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Start-up Founders, Venture Captial, Private Equity, Accelerators - hear them all talk about their stories where they went wrong, what went right and what they learned!
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29 OCT 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace sits down with Damon Rahmate and Andrew Davey, the innovative minds behind Genevo Marine, as they prepare to launch Australia’s first luxury electric recreational boat.
Steve, Damon, and Andrew dive into the creation of Genevo Marine, exploring how their backgrounds in boat building, electrical engineering, and renewable energy led them to develop a groundbreaking electric boat. Designed to offer a smoother, quieter, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional boats, Genevo Marine is poised to make waves in the rapidly growing electric boating industry.
Damon and Andrew share their vision for the future of electric boating, discuss the importance of government support, and outline their strategy for showcasing the boat at international boat shows. They also touch on their unique career paths, the burgeoning market for electric boats, and the potential for Australia to become a leader in sustainable marine technology.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:18 - Meet Damon Rahmate and Andrew Davey of Genevo Marine
00:36 - The vision behind Australia’s first electric luxury boat
03:30 - Overcoming challenges in electric boat design
08:23 - The environmental benefits of electric boating
12:29 - Leveraging government support for innovation
15:36 - The growing market for electric boats
23:10 - Future plans for international expansion
27:09 - The evolution of sustainable marine technology
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Transcribed
22 OCT 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace sits down with Timo Kugler, co-founder of Foodini, a cutting-edge platform designed to help people with dietary needs navigate the food world more easily. From gluten-free to vegan and everything in between, Foodini is simplifying dining for 33% of the global population with dietary restrictions.
Timo shares the journey of launching Foodini, the growth of the app in Australia and the recent expansion into the U.S. market. He dives into how AI and a dedicated team of dietitians power the app, helping restaurants cater to dietary needs, while also improving their business operations. Timo also talks about his fascinating career journey, from MTV Europe to launching multiple startups, and how Foodini is positioned to reshape the future of food and hospitality.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Meet Timo Kugler and the Foodini story
02:16 – Tackling dietary challenges with Foodini
04:33 – From MTV to startups: Timo’s wild career ride
07:10 – How Foodini makes dining safer for everyone
09:34 – AI and dietitians: The brains behind Foodini
11:52 – Boosting restaurant menus and revenue with Foodini
15:10 – Foodini’s big leap into the U.S. and beyond
19:34 – Fundraising and scaling: What’s next for Foodini?
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Transcribed
15 OCT 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Elena Tsalanidis, Co-Founder of Deeligence, a cutting-edge legal tech startup that’s using AI to transform the traditionally tedious process of legal due diligence. Elena explains how Deeligence is cutting down the time lawyers spend on M&A due diligence, helping law firms improve accuracy and efficiency while reducing risk.
Elena also shares her journey from being a corporate lawyer to becoming a tech founder, the challenges of building a secure AI-driven platform, and the future of AI in the legal world. She dives into the role of AI in legal workflows and discusses how Deeligence is poised to reshape the way law firms handle complex transactions.
Timestamps:
00:45 – What Deeligence does and how Elena transitioned from law to legal tech
03:15 – The initial challenges of building an AI-driven platform
05:30 – How Deeligence uses AI to speed up the due diligence process
07:00 – Overcoming resistance from traditional law firms to adopt new technology
09:10 – The impact of AI on reducing manual work and improving efficiency for lawyers
11:45 – Ensuring security and confidentiality in a legal tech platform
13:30 – How Deeligence improves lawyer retention and client satisfaction
15:20 – Elena’s vision for the future of AI in the legal industry and what's next for Deeligence
Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring conversations with startup founders and industry innovators!
Transcribed
8 OCT 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Thomas Telfer, Chief Operating Officer of Scimita Ventures, to explore how his company is driving innovation across industries, with a strong focus on science, engineering, and sustainability.
Thomas shares his journey from studying pharmacology to leading a startup that helps companies turn early-stage tech ideas into tangible products. They dive into Scimita’s pioneering work in battery recycling and the circular economy, the transition from academia to entrepreneurship, and the exciting plans for expanding Scimita’s operations.
