There are few partners who share the same panache, excitement and support for Australia’s technology ecosystem than we do. But we’ve finally found someone who not only shares those values, we even share an eerily similar name!

We’re excited to announce we are now working with award-winning PR agency Sling & Stone, to help tell Stone & Chalk Group’s stories of supporting Australia’s startups, scaleups and beyond to help our country’s economic prosperity. 

An unrivalled national community for emerging technology, Stone & Chalk Group provides vital access to the experience, knowledge, capital, capabilities, infrastructure and guidance that startups and scaleups require to be successful. 

Our footprint currently spans 11 locations across Australia, supporting almost 1,000 residents from more than 560 startups and scaleups. The Stone & Chalk Group village of residents and alumni has raised in excess of $520 million in capital and created more than 2,500 jobs over the past six years.

Stone & Chalk Group supports some of the fastest-growing companies in the economy, while working with enterprises and government to shape the policy and regulatory landscape required for critical and emerging technology products and services.

Sling & Stone will help raise the profile of Stone & Chalk Group in Australia and globally as we embark on an exciting strategic change, providing education and strategic consulting to residents, giving them the tools, resources and support to grow and expand themselves.

Olivia Grandjean-Thomsen, Head of Communications, Media and Events at Stone & Chalk Group, said:

“We are preparing for a massive 2022, building on the work we’ve done to date with our community with an even stronger program of work and support over the next year and beyond. It takes a village to raise a startup and Sling & Stone’s expertise, authority and smart thinking are all crucial ingredients to give our community the support they need in the future.”

James Hutchinson, Global Head of Business at Sling & Stone, said:

“As an organisation focused heavily on supporting and expanding Australia’s technology ecosystem, Stone & Chalk Group is exactly why we created Sling & Stone. Individually, we’ve already both helped support startups and scaleups raise funding, change industries and go global. Together, we’ll be able to do even more.”

Stone & Chalk selects long-lost twin Sling & Stone as PR agency of record

We’re excited to announce we are now working with award-winning PR agency Sling & Stone

Stone & Chalk Group today announced it has been appointed by NSW Government as the operator of the new Scaleup Hub at Tech Central, following a competitive tender process. 

SYDNEY, 29 NOVEMBER 2021 — Stone & Chalk Group today announced it has been appointed by NSW Government as the operator of the new Scaleup Hub at Tech Central, following a competitive tender process. 

Michael Bromley, CEO of Stone & Chalk Group says the appointment reflects Stone & Chalk Group’s ambition to be the country’s home of emerging technology. 

“We are delighted to be acknowledged for our expertise in supporting Australia’s technology community and are proud to be the partner of choice for the NSW Government’s important growth agenda. 

“From 1 July 2022, when the new Hub will be in operation, we’ll be able to support domestic and international emerging tech startups in their transition to becoming scaleups by providing vital access to resources and infrastructure that scaleups require to be successful.

“The Hub will be a place of convergence for great minds, founders, talent, capital and commercial growth; creating and sustaining the high-quality jobs of the future and contributing significantly to the economy’s underlying productivity.”

Split over 6 levels and 8,000 sqm of open and flexible commercial office space, the Scaleup Hub offers a range of private office suites, meeting rooms, event spaces and spillover workspaces for companies scaling operations. It will also serve as an important landing pad for international companies looking to enter the Australian market.

The new Scaleup Hub marks Stone & Chalk Group’s second location in Sydney and will build upon the Group’s mission to transform Australia into a sustainable technology-driven economy by catering for all business sizes. 

The Startup Hub, located on York street in the Sydney CBD, currently houses 120 companies.

Departing Stone & Chalk Group CEO Alex Scandurra said the announcement reflected the expertise of the team and the capability of Stone & Chalk leadership. “I’m extremely proud of the work the team has done over the past 18 months to make the Scaleup Hub at Tech Central a reality. I congratulate Michael on his appointment as Stone & Chalk’s new CEO and look forward to seeing the Scaleup Hub brimming with local and overseas talent.” 

Sydney's Tech Central precinct is set to become a global technology hub, and Stone & Chalk Group will join a number of influential technology tenants at the site including Atlassian, Commonwealth Bank, University of Technology Sydney, Cicada Innovations and The University of Sydney.

The Hub is currently undergoing a specialist fit out to meet the tech sector’s needs and specifications. 

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now underway to provide scaleups, and those who support their success, a chance to secure space. Find out more by visiting: www.stoneandchalk.com.au/techcentral.

