Funded Futures

In this episode, Emily sits down with Serena Lam , the powerhouse founder behind Fuzzy AI – a radically new platform transforming the way sales and marketing teams create content, build personal brands and generate leads. Serena shares how Fuzzy AI grew from a pivot, a prototype and one founder friend who pulled out his credit card on the spot. What began as a completely different startup quickly...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily sits down with Bijin Johnson , founder of Gradus , the AI-powered platform tackling one of the knottiest problems in business: finding great people without losing your sanity or your runway. Fresh off winning VentureCrowd’s Pitch Night, Bijin shares the surprisingly human story behind Gradus, from his days as a systems engineer at Boeing to building an MVP...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily Macfarlane sits down with Mark Burrell , Founder and CEO of AiCarer , a predictive wellness and safety platform built to support families caring for ageing or vulnerable loved ones. Born from Mark’s personal experience as a carer, AiCarer uses everyday wearables and proprietary AI to detect early changes in wellbeing — before a crisis occurs. The technolog...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily Macfarlane sits down with Josh Sprague , founder of Trove , an innovative app designed to democratise access to alternative investments. Josh shares his mission to level the playing field for everyday Australians who are locked out of high-return asset classes typically reserved for the wealthy. They discuss: The challenges faced by retail investors in Aus...

In this episode of Funded Futures , host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Tod Pedler , Founder and CEO of New Dialogue — a revolutionary AI company delivering private, open-source GPT technology for enterprises. Todd unpacks what it means to build an “open-source private GPT” and why data sovereignty and security should be at the heart of every company’s AI strategy. From healthcare to financial se...

In this episode of Funded Futures , host Emily Macfarlane speaks with David Cummins , Founder and Managing Director of Future Property Group , a company redefining the construction industry through regenerative, nature-positive design . David’s journey began with a life-changing moment — a near-death surfing accident that left him stranded on a remote island. There, he discovered a self-sufficient...

In this episode of Funded Futures , host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Warwick Donaldson , founder and managing director of CapXcentric , to unpack the truth behind capital raising in Australia. Warwick has supported over 160 startup raises worth more than $400 million , and his reputation as a fierce advocate for founders comes from telling them what they need to hear, not what they want to hea...

In this episode of Funded Futures , host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Ben Circosta, founder and CEO of Bippi , the fast-growing Australian food brand transforming authentic Calabrian family recipes into supermarket staples. What started in his Nonna Emilia’s kitchen during lockdown has become a national success story, with Bippi’s chilli condiments, hot honey, and salsa verde now stocked in 1,2...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily sits down with Brendan Leeds , founder of Choosey App , the hospitality hiring platform built to solve one of the industry’s toughest challenges: finding the right staff, fast. Brendan shares his journey of turning industry frustration into a tech-driven solution that connects venues with pre-vetted workers — reducing time-to-hire and helping hospitality b...

This week on Funded Futures, Emily sits down with the brilliant Kate Save - dietitian, exercise physiologist, diabetes educator, serial entrepreneur, Shark Tank alum, and co-founder of Be Fit Food . From surfing on the Mornington Peninsula to scaling a company that’s changing the way Australians approach health, Kate’s story is one of relentless curiosity, resilience, and razor-sharp purpose. In t...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily sits down with Majella Campbell, CEO of Fishburners — one of Australia’s most iconic startup communities — to explore the role of community, accessibility, and inclusive design in building a stronger startup ecosystem. Majella shares her journey from uni student to CEO, and the powerful story behind Fishburners’ founding. She reflects on the structural cha...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily sits down with Steven Maarbani, CEO of VentureCrowd — Australia’s leading digital investment platform for alternative assets. From his days as a corporate lawyer to rethinking the inefficiencies of private capital markets, Steve shares the origin story of VentureCrowd, why access matters, and how digital platforms can change the investment landscape for fo...

In this episode of Funded Futures, host Emily speaks with Jesse Arundell, Head of AI at Optus and a member of the advisory board at VentureCrowd . They discuss the transformative potential of agentic AI in financial services, the challenges founders face in raising capital, and the evolving landscape of investment opportunities. Jesse emphasises the importance of AI as an assistant rather than a r...

