Entrepreneurship.AU with Christo

Today, I’m sharing a conversation with Mr. Jannik Lawaetz, a European entrepreneur, dad, and now a champion of entrepreneurship and innovation freedom in Europe.  I came across Jannik on LinkedIn (his natural habitat, I believe).He was making a strong case for how innovation and entrepreneurship are being stifled in Europe by bad policies and unnecessary red tape. He also explains why this is cruc...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Mr. Ugo Quaglino, an accomplished Italian entrepreneur born in Turin in 1966. Influenced by his family's entrepreneurial spirit, Ugo developed a strong work ethic and a love for travel. At 16, after overcoming a brain tumor that took him to Paris for treatment, he joined his father's textile business. By 19, he was expanding the company's international mar...

This is part two, of a four part series (Entrepreneurship. AU Startup Series) where I talk to startups 'in flight' where they are navigating growth and in some cases the chasm of doom. I met with the extraordinary Paz Pisarski in July(2024) when she took me through the beginnings of the Community Collective (TCC) specialising in helping organisations build communities as part of their marketing an...

Here is my discussion with Anthony Moffit, aka Harry.  I call him Tony. Tony is a mate from my time in the Australian Army. We were both posted to the SASR in the late 1980s; he went, I didn't. Tony served with distinction in several operational environments, including Iraq and Afghanistan.  He spent 25 years with the SAS as an operative and Team Commander. Tony transitioned from the SASR in his l...

Ian McGregor is a stalwart of the market research industry in Australia. He established McGregor Marketing in 1976, making it one of the pioneers in qualitative research in the country. Along with his wife and co-director Karen, Ian led McGregor Marketing to become Australia's sixth-largest market research firm and the first to secure work via a website in 1996.Originally from Cornwall, UK, Ian's...

In this episode, I chat with Paz Pisarski , the phenomenal Co-Founder of The Community Collective. Paz is a professional musician and now Entrepreneur who is building impactful communities and supporting 200+ businesses, including Canva, MYOB, CSIRO, Blackbird Ventures, Founders Factory Africa, and more! 🚀You may recall the concept of a Key Wo/Man business we mentioned in the last episode,..  wel...

Entrepreneurs live or die based on their ability to access capital. Grants are an option for whatever stage of your entrepreneurial journey, like them or hate them. In this episode, I enjoyed interviewing Mr. Steve Dowling from Grant Helper. Over the past decade, Steve has developed specialist expertise in government relations, focusing on accelerating business growth through securing government g...

In this episode, I discuss Erik Zimmerman's remarkable journey. Influenced by his psychologist mother and futurist father, who profoundly impacted my own entrepreneurial philosophy, Erik has developed a keen understanding of human behaviour and business innovation. Erik’s entrepreneurial journey was sparked in 2006 after viewing "A Crude Awakening" at the Melbourne Film Festival. This experience l...

This week, I enjoyed reconnecting with an old friend and fellow blockchain enthusiast, David Ritter. Our paths first crossed in 2017 in Shanghai, and David's intellect and passion for innovation in the financial services immediately stood out in our interactions.  After rekindling our connection a year ago, I was eager to have him share his insights on the show. David's journey is inspiring and de...

Here's my conversation with Gaynor Lawton, an inspiring mentor helping both small businesses and teenagers navigate their entrepreneurial journeys. Gaynor believes that self-doubt can immobilise even the most confident entrepreneurs. This observation led her to focus on Business Development and Mentoring, ensuring that individuals grow along with their ventures. She has harnessed these insights to...

In this show, I interview Norm Jenkins again.  You may remember Norm was one of the first discussions on the podcast (EP#004).  Today, in Ep #020, we discuss the power of culture as a driver for entrepreneurial success in a start-up.  Norm and I discuss the power of establishing a solid culture at the beginning and building from there to minimize unnecessary friction and conflict and accelerate gr...

Today, we have the pleasure of delving into the entrepreneurial journey of Mr. Nick Boniciolli, a dynamic entrepreneur hailing from Adelaide, Australia. Nick epitomises the entrepreneurial spirit, transitioning from his roots in a Heavy Metal band during his teenage years to pioneering alternative funding solutions for startups. Currently, he spearheads Optible AI, a cutting-edge technology platfo...