Stone & Chalk Group is Australia’s home for emerging technology. Our unrivalled national community provides vital access to the experience, knowledge, capital, capabilities, infrastructure and guidance that startups and scaleups require to be successful. 

For more information, visit: www.stoneandchalk.com.au/techcentral.

Stone and Chalk: www.stoneandchalk.com.au 

Stone & Chalk Group: www.austcyber.com/shapingthefuturetogether 

Tara Pereira, M: 0416 876 496, E: tara@slingstone.com 

Olivia Grandjean-Thomsen, M: 0402 136 788; E: olivia@austcyber.com

Stone & Chalk Group wins bid to operate new Tech Central Scaleup Hub 

The new appointment builds on Stone & Chalk Group’s commitment to growing Australia’s flourishing emerging tech community

SYDNEY, 26 NOVEMBER 2021 — Stone & Chalk Group today announced that current Chair Leona Murphy will be retiring from the Board following the end of her second term, post today’s AGM, and will be succeeded by seasoned technology executive and entrepreneur, Richard Kimber. 

Ms Murphy was one of Stone & Chalk’s original board members, having been appointed in 2015 when the board was first formed. She stepped into the role of Chairman in 2018, replacing Craig Dunn.

Ms Murphy played an integral role in shaping and supporting the growth of Stone & Chalk over her tenure of six years on the Board. During this time, she helped guide the evolution of Stone & Chalk from a startup community of 120 residents in a single hub in 2015, to the national innovation network it is today.

Stone & Chalk Group’s footprint currently spans 11 locations across Australia and supports 850 residents from more than 560 startups and scale-ups. Its network of residents and alumni has raised in excess of $520 million in capital and has created more than 2,500 jobs over the last six years. 

Commenting on her time as Chair of the board, Ms Murphy said, “I’ve seen a nascent startup community transform into a thriving innovation ecosystem over the past six years, and Stone & Chalk played a pivotal role in this. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be a part of this journey, and to witness how corporations, government and startups have come together to make Stone & Chalk Group the success it is today.”

Having advised the board of her intentions earlier this year, the board conducted an orderly succession process and Leona will be succeeded by Richard Kimber as Chair of the board. Mr Kimber brings a wealth of global digital, innovation and financial services experience to the role, combined with a deep understanding of Stone & Chalk, having served on its board since 2018. His international executive experience spans senior leadership roles at OFX, ANZ, Friendster, Google, First Direct Bank and HSBC.  Mr Kimber is currently the CEO and founder of Daisee, an Australian AI software company that builds cutting-edge applications for contact centres.

“Richard brings a unique skill set to the role, combining a valuable corporate background with the hands-on experience of building successful startups,” said Ms Murphy. “Having worked with him for the last three years, I’m confident Richard has the right experience, attitude and values to continue to shape the organisation. Together with Michael Bromley — S&C’s newly appointed CEO — they will bring strategic leadership to drive the next phase of growth for Stone & Chalk Group.”

Mr Kimber said, “Stone & Chalk occupies a unique position in the Australian innovation landscape. I’m honoured to have the opportunity to carry on the great work Ms Murphy has done to date and look forward to working closely with our residents and partners to accelerate Australia’s technology ecosystem.” 

Eva Yao, M: 0449 899 618, E: eva@slingstone.com 

Chairman Leona Murphy announces retirement from Stone & Chalk Group

Stone & Chalk Group today announced that current Chair Leona Murphy will be retiring from the Board following the end of her second term, post today’s AGM, and will be succeeded by seasoned technology executive and entrepreneur, Richard Kimber. 

Stone & Chalk Group has appointed experienced digital leader Michael Bromley as CEO, effective 25 October 2021.

Mr Bromley brings a wealth of digital, innovation and financial services experience to the role, having most recently served as APAC Managing Director of NYSE-listed experience transformation provider Rightpoint. His executive experience spans senior leadership roles at Bank of Queensland, IAG, Blackberry, nbn Australia and Telstra. 

Mr Bromley said the opportunity to lead Stone & Chalk Group was compelling because of the unique position the organisation occupies in the Australian innovation landscape. 

“I’m excited and invigorated to be asked to lead Stone & Chalk Group through the next phase of its evolution as an indispensable part of Australia’s innovation infrastructure,” Mr Bromley said. 

“At a time when the Australian technology sector is poised to transform our economy, secure our digital borders, create countless jobs and deliver prosperity for future generations, the mission of Stone & Chalk Group has never been more important.

“I look forward to engaging with residents, partners and stakeholders to accelerate a better future for everyone in our country through the growth of emerging and critical technologies.” 