In this episode of Funded Futures, host Emily speaks with Adrian Bunter , an experienced angel investor, about the intricacies of angel investing, the evolution of angel networks, and the unique aspects of the Sydney Angel Network . They discuss the concept of sidecar funds, the vetting process for startups, and the importance of gender dynamics in pitching. Adrian shares insights on investment ou...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily sits down with Elliot Spiegel , CEO of Inhouse Ventures , to explore the evolving dynamics between founders and investors in Australia’s startup landscape. We unpack why great investors offer more than capital and why great founders need to ask for more than just money. Elliot shares how the smartest founders are approaching capital raising today: by seeki...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily sits down with Alan Jones, General Partner at M8 Ventures, founder coach, radio host, and t-shirt designer. With a career spanning tech journalism, startup investment, and mentoring early-stage founders, Alan shares his insights on the evolving Australian startup ecosystem, the qualities that make a great founder, and the unexpected role of t-shirts in vir...

In this episode of Funded Futures , host Emily sits down with Suji Sanjeevan, the co-founder and CEO of Light + Glo and Brandscent , to discuss her incredible journey from medicine to entrepreneurship. After training as a doctor in London, Suji realized she was unfulfilled and pivoted into the world of fragrance, eventually building two successful businesses that harness the power of scent for bra...

In this episode of Funded Futures, host Emily sits down with Jeanette Cheah, the dynamic founder and CEO of HEX. HEX is revolutionising education by equipping students and young professionals with entrepreneurial skills and future-proofing them for the rapidly changing world of work. Jeanette shares her journey from corporate life to launching HEX, the challenges of scaling a startup, and her insi...

In this episode of Funded Futures , host Emily sits down with Adam Schwab, Co-Founder and CEO of Luxury Escapes, one of the world’s most recognized travel brands. Adam shares the fascinating story of how he pivoted from running a deals website to creating a multi-billion-dollar luxury travel business. They dive into the challenges of scaling, the role of AI in travel, and how Luxury Escapes stays...

In this episode of Funded Futures, we sit down with Will Richards , co-founder of Overnight Success and senior associate at Encour , to talk about the power of media, storytelling, and startup funding. Will has built a name for himself in Australia’s startup ecosystem by covering early-stage founders, helping them gain visibility, and supporting businesses through public relations and investment i...

In this episode of Funded Futures , we sit down with Stefan Di Benedetto, the founder of SolBevi, to talk about his journey in bringing Australia's first canned Limoncello Spritz to market. From perfecting a family recipe to turning it into a thriving business, Stefan shares his experience navigating product development, branding, and the competitive beverage industry. We discuss the inspiration b...

Indianna Roehrich has built a reputation as a sharp entrepreneur with an intuitive sense for where innovation meets necessity. Her latest venture, Tomorrow Today Beauty, tackles a modern skincare problem few had considered: the impact of blue light on our skin. After a decade running Simply Social, a social media agency, she found herself constantly in front of screens and started questioning what...

In this episode of Funded Features, host Emily Macfarlane welcomes Darren Westlake, the co-founder and former CEO of Crowdcube. Darren shares insights from his journey in building one of the most successful equity crowdfunding platforms, discussing the similarities and differences between the UK and Australian markets. During the conversation, Darren reflects on the evolution of equity crowdfundin...

In this episode of Funded Futures , Emily sits down with Kirstin Hunter, Managing Director of Techstars Australia and co-founder of Future Super. Kirstin shares her journey from law and management consulting to leading high-growth startups and mentoring the next generation of founders. Her career is a masterclass in navigating transitions, embracing purpose-driven work, and advocating for systemic...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane is joined by Tim Griffiths, a serial entrepreneur and partner at Scalare Partners. Tim shares his insights into the world of venture capital, offering a unique perspective on how Scalare Partners supports early-stage startups through funding, mentorship, and community-building. He delves into the firm’s innovative approach, which includ...