Funded Futures

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast , host Emily Macfarlane chats with Lauren Kennedy and Brooke Marks, the powerhouse duo behind High End App , a transformative platform in the luxury resale market. The conversation begins with Brooke’s story of founding a Facebook group to create a safer marketplace after being scammed on eBay. This group evolved into High End App, which uses cutting-edge AI...

In this insightful episode of the Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane delves into the multifaceted journey of Mark Woodland , a visionary entrepreneur and retired soldier. Mark shares his transformative passage from the discipline of military life to the innovative realms of technology and entrepreneurship. As the Founder and CEO of Kismet and the mind behind Xplor , Mark discusses the origins...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, host Emily welcomes special guest Matt Vitale, the co-founder and CEO of Birchal. The conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into Matt’s entrepreneurial journey, Birchal’s impressive achievements in equity crowdfunding, and the broader implications of this innovative funding model for Australia’s business ecosystem. Matt shares his unconventional career p...

In this enlightening episode of the Birchal Podcast, Emily Macfarlane sits down with Peter Leeson, the innovative mind behind Volt Solar Tile. Throughout the conversation, Peter shares the inception story of Volt Solar Tile, illustrating how a commitment to sustainability can drive technological advancements. He delves into the challenges of integrating solar technology with traditional roofing ma...

In this enriching episode of The Birchal Podcast, Emily Macfarlane chats with Holly Bailey, founder of Play Like A Girl Australia , an initiative dedicated to boosting girls' participation in sports. Holly discusses her personal journey into sports, spurred by her competitive spirit and a desire to address the persistent challenges women face in sports participation. As Holly outlines the inceptio...

In this episode of the Birchal Podcast, host Emily sits down with David Gibson and Kirsty Basman, the innovative minds behind Stryda Brewing Co., one of Australia's most promising new beer brands. The conversation reveals the ambitious journey of Stryda Brewing Co., from its inception aimed at challenging mainstream beer markets to its strategies for creating an aspirational brand. David shares in...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, we’re joined by Alex Cannizzaro, the founder of Platform Zero, a company that is making significant strides in transforming the fruit and vegetable industry through sustainable practices. Coming from a family deeply rooted in this industry for over 70 years, Alex brings a fresh and environmentally conscious perspective to an age-old business. Alex discusses...

In this episode of the Birchal Podcast, we delve into the innovative world of non-dilutive funding with Jodie Imam, co-founder of Tractor Ventures . Tractor Ventures is carving out a niche in the startup financing landscape by providing a vital lifeline to businesses that are growing sustainably but are not necessarily high-growth 'rocket' companies typically backed by VC funding. Jodie unpacks th...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast , we sit down with Mark Dombkins , founder of Forever Projects , an inspiring non-profit organisation dedicated to helping Tanzanian women and their families escape the cycle of poverty. Mark shares his deeply personal journey from his days as a teacher to becoming an advocate for sustainable change in Africa, alongside his wife Anna and their six children, t...

In this episode, we sit down with Brooklyn Edwards, founder of Brooklyn Management , a top modelling agency based in Melbourne. Brooklyn shares insights from her impressive 18-year journey in the modelling industry, which began when she launched her agency at just 21. Over the years, Brooklyn has navigated major industry changes, from the rise of social media to the demand for diversity, and has r...

In this episode, Emily sits down with Aaron Trotman, the founder of NON, a unique non-alcoholic beverage company that has been gaining attention for its sophisticated, flavor-rich drinks. Aaron shares the story behind NON's inception, the challenges of scaling a beverage company, and the meticulous process of crafting drinks that pair perfectly with food, all while maintaining a strong focus on su...