Stone & Chalk Group Board Chair, Leona Murphy, said that the board was thrilled to have secured Mr Bromley’s services after a thorough and competitive search process. 

“Mr Bromley brings formidable experience in innovation, transformation and technology commercialisation to the Group CEO role,” Ms Murphy said. 

“His experience in senior leadership roles, along with his proven ability to develop and lead national strategies for critical technology-focused organisations, made him a unanimous choice to lead the Group.

“The board looks forward to welcoming him to the role, and we extend our thanks to Stone & Chalk Non-Executive Director Richard Umbers for his service as Interim CEO.” 

Stone & Chalk Group appoints Michael Bromley as new CEO 

The digitisation of residential mortgage lending is well underway thanks to the rapidly expanding Proptech industry. We are joined by three passionate proptech entrepreneurs who are busy disrupting the traditional home loan application process:

Melissa Christy, Lending Product Lead at 86 400

Tony Harris, Co-Founder & CEO at Nel.fund

The session was hosted by Jennifer Harrison, Vice President of Proptech Association Australia.

Jennifer recalls her own tedious experience of applying for a mortgage, describing the process as “manual, archaic and quite frankly brutal”. In the first meeting she was asked to provide screenshots for proof of deposit and three months of printed credit card statements – from her own bank.

Give us an ‘elevator pitch’ introduction to your business

Tic:Toc is a home loan platform providing a simplified digital home loan experience, and, as a SaaS product, is in the process of making its technology available to the industry. The name is a nod to time saving. “By automating and digitising the process we are giving time back to the customer, and to ourselves”, Anthony explains. Their fastest end-to-end home loan application took just 58 minutes.

Melissa describes 86 400 as Australia’s first smart bank, providing customers a single platform on which to control their entire financial world. They also offer digital home loans, using data for customer information instead of paperwork: “For a purchase all we need is a contract of sale”. The name also derives from time: “It is the number of seconds in a day… we help customers control their money every second of every day”.

Nel.fund (Nest Egg Living), a current Stone & Chalk resident, aims to unlock home ownership for more Australians by providing ‘co-funded’ special-purpose loans to clients who, despite earning good salaries, are unable to save adequate deposits. The loans are secondary to the mortgage, Tony explains, meaning that the company has a vested interest. “That’s why we take the time upfront to help with the process and property selection”.

For 86 400, securing buy-in from brokers and aggregators has been a long process. While many brokers recognise the advantages of a purely digital approach, others remain vehemently attached to traditional paper based methods. The same is true for a segment of customers, who are averse to a digital scraping of their finances.

Anthony has had a similar experience in his discussion with banks, including the Big Four. While they are starting to recognise the need to collaborate with Fintechs, there is still a build-bias. “It will take time, but it will happen, especially as success stories increase”.

For Tony and Nel.fund, the crucial first-step is securing the confidence of mortgage providers by showcasing their use of data and AI to financially validate clients and match them with viable properties.

Are there any concerns regarding compliance?

In Anthony’s opinion, technology with human-in-the-loop actually provides better compliance with policy: “Compliance can be more consistently applied when technology is extensively leveraged. Humans forget to do things. Technology does not.”  

Melissa agrees, explaining that traditional lenders rely on customers declaring what they spend. 86 400 on the other hand, scrapes customers’ accounts from all financial institutions and presents it back to them. “We start from fact and work forwards from there”.    

Our panellists all see the future of mortgage applications as a streamlined and digital process. Jennifer sums up this sentiment: “As the smartphone takes care of more and more things in our lives, it makes sense that we will be getting a mortgage within minutes from our phone.”

Proptech Panel - How Technology is Changing Residential Mortgage Lending

Popular culture loves to romanticise the idea of working in a startup. So it can be tricky to gauge what it is really like to work day-in-day-out in that environment. If you've been wondering - am I the kind of person that would flourish at a startup or a corporate? This article is for you. 

We’ve looked into different working styles and where they work best, to help you make the right decision. We’d like to thank David Carbines, a multinational corporate employee turned successful startup co-founder (twice), for sharing his valuable insights on the topic. From specialised corporate roles with strict processes to fast-paced, fast-learning, high-energy startups. We explored both sides with David so you can take your next step with confidence.