Join me as I discuss Entrepreneurship in its rawest form, on he streets of Athens in Greece. Ilias Zervas is a multi-talented individual serving as a business consultant, musician, and entrepreneur. He pursued BioMedical Engineering studies at the University and hails from Koroni and Kalamata, Greece. With a knack for music, he excels in Jazz, American Swing, and Opera. As an entrepreneur, he's in...

In this episode I talk with Bobak Tavangar is the co-founder and CEO of Brilliant Labs. This company is innovating in the augmented reality (AR) field by developing an open-source AR glasses hardware platform. The company has attracted significant investment, including from prominent figures such as Adam Cheyer (co-founder of Siri) and Brendan Iribe (co-founder of Oculus VR). Bobak's approach to A...

Welcome to "Entrepreneurship with Peter Christo," in today's episode, we have an exciting focus on blockchain and DeFi (Decentralised Finance) innovation, featuring Jason Potts and Darcy Allen from the RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub (Australia).Prof. Jason Potts, is a Distinguished Professor of Economics at RMIT University and a co-founder of the Blockchain Innovation Hub and D3 at RMIT. Jason is...

Welcome to "Entrepreneurship with Peter Christo." In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce our guest, Velenie Jacob, an Business Coach & Trainer from the Vanuatu. Velenie is distinguished by her accreditation from the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), and her expertise in the realm of MSME Finance. Velenie's mission is to empower businesses in effectively navigating the complexitie...

Say hi to Donna Patane - A cyclonic force in the space of commercialisation and innovation within the context of all things Intellectual Property.  As the pioneering registered trademark attorney in Far North Queensland and the founder of DRIPL, Donna is at the forefront of providing cutting-edge legal and strategic advice to entrepreneurs and innovators. DRIPL, a firm tailored for the new age, sp...

Welcome to the "Entrepreneurship with Peter Christo" podcast. I'm your host, Peter Christo, and today, we have an inspiring story to demystify engaging with a lawyer who gets the entrepreneurial space. Our guest for this episode is Peter North, a seasoned commercial lawyer who embarked on an incredible journey during the turbulent times of the 2009 Global Financial Crisis. After a decade in a city...

Welcome to "Entrepreneurship with Peter Christo." Today, we're joined by Michelle, a lifelong equestrian whose journey began on her family farm, surrounded by an endless supply of ponies and horses. From early stock work with her father to her active involvement in Pony Club activities in Adaminaby and Cooma, Michelle's love for horses blossomed through diverse experiences ranging from dressage to...

Afreen Huq is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the School of Management at RMIT University, Australia. Afreen’s research explores how gender identity and socio-cultural factors influence women’s entrepreneurial behaviour and approach to growth. She studies this phenomenon on women entrepreneurs in both developed countries as well as in culturally restrictive societies....

Introducing Allan Aaron, a distinguished professional with an extensive track record spanning over 35 years in technology and business. Allan's career has been remarkable as an entrepreneur, venture capital investor, management consultant, and engineer. Allan honed his skills during nearly a decade in management consulting, working with prestigious international firms, including McKinsey and Co. H...

Welcome to Entrepreneurship with Peter Christo. Today, I interviewed Nathan Wakeford, a serial entrepreneur I met in the 2000s as he and his business partner built up Somage Fine Foods from a lounge-room startup into a multimillion-dollar global business. Nathan is a perfect example of how the entrepreneurial journey is more than just building wealth and businesses.  In many cases, it's a battle b...

Meet Greg Riebe, a seasoned veteran with over two decades of hands-on experience in both the corporate world and the dynamic landscape of start-ups. He pioneered the first technology incubator in Perth, serving as a trailblazer in the emerging tech sector. Think of him as the initial spark that ignited Perth's tech innovation engine. He also managed a fund aimed explicitly at nurturing technology...

Chris Elphick is a seasoned entrepreneur transforming lives in developing economies like Vanuatu and Fiji. Originally a school dropout from the UK and now based in New Zealand, Chris focuses on tapping into the unexplored potential of disadvantaged youth. In our enlightening discussion, Chris takes us through the landscape of entrepreneurship in the Pacific Islands, especially Vanuatu. He delves i...

Usman Iftikhar, a systems entrepreneur driving change in multiple sectors and across different countries. Not just a polymath who enjoys art, history, technology, and music, Usman is on a mission to solve two critical global issues: climate change and the refugee crisis. His body of work has garnered him several prestigious awards, making him a notable figure in the international arena. Usman embo...