In this episode of the Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Stephen Graham, co-founder of ShadowBoxer, a venture studio that collaborates with start-ups and venture capitalists to turn great ideas into successful businesses. Stephen delves into the unique approach ShadowBoxer takes by blending investment with hands-on support, guiding early-stage companies from concept to market r...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, Emily sits down with Dean Dewhirst, the founder of Golf Space; a groundbreaking indoor golf club that's changing the way golfers practice, play, and experience the game. From eliminating the limitations of traditional driving ranges to making golf more accessible year-round, Dean shares how Golf Space combines advanced technology with a sense of communit...

In this episode, our host Emily sits down with Alex Bodriagin, the founder of BookATestDrive , a platform that's making the car-buying process smoother and less stressful for consumers. With over 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, Alex identified the pain points that customers face when test-driving vehicles and turned those challenges into opportunities for innovation. Tune in...

In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Risby-Jones and Emily Rigby, from The People's Plant, an Australian company dedicated to making medicinal cannabis affordable and accessible to all. We dive into the critical challenges facing the industry, from the high costs of production to the regulatory barriers that make it difficult for patients to access the medicine they need. Ben and Emily share h...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Harris Meitanis, the founder of acta, a groundbreaking platform that is transforming the talent booking industry. Harris shares the story behind acta, born from a need to cut through the chaos and inefficiencies in the entertainment world. With no central directory in Australia, finding and booking talent has been a compl...

In this episode of the Birchal Podcast, host Emily sits down with Ben Read, Co-Founder of Mercha, a company that is transforming the way businesses think about and purchase branded merchandise. From his journey from San Diego to Melbourne and the inception of Mercha, Ben shares the challenges and triumphs of disrupting an industry rooted in traditional practices. Mercha is not just another merchan...

In this episode of the Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Mohammed Ali Ayad, the innovative founder of iDlvr, a groundbreaking platform transforming the construction industry’s delivery logistics. Mohammed shares the story behind iDlvr, a construction materials marketplace that addresses the inefficiencies in last-mile delivery for construction sites. With his extensive backgrou...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Simon Hewitt, the visionary founder of OtherPay, to discuss the future of payment security and the innovative solutions his company is bringing to the market. OtherPay is on a mission to tackle the pervasive issue of card fraud and identity theft with a groundbreaking approach that combines advanced technology with user-f...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Ash Brown, the founder of Empiraa, a cutting-edge strategic consulting and software solution for businesses. Ash delves into the challenges of running a SaaS business in today’s saturated market, sharing insights on software fatigue and the necessity of finding a genuine problem before developing a solution. Ash also disc...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Anthony Femia, the visionary founder of Maker & Monger. Anthony shares his inspiring journey from a finance student at Macquarie University to becoming one of Melbourne’s most beloved cheesemongers. Discover how his family’s passion for food and a pivotal experience in Europe fueled his dream to create a unique cheese...

In this special episode of the Birchal podcast, CEO and Co-Founder Matt Vitale sits down with John Bertrand, the celebrated yachtsman who led Australia to victory in the 1983 America's Cup, and Andrew Ellett, the co-founder and Managing Director of Help Pay, a pioneering social fintech based in Melbourne. Andrew shares how Help Pay was born during the COVID-19 pandemic to simplify bill sharing...

In this episode of the Birchal Podcast, we sit down with Dennis Savic, the visionary founder of Savic Motorcycles, a company leading the charge in the development of high-performance electric motorcycles. Join us as Dennis shares his journey from engineering graduate to industry innovator, detailing the challenges and triumphs of building cutting-edge electric motorcycles. Discover how Savic Motor...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, we chat with James Young, the mastermind behind Old Young's, one of Australia's most inventive and successful gin distilleries. Join us as we explore James' captivating journey from a whimsical idea to a thriving gin empire. James shares the fascinating origin story of Old Young's, where a playful notion of creating a gin from the town of Gin...

In this episode of The Birchal Podcast, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Simi Rayat, a renowned leadership and emotional intelligence expert, business founder, and published author. Simi shares her journey from being an inquisitive child inspired by her entrepreneurial mother to becoming one of Australia's top leadership coaches. Through her experiences, Simi has developed a unique approac...