First of all, David tells us that you can't just wait for someone to give you work in a startup. You need to be curious and act on that curiosity. Be proactive. Not only with work that falls directly under your title, but any work. People who thrive in less structured environments seek out opportunities, take responsibility and work through them, even when the task takes them beyond their discipline. David's noticed some people find this unnatural. They'd prefer to stick to their speciality and only take on jobs when asked explicitly. These people find the lack of structure disorienting. However, if you're a proactive doer who seeks out problems and loves to solve them through experimentation and collaboration, a startup will give you all the room you need. David says you've got to love the problem-solving process. If you do, startups will provide you with a real rush.

2. You’ll wear lots of hats at a startup

And many for the first time. So it would be unrealistic to expect you’ll always succeed. You've got to be okay with the very real chance of your project not working. This is where another difference lies. People who thrive in startups are okay with losing and can tell their team they failed. In the startup world, David tells us failures are treated differently. They're embraced and seen as a lesson. If you can fail, uncover the root cause, and honestly share that with the team, then you've won - you'll do well in a startup. Many people struggle to separate themselves from their work. They see a failed job as a personal reflection. If you find it difficult to separate yourself from the work, you may find the environment taxing. Because when working at startups more often than not, you're failing. There are lots of unknowns and endless firsts.

The knock-on effect, David points out, is an incredible learning curve. Each new project crosses different borders, from finance into product design, through digital marketing and across HR. Your skillset grows exponentially. You see sides of business you didn't know existed, and your career can progress at rapid rates. If you're energised by the idea of such a steep learning curve, startups are worth investigating. However, not everyone is interested in gathering diverse skills with such a dramatic learning curve. They'd prefer to hone in on one area. If that's you, David suggests you may be more suited to technical roles at big corporates.

The final point David made was you need to work for a startup you believe in. The highs are higher, and the lows are lower in the startup world. If you don't believe in the work your business is doing, those high-highs won't be enough to power you through the low-lows.

Thanks to David's powerful insights, you’ll have a much better idea of what startups are really like.  

Does the sound of a startup or scale-up workplace interest you? If so, then our Pivott program is for you! It's got all the tools and resources your need to start you on your pivott journey. And the best part? It's free! 

Pivott empowers Australians with the right skills, tools and mindset when seeking career opportunities in a startup or scale-up. Made available free of charge, the Pivott program includes the Pivott StartSmart Academy, Pivott Jobs Platform, Pivott Events, Pivott Mentor Program, and more. Pivott is a national program which is being launched in Victoria, in partnership with LaunchVic. 

Free expert talks, interactive workshops, and immersive experiences to support professionals in their career journey into startups and scaleups. These events feature employers, startup and scale-up leaders and industry experts, to set job seekers up with success. 

Learn more and register to Pivott Events. 

A free, 12-module, online course designed to support professionals from their first job application to their first week. The course is self-paced and accessible 24/7, and  includes video case studies with real founders, startup employees and industry experts. 

Learn more and sign up to Pivott StartSmart Academy. 

A platform which matches professionals to startup and scale-up opportunities based on technical and transferable skills. It allows job seekers to access exclusive startup and scale-up roles. It also enables startups and scale-ups to save time on their recruitment process through shortlisted candidates using the Pivott Jobs Platform for free. 

Learn more and register for the Pivott Jobs Platform. 

A personalised program that offers 1:1 mentoring, connecting startup and scale-up leaders with high-calibre corporate leaders looking to transition into the startup ecosystem. Pivot Connect aims to help grow and enrich the talent pool within Australian startups and scale-ups. It provides a supportive platform to enable corporate leaders to bring their depth of industry knowledge and experience to the startup sector. 

Before you join a startup, you need to read this.

Interested in working for a startup or scale-up but keen to know a little more before you pivott? We interviewed Adam Gilbert, who recently pivotted his career into a startup. This is his Pivott Story. 

Six months after beginning at JOUST, Adam Gilbert is going through the recruiting process all over again – only this time he's doing the hiring. As the Customer Success Manager, he is in charge of building his own team to help him continue to deliver high standards as the business grows. This is Adam’s startup story. 

Working for a startup means I’m exposed to all facets of the business, and although it's a steep learning curve, I’ve found it refreshing. Within six months of starting, I’ve been involved with tech, marketing, digital marketing, and product. Before working here, I'd never really been exposed to marketing or digital marketing, and it's definitely been a learning curve, but everyone is accommodating. There are no dumb questions, and I love that I can call on my teammates for expert support. Problems which big companies leave to particular departments startups put in front of the whole team. Fresh eyes from different backgrounds see the same problem differently, often leading to innovative problem-solving. Everyone can comfortably question traditional ways of dealing with the situation. The result is a rapid growth in knowledge – my marketing, product and tech understanding, has grown exponentially. I now have tangible skills in those disciplines. 

