Learn about how they first met, their experiences and motivations to start Eugene, what exactly is genome sequencing and why it’s critical to each of us, how the cost of sequencing a human genome has dropped from $2.7B to nearly a thousand dollars, Eugene’s business model and go to market strategy, their suite of products and how they’re building broader community education and awareness of genetic risks. I must admit I learnt a lot in this conversation.It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!(Timestamps below)***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! ***💥 This episode is brought to you by Fullstack Advisory, Australia's top tech accounting firm, designed specifically for innovative tech founders and investors. They provide founder-friendly support across Accounting & Tax, R&D Tax Incentives, Bookkeeping, and CFO Advisory -- so you can focus on what you do best, innovating and growing your business. Get in touch with Stuart and the team today! ***03:35  - Where were Zoe and Kunal born and live now? 04:19 - What were Zoe and Kunal’s first jobs and now? 06:55 - Origin story of Eugene 13:01 - How Kunal and Zoe agreed to be co-founders 17:25 - First product launch 19:50 - Unpacking Genome sequencing 23:00 - $2.7Billion to $1,000 24:46 - Finding a solution to improve healthcare outcomes 27:20 - Fullstack Advisory 28:09 - Scientific and regulatory approval 30:10 - Go-To-Market strategy 34:15 - Business Model and Economics of B2B and B2C 35:37 - Education and awareness of genetic risks 43:40 - Product offerings at Eugene***

James Alcorn is a partner at Zetta Venture Partners, one of the world's leading AI focused VC investors, serving technical founders building AI-native companies. Zetta has partnered with the founders of Kaggle, Domino Data Lab, Nabla Bio, and other leading franchises.In this episode #135 w James Alcorn, learn about:Given the extensive focus on AI and it’s exponential mainstream growth, I wanted to bring on someone who understands this space from various angels, the technological shift, business models, venture capital investment opportunities and what founders should know.A couple of weeks ago, I contacted my network and one name that kept coming up was James Alcorn so here we are. James is a partner at Zetta Venture Partners, one of the world’s leading AI focused VC investors since their inception in 2015.This episode can be best described as an introduction to AI, whilst being a deep dive into various aspects. I asked James about Zetta’s origin story given they’ve been 100% focused on only AI since 2015, his thoughts on AI today vs 5 years ago, what exactly led to ChatGPT becoming mainstream, open source vs priopetiary models, infrastructure vs application layer and more.And yes, we cover a lot of questions that founders and investors are asking today including IP protection, metrics for investment, valuation, geographical differences and we end with a special rapid fire final sprint, make sure to listen through for this special conversation.It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!(Timestamps below)***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! ***💥 This episode is brought to you by Fullstack Advisory, Australia's top tech accounting firm, designed specifically for innovative tech founders and investors. They provide founder-friendly support across Accounting & Tax, R&D Tax Incentives, Bookkeeping, and CFO Advisory -- so you can focus on what you do best, innovating and growing your business. Get in touch with Stuart and the team today! ***03:30  - Where were you born and live now? 04:02 - What was your first job and now? 05:19 - Entry into VC with Zetta 06:11 - Zetta as an “AI only” investor 07:39 - Rate of growth in AI today vs 5 years ago 09:55 - What exactly is Artificial intelligence? 13:06 - What led to ChatGPT breakthrough in late 2022? 14:50 - Open source vs proprietary models 17:52 - Large availability of compute today 19:46 - IP protection for early stage startups 24:33 - What makes an AI startup investible? 28:50 - Startups vs incumbents in platform shifts like AI 32:40 - LLMs in infrastructure vs application layer 36:19 - Differences in USA vs Israel vs China 38:12 - Are AI startups more capital intensive? 41:40 - Automated speech recognition (ASR) 46:00 - Vector databases 51:10 - AI progress in Australia 55:25 - Final sprint rapid fire

This is a special episode and the 2nd in our "guest host" series. This time, with Jax Vullinghs from Airtree Ventures interviewing Kim Randle, Co-Founder and CEO of FairSupply about her early influences, how she fell into law and being inspired by a movie, what led to co-founding Fair Supply and problem they’re tackling, tireless enthusiasm and being a founder + parent.In this special episode #134:We have a special guest host in Jax Vullings from Airtree Ventures. We tried this format earlier in the year with another investor in James Tynan from Square Peg, guest hosting episode #121 and it was well received so we’re doing it again! What you’re about to hear is a special conversation where Jax and Kim Randle unpack important topics very candidly including Kim’s early influences, how she fell into law and being inspired by a movie, what led to co-founding Fair Supply and the important problem they’re tackling; tireless enthusiasm and being a founder and parent. I hope you enjoy this great conversation, and if you have ideas for other iconic duos we could bring on in a similar format, send me a note. It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!(Timestamps below)***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! ***💥 This episode is brought to you by Fullstack Advisory, Australia's top tech accounting firm, designed specifically for innovative tech founders and investors. They provide founder-friendly support across Accounting & Tax, R&D Tax Incentives, Bookkeeping, and CFO Advisory -- so you can focus on what you do best, innovating and growing your business. Get in touch with Stuart and the team today! ***03:48 - Kim’s early influences07:50 - Career aspirations09:40 - bridge building between the corporate world and social justice problems 15:00 - 3 daughters and founding FairSupply17:30 - Ambition behind FairSupply19:12 - Industrial mathematician meets human rights lawyer22:55 - Modern slavery in supply chains and how FairSupply is the solution31:08 - Building a culture and employee engagement34:45 - Tireless enthusiasm being CEO36:25 - Risks and speed of learning40:00 - Being a founder and parent ***