Timestamps:
00:35 – What Scimita Ventures does
02:10 – Thomas’s background: From pharmacology to entrepreneurship
05:00 – Transitioning from academia to startups
07:45 – Working on innovative medical devices like non-invasive blood glucose monitors
10:15 – The impact of COVID-19 on product development and remote testing
12:30 – The importance of collaboration with universities and entrepreneurs
15:00 – Circular economy projects: Battery recycling and reducing waste
18:40 – Future plans: Expanding Scimita Ventures' operations to a new facility in Western Sydney
Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more conversations with innovative startup founders & innovators!
Transcribed
1 OCT 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Michael Batko, CEO of Startmate, to dive into how he’s building one of the most successful startup accelerators in Australia. Michael shares the story of his journey from consulting to startups, the growth of Startmate, and his vision for the future.
They discuss how Startmate is supporting founders, investors, and job seekers while scaling a vibrant startup community. Michael also gives a sneak peek into his productivity-focused side hustle and reveals his ambitious plan to build a "Startmate City" for founders and innovators.
Timestamps:
00:18 - Welcome Michael Batko to the show
00:53 - What is Startmate and its mission
01:31 - Michael’s background in consulting and transition to startups
02:18 - Early days at Mad Paws and lessons from scaling startups
03:50 - The value of making mistakes in startups
06:49 - Trekking through the Amazon: Lessons from Michael’s travels
10:00 - Returning to Australia and the serendipity of landing at Startmate
13:09 - Setting up and scaling an incubator at Startmate
14:42 - The challenges of running a startup accelerator
16:00 - Michael’s thoughts on community-driven growth and marketing
17:05 - The vision for Startmate’s future and building "Startmate City"
20:48 - The success of Startmate’s investments and community-driven venture fund
24:00 - Michael’s productivity side hustle and teaching AI tools
26:13 - The hardest lessons Michael has learned in fundraising and people management
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Transcribed
24 SEP 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Scott King, co-founder of Zapme, an innovative global communications platform that simplifies international travel by providing seamless connectivity.
Scott dives into the story of how Zapme was born out of the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic while working overseas, sparking the idea for a service that offers global numbers, data, and messaging—all in one app.
Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Alice Springs to working in Japan, Miami, and on cruise ships before founding Zapme. He reflects on the importance of solving problems, the lessons learned along the way, and Zapme’s potential to help not only travellers but professionals, recruiters, and even dating app users.
Scott also offers a glimpse into Zapme’s exciting future, including plans to expand into B2B markets and how the platform can be used beyond travel. He emphasises the importance of building a global community and solving everyday communication challenges.
Timestamps:
01:00 - What Zapme does and Scott’s inspiration
03:00 - The impact of COVID-19 on Zapme’s creation
06:45 - Scott’s entrepreneurial background: From Japan to cruise ships
09:30 - How Zapme solves global communication issues for travellers
13:00 - Expanding Zapme’s use cases: Recruiters, dating apps, and more
16:30 - Scott’s vision for Zapme’s future and the B2B market
19:00 - The importance of community and solving global problems
Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring conversations with founders, innovators, and industry leaders!
Transcribed
17 SEP 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Ruth Hatherley, Founder & CEO of MoneyCatcha, a fintech company making waves by using open banking data to revolutionise the home loan process for consumers and brokers alike.
Ruth shares the story of MoneyCatcha's evolution, starting from blockchain technology to leveraging open banking to democratise data and offer faster, more competitive home loan solutions. She dives into the impact of COVID-19 on the financial landscape, how the shift toward digital processes changed the game for brokers, and her passion for improving the customer experience in the home loan industry.
Ruth also discusses the challenges of being a first-time founder, the resilience required to build a fintech startup, and her exciting plans for MoneyCatcha’s future, including expansion into other industries and markets.