Whilst it can be a little daunting, it's exciting to be put in charge of impactful decisions. It’s empowering to know that you have the business's backing. To have that support and trust is very cool. It’s a level of freedom which isn't accessible in bigger corporate workplaces where every little decision needs to be processed and approved by numerous levels and departments. In that environment, it's rare for your decisions to be realised. But in a startup, you're close to the action, something I find very encouraging; calling the shots and seeing the tangible impact my decisions have is rewarding. It's not something you get exposure to in bigger companies, you really have the opportunity to have an impact on the big decisions of the business. 

Being able to bounce ideas around with people from different specialties makes working in a startup a highly collaborative experience. It creates an open culture that encourages people to share their thoughts, and ask questions without worrying about being judged as 'silly' or 'stupid'. And whilst not all ideas eventuate, there is no fear around sharing different ideas. I’m not saying the startup work environment is for everyone; some do prefer to specialise in a particular space, but I’ve found the work's dynamic nature exhilarating.

So six months into his role as Customer Success Manager, Adam and JOUST aren't slowing down anytime soon. He is looking forward to continuing his growth with the business as it evolves into the future. We're excited to hear Adam has been able to find autonomy, new skills, and a close-knit team whilst simultaneously accelerating his career. Adam's excited, JOUST is excited, and we're excited to see what the next six months hold. 

Adam's Pivott journey is one of many. Is it time for you to begin yours? If you're interested in pivotting your career, check out our Pivott program. It's got all the tools and resources your need to put you on the right path. And the best part? It's free! 

Free expert talks, interactive workshops, and immersive experiences to support professionals in their career journey into startups and scale-ups. These events feature employers, startup and scale-up leaders and industry experts, to set job seekers up with success. 

Adam wasn't looking to work in a startup, but a startup had everything he was looking for.

Stone & Chalk launches Pivott program to equip Australians with the skills, mindset and tools for the startup sector

MELBOURNE – 13 May 2021 – Stone & Chalk, Australia’s leading impact network for emerging technologies, launched the Pivott program today to connect professionals with startups, scale-ups and emerging technology companies. Thanks to funding from Victoria’s startup agency LaunchVic, the free, full-scale program will first launch in Victoria to ‘pivot’ over 2,000 career professionals into new roles.

With access to both technical and non-technical talent a major pain point for high-growth emerging technology companies, the program will provide a pathway for ambitious professionals, providing them with the skills, mindset and tools they need to seek career opportunities in a startup or scale-up. 

According to a recent report from RMIT Online and Deloitte, over 50,000 Australians reported a ‘lack of skills’ as the main barrier to finding work in 2020. Pivott is designed to help Australians understand that technical skills are not the only roles startups are seeking; and the fast-growing emerging technology sector has opportunities across a range of disciplines, all of which are actively hiring. 

Pivott is a holistic program that offers Australians learning opportunities, while also providing access to interactive workshops, industry events, mentorship programs and a job matching platform to connect job-seeking professionals with employers based on their unique skills. Professionals are encouraged to take advantage of multiple elements of the program during their recruitment journey. The program is also open to startups across Stone & Chalk’s network to provide them with fair access to the strong talent needed to fuel their growth. 

Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Jaala Pulford said the skills programs will provide new career pathways for Victorians and ensure a pipeline of suitable candidates for the rapidly growing startup ecosystem. “We’re backing Victorians who want to transition into a different career to get the skills and connections to work in a startup,” Ms Pulford said. “Startups create jobs and are playing an increasingly important role in Victoria’s economy - programs such as these will help Victorians chart a course to a rewarding future." 

Paul Seidl, an employee at GigSuper who recently made the transition into the startup world said, "First day in, you're in marketing meetings, product development meetings, advertising ... you're accessing different parts of your brain. Things I’ve never been able to try in the corporate world. Making the transition from a corporate to tech startup has been fulfilling from day one."

Annie Le Cavalier, General Manager of Stone & Chalk Melbourne said, “I’m pleased we could kick off the launch of this new program in Victoria. As the local sector continues to mature, more opportunities for workers of all backgrounds and skill sets will continue to emerge." 

Alex Scandurra, Group CEO of Stone & Chalk added, “Talent is a key enabler for economic growth and this program will provide professionals who are new to the startup ecosystem with the right resources and training. By leveraging Stone & Chalk’s network of startups, scale-ups and partners, we’re able to offer a solution that addresses startups’ immediate talent challenges. 