Bec is Executive Director at Tripple, a 100% Impact private investment company that works across all asset classes and incorporates both investing and grant-making to use capital as a force for good. Outside of Tripple. Bec has extensive experience in marketing and strategy in the start-up and not for profit sectors and is a current board member of the Centre for Australian Progress, a not for profit enabling civil society to win social and environmental progress, and Steward, a crowd-lending platform focussed on regenerative farming. Bec has a particular passion for food, farming, social justice and systems change.In this episode #133 w Bec Milgrom learn about:Her sunrise in Melbourne, Australia being the middle child with two siblings and influences of her entrepreneurial parents.Bec talks about being the teachers pet in high school, the fullness of her imagination and aspirations after she graduated. I really enjoyed the human-ness Bec shows in this conversation about her journey of self exploration by traveling the world and working in the craft beer industry post university and for many years which led to the US and the realisation that driving change using capital is her calling which led to co-founding Tripple with her two brothers.We dive deep into Thoughtful vs thoughtless investing, Storytelling to change people’s world views on impact, climate and social change, the reality of Policy, Grant making and their involvement in The Australian election in 2021 through climate 200 driving historic grassroots and community change, and we unpack the structure, operations and team at Tripple.It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!(Timestamps below)***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! ***💥 This episode is brought to you by Fullstack Advisory, Australia's top tech accounting firm, designed specifically for innovative tech founders and investors. They provide founder-friendly support across Accounting & Tax, R&D Tax Incentives, Bookkeeping, and CFO Advisory -- so you can focus on what you do best, innovating and growing your business. Get in touch with Stuart and the team today! ***03:20 - Acknowledgement of country 05:00 - Where were you born and live now? 05:18 - What was your first job and now? 06:21 - High Flyer in Bec’s life 07:25 - Deep family connection 11:34 - Different learning styles 14:20 - Aspirations at age 18 and beyond 18:37 - 10 years in Craft Beer and behaviour change 22:36 - Oregon, USA 25:50 - The story behind the creation of Tripple, 100% impact multi asset private company 30:49 - Thoughtful vs thoughtless investing 36:29 - Storytelling to change people’s world views on impact, climate and social change 44:05 - Policy, Grant making and climate 200 48:38 - Structure, operations and team at Tripple 54:40 - Short term vs long term investing 01:04:20 - Rapid fire final sprint 

Osher Gunsberg is one of the most recognisable media personalities. He first came to attention as the face of Australian Idol and the voice of Australia's largest weekly radio countdown, Take 40 Australia.  He continues to be the host of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette on Channel Ten.  Until recently, Osher was also part of the Breakfast Team and co-host of Hit105's radio brekky show alongside Abby Coleman and Stav Davidson.  Osher is a keen advocate for mental health awareness and climate change. He is also the co-creator and host of Movember Radio for the Movember Foundation, and a director of the board of SANE Australia. In this episode #132 w Osher Günsberg learn about:His sunrise in Brisbane, Australia with both parents being doctors. I found his reflections on being a “white immigrant” and being a muso in a sports school really intriguingWe cover how he found clarity for his career early on, manufacturing serendipity and how that’s led to incredible opportunities, not achieving his radio or music dreams, transitioning to network TV, and evolving his identity including a name change.I was surprised to learn radio is much better to host compared to TV, and really valued Osher’s candour on his battles with addiction, exactly how he prepares for a TV show shoot (make sure to note down the 5 D’s and the 6 P’s). I enjoyed asking Osher about how he balances his public persona with his family role, and what seeded his advocacy for climate change.I went into this a little unsure, Osher is a pro at interviews but he was candid, vulnerable and this is one of my favourite conversations for sure. It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!(Timestamps below)***Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterContact us via our website to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests or share feedback, we love hearing how to improve! Thank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! ***💥 This episode is brought to you by Fullstack Advisory, Australia's top tech accounting firm, designed specifically for innovative tech founders and investors. They provide founder-friendly support across Accounting & Tax, R&D Tax Incentives, Bookkeeping, and CFO Advisory -- so you can focus on what you do best, innovating and growing your business. Get in touch with Stuart and the team today! ***04:20 - Where were you born and live now? 04:55 - What was your first job and now? 08:20 - High Flyer in Osher’s life 10:35 - Realities of hosting TV shows 13:05 - Growing up “immigrant” in QLD 15:53 - Influence of doctor parents 19:10 - Music in a sports school 23:28 - A+ in school vs A+ in life 24:50 - Seeking professional career clarity 31:47 - Manufacturing serendipity 36:35 - Not achieving his music or radio dreams 39:50 - World class TV hosting 44:20 - Versatility of Hamish and Andy across Radio, TV, Podcasts etc 46:04 - Evolving his identity 48:00 - Only Australian to have hosted live network TV in US 49:11 - Becoming sober and noticing success 55:31 - Vulnerability on network television 59:30 - Preparation for a live gig, tv, keynote etc01:06:50 - Balancing the public and personality identity01:11:40 - Journey to Climate advocacy01:23:59 - Final Sprint rapid fire***

Michael Kim, Founder of Cendana Capital, discusses his multicultural upbringing in the US with influences from Japan and Korea. He shares insights on Cendana's approach to investing in VC funds globally, from Australia to Israel. The episode explores his transition from banking to venture capital, the evolution of VC financing, and the importance of supporting early-stage fund managers for higher returns.