Timestamps:
00:57 - What MoneyCatcha does and Ruth's journey
03:30 - Shifting from blockchain to open banking
05:00 - The impact of COVID-19 on the home loan industry
07:45 - Helping brokers use data to provide better loan options
09:30 - Ruth’s personal journey from banking to fintech founder
12:00 - Open banking and its impact on consumers
15:00 - The future of MoneyCatcha: Expanding beyond banking
18:30 - Ruth's thoughts on resilience and growth as a founder
Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more amazing conversations with startup founders, innovators, and industry leaders!
Transcribed
10 SEP 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace chats with Cameron Smith from Take2, a company that provides individuals who have had contact with the justice system a second chance at life through a three-year tech training and employment program.
Cameron explains how Take2 offers not just technical training but also essential life skills, aiming to break down barriers and create employment pathways for those who have faced significant challenges.
Cameron shares his journey into founding Take2, his background in recruitment, and how witnessing the discrimination faced by people with convictions inspired him to launch the organisation. The conversation dives into the difficulties of getting prisons, funders, and employment partners on board, and the challenges of implementing the program in both New Zealand and now Australia.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Take2's mission: A second chance for those in the justice system
02:03 - Cameron's background and inspiration for starting Take2
03:30 - Overcoming initial challenges in launching the program
05:00 - The transformative power of employment for marginalised individuals
07:00 - Launching in Australia: Adapting the model for a new market
09:30 - Building employer partnerships and breaking down prejudices
11:15 - Success stories from Take2's graduates
13:00 - How to get involved and support Take2’s mission
Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring stories from the world of startups, scaleups and high-growth companies!
Transcribed
3 SEP 2024 · In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Sophie Hood, founder of Seoul Tonic, to explore her journey of creating a unique health tonic inspired by South Korean traditions.
Sophie shares her story from starting in consulting and finance to diving into the world of consumer health products. She discusses her fascination with Korean skincare, which led her to discover traditional ingredients that help with alcohol metabolism and liver detoxification.
Timestamps:
01:17 - Quick pitch on Seoul Tonic
01:43 - Sophie's inspiration from South Korea
03:12 - Transition from consulting to Moet Hennessy
04:52 - Experience at Moet Hennessy and Red Bull
06:29 - Starting Seoul Tonic and creating the product
09:59 - Finding the right manufacturer during COVID
13:10 - Distribution challenges and initial marketing
15:59 - Winning Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars
21:04 - Expansion into international markets
25:35 - Bootstrapping the business and maintaining equity
30:26 - Future plans and new product launch
Stay ahead of the curve—subscribe to Give It A Nudge for the latest conversations from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies!
27 AUG 2024 · In this episode of Give It a Nudge, Steve chats with Alex Kerr (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-kerr-6599b7197/), the founder of Kumo Study (https://www.kumostudy.com/), a study management tool for students with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity.
Steve and Alex discuss her journey from university to founding Kumo Study, the unique challenges she faced as a non-tech founder, and how she successfully bootstrapped the business. They also explore Kumo Study's innovative approach to digitising occupational therapy techniques to create an effective learning tool for neurodiverse students.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and setting the scene
00:18 - Meet Alex Kerr of Kumo Study
01:06 - Quick pitch on Kumo Study and its mission
02:21 - Alex’s background and journey to founding Kumo Study
03:13 - Realising the impact of ADHD on her own study habits
06:29 - Transition from university to startup life
09:18 - Importance of setting up the right study environment
12:30 - Features of Kumo Study: digitising occupational therapy techniques
15:00 - Addressing comorbidities: Dyslexia, Autism, and ADHD
20:21 - Bootstrapping and building Kumo Study
25:35 - Current state and future plans for Kumo Study
This episode is perfect for anyone interested in how technology can support neurodiverse students in their academic journey, and how personal challenges can lead to innovative solutions.
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Start-up Founders, Venture Captial, Private Equity, Accelerators - hear them all talk about their stories where they went wrong, what went right and what they learned!
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| Author | Steve Grace |
| Organization | Steve Grace |
| Categories | Business , Entrepreneurship , Careers |
| Website | www.spreaker.com |
| steve@thenudgegroup.com |
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