“Providing a holistic introduction to the startup ecosystem means Australians are walking into roles well equipped with industry knowledge, an appreciation of the need for their own skills and valuable mentors to lean on.” 

The Pivott program is open to job seekers and startups in Victoria. For more information, visit www.pivottcareers.com.au.

Stone & Chalk is Australia’s leading Impact Network™ for the emerging technology sectors.

Together with their resident founders, mentors, investors, and industry and government partners they have a proven track record in providing growth and commercialisation support for startups and scale-ups. Residencies in their innovation hubs in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide provide access to customers, capital, talent, expertise and community collaboration opportunities. 

Tested Marketing Tactics with Gali Arnon, CMO - Fiverr

Fiverr’s digital marketplace connects millions of businesses with skilled freelancers from around the world. In 2020 they expanded into ten new countries.

We caught up with Chief Marketing Officer Gali Arnon, to discuss how they pivoted their marketing strategy to thrive amidst the global pandemic:  

“If you move fast, and are flexible, agile, it can work to your benefit.”

Gali also shared her views on which marketing channels to use and when, and how to approach personalised and localised marketing.

The changing global scene in March 2020 meant Fiverr’s planned marketing campaigns were no longer relevant, or even logistically possible. As Gali explained, “ultimately we needed to do everything different”.

Using its abundant pool of freelance talent, Fiverr created a video called ‘Working Remotely’, depicting a company tapping into a team of freelancers to create an advertising campaign in response to Covid-19.  

Gali and her team also spotted an opportunity in terms of media spend. Perversely, at a time when viewership was increasing, the cost of digital advertising dropped as many companies reigned in their spending.  

Fiverr’s 250+ annual events were all moved online, which had a positive knock on effect by driving more traffic and engagement to their site.

They also invested resources into supporting their large community base, creating case studies and new hubs to help businesses make the shift to online.

How do you determine which marketing channels to use?

It depends on your size, industry, and budget. Make sure you tailor your marketing strategy to your business.

For Gali, first and foremost you must be data driven. One of the leading marketing principles at Fiverr is: “Measure everything you do”. Being able to confidently attribute customers to the correct channel is crucial for businesses to maximise their marketing budgets. However, you need to leave enough room for intuition and gut-feeling in decision making. Experience and common-sense should not be undervalued.

According to Gali, the priority for startups should be intent-based marketing: “When people are looking for your product or service you have to be there”. SEO and PPC are great places to start and are where you are going to see the best ROI. For those with tight budgets, focusing on long-tail keywords can be an effective and relatively inexpensive strategy.

Once mastered, companies can consider moving to the next stage – intent-creation. Fiverr has used Social Media and influencers to great effect in their own branding campaigns.  

Before introducing personalised messaging, companies should identify and gain a deep understanding of their different customer groups.

While harnessing quantifiable customer data is obviously a crucial element here, qualitative data should not be overlooked.

Gali regularly meets with (currently virtually) a range of both freelance and business customers to learn about their experiences using Fiverr. “Their first-hand experience and communication are irreplaceable in the mix”.

A strong piece of advice from Gali: closely monitor the timing and frequency of your personalised ads. “If you bombard your customers with messages, they will stop listening to you”. Timing is key. Real-time and reactive communications using notifications and in-product messaging can be utilised to great effect.

Any advice for launching in a new country?

Every culture is different. What you know for one country is not relevant for another, even if they share a language.

Before launching in a new market, Fiverr analyses data of existing customers from that country. They also make use of local experts – people who speak the language and have a deep understanding of the culture.

It is critical to have a clear view of aspects such as competitors, market landscape, and audience maturity before you build a plan.

In summary: “Start small, test, see what’s working. And then go”. 

Thriving In A Male Dominated Tech Industry

As part of International Women’s Day, we assembled an expert panel who discussed the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry and why embedding gender diversity into tech culture is so important.

The event was moderated by professional business coach, Amy Bett. Amy was joined by: 

·       Gretchen Scott, Community Manager - Cloudflare. | Director - Women Who Code Melbourne 

·       Linda Lai, Full-Stack Developer - Zendesk. | Chapter Lead – Muses Code JS

·       Jacqui Loustau, Founder - Australian Women in Security Network. | Principal Security Consultant – Cynch Security

The panel also gave us their reaction to two polls taken live by our audience.

The panellists all recognise that creating diversity in tech is a broader issue than gender alone. Building inclusive environments that embrace and encourage all currently under-represented minorities is a question of both ethics and good business.  

