“…Where people with great ideas, great technology actually can get the support that they need. Money certainly helps, but it’s a lot more, it’s about access to markets, it’s about mentoring, it’s about advice, it’s about wisdom.”
Grey Innovation Investment Partners board member, Susan Oliver AM has long been involved in the Australian startup ecosystem. Susan has invested in, and co-founded, many startup ventures and has served as a board member for multiple organisations. But Susan is perhaps most well known for her co-founding of Scale Investors, which she has recently retired from as Chair, to serve as Chair for the Alice Anderson Fund. The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem podcast is an ambitious series that looks to comprehensively cover the story of startups and entrepreneurs Down Under. Over the course of 150 episodes in 2022, the podcast interviews some of the most important founders, investors, academics and policy makers who have helped shape the startup space since the 1970s. These individuals will tell their stories, talk about the development of the ecosystem and lend their thoughts to the future.
The podcast is backed by sponsors across Australia, including major support from MYOB, Amazon Web Services and from advertising partners, LegalVision and Startup Galaxy. Sit back and listen as our host Adam talks with Susan about her career in the Australian startup ecosystem, the importance of Australia relying on and investing in products of the Australian startup ecosystem, and what she looks for when choosing new founders to invest in. “As an angel investor, early-stage investor, we’re looking for that tenacity and that determination and that total commitment to their idea and the business that they’re building.” The series is supported by partners, Startup Daily, Fishburners, Spark Festival, Spacecubed, Stone & Chalk & River City Labs. Other sponsors include UTS Startups, The Guild of Entrepreneurs, Western Sydney University - Launch Pad, Canberra Innovation Network, Curtin University, CSIRO, University of South Australia, LaunchVic, The Office of the South Australian Chief Entrepreneur, ANSTO, University of Newcastle - Integrated Innovation Network, University of Adelaide - ThincLab, Flinders University - New Venture Institute, UNSW Founders, UQ Ventures and James Cook University.
