Give It A Nudge

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 share...

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. Th...

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...

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, da...

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 competi...

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 path...

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 ing...

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 succe...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Gabriela Scharf, Founder of Get Cool Brands. Gabriela's fascinating career journey takes centre stage as she shares her experiences moving from Brazil to Australia, working with major brands like Red Bull and WeWork, and eventually finding her passion in purpose-driven initiatives. Gabriela recounts the challenges of starting anew in Australia,...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace chats with Jessie Hughes, Senior Creative Technologist at Leonardo. Ai, just days after their acquisition by Canva. Steve and Jessie discuss the groundbreaking features of Leonardo. Ai, a generative AI-powered content creation suite designed to democratize creativity by making high-quality content creation accessible to everyone.  Jessie shares insig...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Stephen Zilioli, the Founder & CEO of PostLock (https://www.postlock.com.au/), a revolutionary new savings product designed to help aspiring homeowners keep up with runaway property prices. Steve and Stephen discuss the journey from a stable banking career to founding PostLock, the difficulties of navigating government regulations, and the u...

In this very exciting episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Dickie, known as "the hype man" for the Australian tech and innovation ecosystem. Dickie talks about his unique career path, starting from law school and the Territorial Army, moving on to become a Moroccan country specialist in the travel industry, and finally diving into the Australian startup world. He shares his colourful e...

In this episode of Give It a Nudge, Steve chats with Melissa Reader, the founder and CEO of Violet (https://www.violet.org.au/), a pioneering virtual care platform dedicated to supporting individuals and their families during the last stage of life.  Steve and Melissa talk about her shift from consulting to starting Violet, the unique challenges she faced as a non-tech founder in a tech world, and...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve talks with Bardia Khalilifar, the Founder of Conicio Advisory. Bardia shares his journey from the corporate tech world to founding his own consulting firm. Initially working as a programmer and network engineer, he transitioned into sales and partnerships, holding executive roles over a 20-year career. His move from corporate life to entrepreneurship was d...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve is joined by Neelan Sornalingam, a financial advisor passionate about transforming how clients manage and think about their finances.  During their talk, Neelan explains the importance of having clear, defined life and financial goals before getting into the nuts and bolts of financial planning. He believes that aligning financial strategies with personal...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Damien Cooley of Cooley Auctions. Damien shares his journey from starting out in real estate to becoming a well-known auctioneer, recognised by his signature orange tie.  He discusses his unique approach to auctioneering, emphasising the role of energy, strategy, and marketing in his success. Damien also talks about the challenges and breakthrou...

In this long-awaited episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve finally has the chance to sit down with Mike Langford, Head of VC & Startup Ecosystem JAPAC at Google Cloud. Mike discusses his role at Google, overseeing the VC and startup ecosystem across Asia-Pacific. He shares his 12-year journey with the company, his passion for technology, and the strategic moves that led to his current position. Mi...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Sam Wood, the CEO & Co-Founder of Azura Fashion Group, to discuss the innovative journey of his company. Sam shares the origin story of Azura Fashion Group, which started in 2019 with a mission to provide a better solution for luxury fashion brands to manage their off-season and postseason stock. The company helps brands like Dolce &...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve visits the Honey Insurance offices to talk with Richard Joffe, the Founder & CEO. Richard shares the story behind Honey Insurance, a digital home insurance company aiming to simplify and improve the insurance experience in Australia. He explains how his move from San Francisco to Australia highlighted the need for a more modern and customer-friendly in...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve reconnects with Ali Lord, CEO of Headbox Australia, two years after their first interview during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Ali talks about how Headbox navigated the challenges brought by the pandemic and the changes within the events industry. Starting with a small team during the pandemic, Headbox adapted by focusing on market expansion an...

Join us on this episode of Give It A Nudge where host Steve chats with Cheryl Mack, CEO of Aussie Angels. Cheryl takes us through her journey from Toronto to becoming a key player in Australia’s startup scene. She shares her insights into the evolution of Aussie Angels, her experiences with angel investing, and the growing startup ecosystem in Australia. 🔗 Useful Links: Connect with Cheryl on Lin...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Lucy Wark, the dynamic founder of two innovative companies: Normal and Fuzzy. Normal revolutionises sex education with engaging digital content and sex toys, while Fuzzy focuses on teaching essential soft skills often overlooked in traditional education. Lucy shares her path from launching a student magazine at the University of Cambridge to her...

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve is joined by Dr. Neetu Johnson, the Chief Medical Officer and Co- Founder of Prescribe Life. Neetu shares her journey from experiencing burnout in the demanding field of psychiatry to pioneering a platform focused on improving the mental health and overall well-being of founders. Neetu explains how her personal burnout and dissatisfaction with traditional...

In the latest episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve talks with Maria Halasz, the CEO of Stride Equity, a venture group that uniquely combines the resources of venture capital with the power of equity crowdfunding. Maria explains how Stride Equity is not just investing in startups but is deeply involved in preparing them for securing investments, leveraging a model that goes beyond simple transactions....

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve is joined by Peita Piper, CEO of Avenue Bank, a pioneering financial institution that specialises in bank guarantees.  Avenue Bank has dramatically transformed the traditional, cumbersome process of securing commercial leases by digitising and streamlining it, reducing issuance time from weeks to just 24 hours. Peita shares the story of Avenue Bank's incep...