As Gretchen explains, tech is in practically every aspect of our lives, but it’s built largely by a homogenous group which results in products that are not completely fit for purpose. If tech companies were more diverse perhaps mapping tools would show wheelchair accessible routes, or ones with street lamps after dark. “Building a product that suits everyone has to be more profitable”.

Linda expands on this, pointing out that the process of “retroactively” fixing products with accessibility issues can be a hugely expensive and time-consuming process. Having a diverse and culturally representative team can help iron out such oversights during the research and development stages.

“If we’re not including diversity in decision making, we’re just building sub-standard products”.

Poll 1: Where is your organisation in relation to embedding a diverse culture?

·       Haven’t thought about it: 9%

While Gretchen and Linda were both pleasantly surprised by the relatively high Embedded score, neither were shocked that Awareness came top. In Gretchen’s experience, while many companies recognise the importance of promoting diversity in the workplace, they tend to get stuck in the awareness stage – often due to a lack of women in leadership positions.

At Zendesk, Linda points to mindset changes and revised recruitment practices as key components in creating workplace diversity, with the number of women in their tech team growing from five to sixty over the past five years.

Jacqui echoes this point, having observed several start-ups embed a diverse recruitment strategy from the very start, quite often subconsciously. As Gretchen puts it: “setting the culture from day zero is so important”.

Poll 2: What are the biggest challenges when it comes to gender diversity in your workplace?

·       They don’t take it seriously: 13%

·       They don’t understand the business impact if gender diversity was ignored: 25%

·       They aren’t reporting bad cultural behaviours: 38%

·       No challenges, our people are all over it: 25%

Linda has found that most “bad cultural behaviours” come in the form of micro-aggressions – seemingly minor comments, often unconscious language choices, which, when repeated regularly can have a damaging impact. “Lots of people aren’t even aware that the language they use inhibits inclusivity.”

When speaking at tech events, Gretchen often feels a palpable difference in the way she and her male contemporaries are addressed. “Having to qualify yourself before you are heard is exhausting. It can have a big impact on confidence”. Similarly, in the early stages of her career Jacqui experienced several meetings where she felt the need to continually demonstrate her credibility or risk being overlooked.

The tech industry is notorious for its jargon, which is not always easily translatable, making it a real barrier to entry for currently underrepresented groups. As Gretchen explains this can create “an unintentional arrogance and roadblocking of people whose voices need to be heard”.

Linda agrees, highlighting language change as a crucial, but often overlooked subject. Zendesk and others have started tackling the problem by incorporating accessibility tools in their internal messaging systems, which highlights and educates users on any non-inclusive language used.

While there is no single solution to the issues discussed, one thing our panellists all agree on is the importance of solidarity.

As Linda explains, women in tech talk – there is so much support available through online communities. Reach out, find a group that’s right for you and they will help you decide which companies are worth your time.

“Remember, in many ways the tech industry needs you more than you need them.”

You can watch the full discussion on our YouTube channel.

Join Stone & Chalk’s mailing list to stay up-to-date with this and more here.

Don’t miss out on our 42-page Capital Raising Guide for startups. This guide explains funding stages, financing methods, pitching and government initiatives. It also contains additional resources and capital raising case studies. Download your free guide now! 

Our February event – The Future of Food and Sustainable Farming – was moderated by Julia Waite, Head of Operations at SproutX. Julia was joined by a distinguished panel of guest speakers from some of Australia’s leading Agtech startups:

·       Conrad Smith - CEO, Stacked Farm 

·       Tim Noakesmith - Founder & CCO, VOW

·       Kevin Baum - CEO & Co-Founder, AgriWebb

·       Geraldo Caspary - Australasia Country Manager, MagGrow

 The panel delved into the hotly debated issues surrounding traditional farming practices, offering insights into the pioneering solutions they have engineered and begun to implement.

Stacked Farm is Australia’s first end-to-end automated, indoor vertical farm. From seed to transport, leafy greens to livestock feed, their produce is pesticide and hormone free, and completely untouched by human hands.

Sustainability was a key driver for Conrad. His vertical farming techniques use 95% less water than traditional methods and enables crops to be grown and harvested from within formerly unimaginable urban environments. This promotes local value food chains and significantly reduces supply emissions.

The very nature of a controlled environment means future produce is less vulnerable to external factors such as drought and bushfires as the world’s climate becomes increasingly unpredictable.

