The Growth Cartel

Deepak joins Rhys as the weekly update covers various funding announcements in the startup ecosystem. LaunchVic invested $2.4 million into eight early-stage VC funds, Virtuals launched an angel network platform, One Ventures raised their seventh fund, Splend secured $20 million for EV fleet subscription rideshare drivers, Rich Data Code raised $37 million for AI-powered credit assessment technolog...

Summary Vinisha and Deepak join Rhys in this week's episode as we delve into the latest startup ecosystem trends. Including the stock market, the challenges female founders face in accessing funding, the failure of Hivery, and the success of Slice in securing funding for travel advances. They also highlight a new talent management system for influencers and creators. The conversation touches on th...

Vinisha and Deepak join Rhys in this week's episode as we delve into the latest startup ecosystem trends. From crucial funding updates to the growing importance of robust business foundations, this discussion covers essential topics for any entrepreneur. This Week's Highlights: SeenCulture Funding: Raised $1M backed by LaunchVic's Alice Anderson Fund for female founders, providing tools for smarte...

In this episode, Leila and Rhys introduce our new co-host, Deepak Singh, a seasoned culture strategist in the startup ecosystem. They delve into Deepak's unique career and unwavering dedication to shaping positive workplace cultures, shedding light on the complexities of balancing performance with culture in startups. The discussion also explores the significance of investing in employee developme...

Brandon and Rhys explore this week's funding landscape across various sectors within the tech and startup ecosystem. This episode unpacks the industry's dynamic shifts and growth from groundbreaking construction technologies to innovative social platforms. Construction Tech Boom: HammerTech secures a whopping $105 million from Riverwood Capital, showcasing the sector's strong growth. Biosecurity I...

Summary This week, Dickie and Deepak joined Brandon and Rhys. They discuss various tech-related topics, fundraising, and the Australian and global startup scale-up ecosystem. They cover the launch of an app by Angel Class that allows non-sophisticated investors to invest in startups, the funding challenges faced by climate tech startups, the investment in e-waste recycling for solar panels, and pr...

Summary This week, Vinisha joined Brandon and Rhys. They cover the growth of AI jobs in Australia, the success of a Melbourne-based cooking app, funding for a disability plan management platform, and investment in permission dev tools for the enterprise. They also highlight the importance of animal-free pharmaceutical research. Takeaways The demand for AI jobs is growing in Australia, and companie...

Summary In this episode, Brandon and Rhys discuss various topics in the tech and startup world. They cover the advancements in AI, the government's focus on industry collaboration, funding news, and the need for better AI education. The conversation highlights the importance of regional startups, the potential of quantum computing, and the lack of diversity in startup funding. Takeaways AI is adva...

Summary In this episode, Brandon and Rhys discuss various topics, including Nvidia becoming the world's highest-valued company, the hiring spree in the crypto gaming industry, the rising cost of tech talent in Australia, Canva's shareholder callback, and the success of ad tech platform Linkby. Takeaways Nvidia briefly became the world's highest-valued company, driven by the significant institution...

Summary In this episode, join Brandon, Rhys, and Dickie live from The Tropical Innovation Festival. Dickie has been busy attending events in the Australian startup ecosystem, and he shares his experiences from the Australian Technologies Competition Masterclass Series to many sites from the Tropical Innovation Festival. He also discusses his recent burnout and the importance of being open and vuln...

Summary In this episode, Rhys and Brandon discuss recent funding announcements in the Australian tech ecosystem, alternative lending, housing affordability, supply chain integration, and generative AI. Takeaways The housing problem in Australia is a significant challenge that needs addressing. Alternative lending can help people enter the property market and solve the affordability crisis. Legacy...

Summary In this episode, we delve into the I'm Safe app, a powerful tool addressing women's safety, domestic violence and human trafficking. With features like an SOS alert for emergencies and evidence recording, the app empowers women to seek help and share experiences anonymously. Vini and Brandon discuss with Samson the importance of technology in enhancing safety, the necessity of cultural and...

In the Growth Cartel weekly update episode, Brandon and Rhys discuss the question of whether Apple is late to the AI party and speculate on the loyalty of Apple's fan base. They also highlight the growing importance of AI skills in all industries and the potential for AI to make jobs more efficient. The hosts discuss recent funding raises in the agri-tech, health tech, and logistics sectors and an...

In this episode, Brandon and Rhys Henderson discuss various topics, including the Ticketmaster hack, cybersecurity, Donald Trump's social media presence, Elon Musk's AI venture, and Zella's grant program for small businesses in regional Australia. They also touch on the importance of mentorship and community support for small businesses.

Des John, the founder of Vibe Guide, talks about his new venture and takes the listener on a virtual tour of Melbourne's laneways. He explains the history behind the laneways and how they have evolved. Des also discusses the transformation of Melbourne's CBD from a purely business district to a vibrant residential and hospitality hub. The conversation touches on the Green Laneways Initiative, the...

In this episode of The Growth Cartel Weekly, Brandon and Rhys discuss various topics, including the recent Canva Create event, which aimed to showcase its potential for enterprise use. Several startups in Australia have recently raised significant funding. There is a growing interest in sustainable packaging alternatives. AI-powered solutions have the potential to transform the construction indust...

Summary In this episode, Rhys introduces new co-hosts Vini and Leila and discusses their backgrounds and passion for the startup ecosystem. They also talk about the importance of diversity and empowerment in the industry. Vini shares her alter ego as the 'startup fairy' with her briefcase, and Leila talks about her experience in crowdfunding. The hosts emphasize the need for authenticity and build...

Rhys and Brandon discuss various investment, tech, and startup topics in this conversation. They mention the release of GPT 4o, with voice, text, and vision capabilities. They also talk about the growth of The Growth Cartel podcast and the addition of new hosts. The conversation touches on recent startup funding and the challenges faced by early-stage businesses. They share their favourite podcast...

In this conversation, Rhys and Brandon discuss various topics, including the challenges faced by cheap airline providers in Australia, the impact of social media on children, the importance of AI in startups, and the convenience of Amazon delivery. They also highlight the support and benefits provided by Airwallex for startups. The conversation concludes with a call for listener engagement and a s...

In the latest episode of The Growth Cartel, we had the pleasure of speaking with Gretchen Scott, delving into the persistent challenges and systemic barriers to enhancing diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. Our conversation shed light on the critical role of diversity and inclusion, especially for women and explored the reasons behind the departure of many from the tech field, such a...

In this episode, our guest, Paul Mitchinson from Scalerr, shares his experiences and insights on scaling businesses. Discussing the importance of building a sticky community and creating stickiness within businesses. He also shares insights on entering a new market, whether to send an existing team or hire locally, and the challenges and loneliness founders face. Additionally, he talks about de-ri...

In this episode, Rhys, Brandon, and Vadim Petrichenko from Blossom Capital Partners explore proposed changes to sophisticated investor regulations. They discuss the potential effects on the startup ecosystem, including early-stage funding and innovation challenges. Vadim shares concerns about losing valuable knowledge networks and the impact on diversity and inclusion. The conversation also covers...

In this episode, Dickie, Brandon and Rhys discuss in-person events in the new normal and the challenges of regional entrepreneurship in Australia. They explore the need for national solutions to support startups outside major cities. The conversation touches on the balance between global and local focus, the mid-market crisis in Australia, and the lessons and growth experienced in 2023. Explore th...