Build It. They'll Come.

George Vicino learnt from boyhood the value of family and a strong work ethic. In Part 2, George reveals how these drivers have been key in his entrepreneurial journey with SYPAQ, and why they underpin his ambition to be a world-leading engineering systems integrator. How his love of science and physics helped he and his in-house team of engineers to develop the highly advanced, autonomous, biodegradable cardboard drones that are now a secret weapon in Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion. Find out how his startup used adversity to kickstart growth. Here’s Part 2 of George Vicino.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Systems engineer George Vicino started a small advanced engineering consultancy some 30 years ago, with experience and training from his years in the Australian Air Force under his belt. But he always had big ideas for his little company, SYPAQ. Not only has SYPAQ grown to help major Federal Government departments and large corporates integrate complicated technology systems into  customer-friendly, seamless experiences, but the group now manufactures highly advanced engineering products for the Australian Defence Department. The latest is their Corvo fully autonomous aircraft, in the form of a smart drone. Or as George calls it, a clever flying box. But this is not just any ordinary drone, SYPAQ drones are made from cardboard, rubber bands and glue, and they’ve become a secret and much respected weapon in Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Perx Health co-founder and CEO Hugo Rourke reveals the “secret sauce” that drives the success of the Perx smartphone App, to help patients better manage treatment plans for their chronic health conditions like diabetes or heart disease. Also, right now, trying to crack into and expand in the biggest health market in the world, the United States, is surely the Holy Grail for a medical therapeutics App like Perx, but hear about the considerable challenges alongside the opportunities. And then how does a small start-up build trust with outside funders including governments and large corporates to support your vision and help you turn the start-up into a scale-up, and then build it into something substantial and sustainable? Take a listen to Hugo Rourke in Part 2 of our chat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While working as a management consultant at McKinsey’s, advising large retailers and others on loyalty programs and customer engagement, Hugo Rourke had the bright idea that if he could use the same tricks and tactics to help those with serious, chronic health conditions who had a greater need to engage and comply with treatments, it could be more beneficial for society. He and a mate Scott Taylor created an app that rewards those who must manage chronic illnesses likes diabetes and heart disease on a daily basis. They reward them by better engaging those patients via an app, offering enticements like movie tickets and gift vouchers if aspects of their treatment plans are carried out. But Perx is not just any old health or wellness app. This entrepreneurial duo worked with the University of Sydney to put it to the test by conducting a randomised trial to see if it improves health outcomes, with published results in the British Medical Journal. To date, they’ve not only attracted financial backing from venture capital, but they’ve won over the interest of major health providers and insurers both in Australia and the US. Here’s how they’re building Perx Health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Badran’s startup digital platform, Spriggy, was the realisation of his dream to help children learn about better managing money and to help parents improve and streamline the pocketmoney routine inside households. But Spriggy’s success from the get-go meant that Alex and his co-founder had to deal with myriad challenges… including how not to go broke. In Part 2 of our chat he reveals how to avoid those treacherous pitfalls as a startup entrepreneur and just how he intends to expand and spend the roughly $50 million already raised from investors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Alex Badran was doing his PhD, he turned down a guaranteed job in Silicon Valley with some of the world’s most innovative tech giants, to do his own thing back home in Oz. Who does that?  Well,  would-be entrepreneur Alex Badran for one. Sounds crazy, right? But Alex Badran did just that. Alex completed a fellowship in Silicon Valley California that basically involved him helping the likes of Netflix, Facebook, LinkedIn, Airbnb to solve their deep technical problems, meanwhile hanging out with their founders and senior execs scooping up whatever experience and learnings he could – but he turned his back on a guaranteed job over there with one of these global behemoths. Alex Badran always intended to return home to Sydney to realise his startup journey. He and a mate Mario Hasanakos had a dream to build something substantial from scratch. And Alex couldn’t let that go, even if it was Facebook calling. The pair founded technology company Spriggy in 2015 in Sydney, a platform they call a financial education tool. In short, it’s a pocket-money app for kids, all with parental supervision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investors Mutual co-founder Anton Tagliaferro reveals his take on the new higher interest rate landscape and what that means for investors, and he reveals the ASX-listed companies & sectors he likes, and those he steers away from. He’s also very candid about competition from passive funds and losing some big clients. But he also offers insights into how he survived some of the biggest financial crises of the past 2 decades; and why football in Australia and Malta are a big part of his life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As an émigré from Malta via London 40 years ago, Anton Tagliaferro instantly fell in love with Sydney. He has spent the past 25 years building one of the most respected funds management firms in Australia, starting from scratch with just 1 or 2 employees. But through his shrewd, he would say “common sense”, conservative approach to investing other people’s money, Anton Tagliaferro built his Investors Mutual Ltd boutique funds management firm into now controlling over $5Billion in funds he manages and invests for other people in Australian shares. In the meantime cementing his reputation as one of the most astute, successful stock pickers in the country. So what’s his “secret sauce” and does he fervently stick to his investing strategy, now matter how volatile the market? Find out, happy listening, 1/2.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serial entrepreneur & Lyre’s Spirit Co co-founder Carl Hartmann offers a Masterclass in the most important pitfalls to AVOID in any startup; what’s Return on EFFORT, and how to get it right; and how Lyre’s Spirit Co struggled through, but survived Covid lockdowns, shutdowns in hospitality & global supply chain dramas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noosa-based Carl Hartmann started cooking up entrepreneurial business ideas while at university in Queensland. His most recent startup, with his uni mate and co-founder Mark Livings, took shape first in the UK, and then exploded on the scene back home in Australia in mid 2019. The pair created Lyre’s Spirit Co, a brand and product line of alcohol-free spirits, like gin, bourbon, even tequila. They claim years of research & tinkering on their “liquids” gave them an edge – quality products that so closely mimic the original spirit but without the alcohol, so no hangover. Now Lyre’s Spirits are available in 75 countries around the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.