MagGrow’s patented technology significantly reduces waste associated with conventional pesticide applications. As Geraldo explains, currently 70% of pesticide spray does not reach its intended target, instead drifting airborne or running off into rivers, where it can have a devastating impact on nature. Improved efficiency means “producers no longer have to compromise between profitability and environment”.

It’s also great for water conservation, reducing usage by 25-50% and leading to considerable savings for producers. This is particularly important in countries such as Australia where the price of water is volatile.

For Kevin, harvesting and utilising agricultural data is at the heart of the matter. Using AgriWebb’s software, farmers can digitise daily farm records, allowing them to make data-driven decisions and plan day-to-day operations with greater efficiency.

As he explains, “improved efficiencies will help both the farmer’s bottom line as well as reducing the impact on the environment”. Their customers are seeing an average increase in productivity of 7.5%.

Tim and his colleagues at Vow are focussed on “reinventing food from the ground up”. In just six weeks, their technology can create real, ready-to-eat meat from a handful of animal cells. This directly tackles the environmental (and ethical) implications of livestock farming, as well as increased global demand for meat.

For Tim, changing our dietary preferences is key to future sustainability. With the human population forecast to increase to 10 billion in the coming decades, we need to find a way to produce more food while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint. “Ultimately technologies are going to outperform what animals can produce”.

When asked for the biggest challenges facing the future of food and sustainability, the panellists put forward the following:

·   	Conrad, Stacked Farm: Further reducing costs and increasing renewable energy usage in the production process.

·   	Geraldo, MagGrow: Changing behaviour at a fast pace, using disruptive technologies.

·   	Kevin, AgriWebb: Overcoming aversion to change.

·   	Tim, Vow: How quickly we can bring about change to the people who really need it.

While all four have taken different approaches to tackling the future of food and sustainability, one thing they agree on is that there is no one solution. Safeguarding the planet (and indeed humanity) against issues related to climate change, water scarcity and a rising human population will require the implementation of a combination of solutions.

You can watch the full discussion on our YouTube channel here.

Join Stone & Chalk’s mailing list to stay up-to-date with this and more here. 

Don’t miss out on our 42-page Capital Raising Guide for startups. This guide explains funding stages, financing methods, pitching and government initiatives. It also contains additional resources and capital raising case studies. Download your free guide now!

The Future of Food and Sustainable Farming

Stone & Chalk and AustCyber have merged. 

“In making our two organisations one, we are combining the greatest concentration of cybersecurity expertise in the country with the most developed technology commercialisation infrastructure that Australia has ever built.” - Alex Scandurra, CEO, Stone and Chalk.  

Founded in 2015, Stone & Chalk is a not-for-profit organisation with a proven track record in developing successful growth and support frameworks for emerging tech sectors. As part of this mission, we continually look to expand and grow our capability beyond fintech to all emerging technologies. 

To boost Australian domestic industrial capability in critical and emerging technologies, we have merged with cybersecurity peak body, AustCyber. AustCyber’s mission is to support the development of a vibrant and globally competitive Australian cybersecurity sector and in doing so, enhance Australia’s future economic growth in a digitally-enabled global economy. 

Together, we will provide a powerful voice to better shape the policy and regulatory landscape for critical and emerging tech products and services. Startups and scale-ups will gain greater access to domestic and international customers, capital, talent and expertise. This integration will also create highly-skilled jobs for Australians and provide a highly attractive means to retain economic benefit as emerging tech industries continue to grow. 

Our founders will receive vital support and expertise from AustCyber to ensure they are cyber resilient as they continue to scale. Likewise, this integration will strengthen our reach to support cybersecurity founders, providing them access to our full suite of commercialisation support services. These include investment support, customer and talent acquisition, corporate partnerships, ecosystem support, and curated mentorship from commercial leaders. Together, emerging tech startups will gain access to an even stronger Impact Network™ and resource base. 

The Hon. Stuart Ayres MP, Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney with Alex Scandurra CEO of Stone & Chalk and Michelle Price CEO of AustCyber announcing the merger. 

“In a world where the security of our entire economy is increasingly contingent on the strength of our domestic industrial technology capability, the integration of Stone & Chalk and AustCyber will enable our joint organisation to pursue a resilient and prosperous future not just for founders, enterprise, and governments, but for all of Australia,” says Alex Scandurra, CEO, Stone & Chalk. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that Australia can no longer depend so heavily on imported technology and have critical dependencies in supply chains. I am inspired and humbled to have the privilege of supporting the rapid growth of Australia’s cyber and emerging tech companies, and with them the development of Australian industrial capability in strategically significant areas of emerging technology for our country,” 

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