Weird Growth

Recorded live from the Ammo Podcast Booth at West Tech Fest with Dr Genevieve Honan, founder of The Volte, one of Australia’s leading fashion rental marketplaces.

Cam and Gen dive into the realities of building a two-sided marketplace, changing customer behaviour around sustainability, and why circular fashion only works if it makes commercial sense for businesses.

We also explore Seamlist API, the digital infrastructure helping retailers unlock circular fashion, already working with major brands and set to expand further in 2026.If you are building a marketplace, working in sustainability, or trying to create behaviour change in a tough industry, this episode is packed with practical insights.

Problem:

The fashion industry creates enormous waste, but changing behaviour is difficult. Marketplaces must solve both supply and demand while also proving the model works commercially for brands and retailers.

Solution:

The Volte connects lenders and renters through a trusted fashion rental platform that makes sustainability accessible and practical. Seamlist API also gives retailers the digital tools to support circular fashion and create new value across their customer base.

Advice for founders:

Build something that matters to you. Focus on creating real value and spend your time on your own terms. Your business is only worth what people are willing to pay, so stay patient, celebrate the wins, and keep going.

Bullets:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:05) - Gen’s backstory

(03:07) - How The Volte started

(04:31) - Fostering the sharing economy in fashion

(05:31) - Pop quiz the business Gen would start today

(06:41) - What is Seamlist

(08:01) - Digital asset systems for retailers

(09:06) - Getting the market started

(10:39) - Helping a network of SMB stores

(12:00) - Impacts to the shopper experience

(13:16) - Sustainable fashion

(15:00) - The rise of lenders

(17:31) - Side hustles becoming small businesses

(19:11) - Balancing family with business

(21:19) - Why venture capital should invest in ice skaters

(23:31) - The Volte’s experience with investors

(26:18) - Show & Tell – enjoy the wins when they happen

(27:21) - Ahrefs as a reference point for company valuations

(28:16) - Spend time on your terms and build value

(30:36) - Head to The Volte’s website to become a lender and subscribe to Weird Growth

Show & tell:

On this episode Cam & Scotty dive deep into product-led thinking, early-stage validation, founder-led sales, and the uncomfortable truths every startup needs to face before scaling.

Scotty Allen, founder of The Product Bus, fresh from Perth where he ran workshops, coached founders, and delivered the brutally honest Startup Killers event with the team at Everest Engineering.

Ammo sat in on their sessions, played The Product Bus card game, and experienced firsthand why Scotty’s philosophy resonates so deeply with founders: fall in love with the problem, not the solution. The conversation didn’t stop when Scotty left WA, we had to keep it going.

Problem:

You’ve built something real, maybe a prototype with early traction but before you invest in development, you need proof that it isn’t just desirable but commercially viable.

Solution:

The Product Bus runs programs, pit-stops and pre-mvp projects to help startups build stronger evidence for their idea. With product-led thinking and design they help teams build something customers actually want.

One big piece of advice:

Take a hard look at how you spend your time.

If talking to potential customers isn’t at least 75% of youreffort—more than building or networking—you’re not focusing on the rightthings.

Bullets:

(00:00) - Welcome & intro

(01:17) - Scotty’s background and journey into startups

(03:11) - How The Product Bus started

(05:36) - Don’t fall in love with your product—fall in love with the problem

(06:58) - What real product-led thinking looks like in practice

(10:43) - Finding the “hair-on-fire” problem

(12:57) - Why having an idea isn’t enough

(17:18) - Asking the tough questions

(18:57) - The pros and cons of a welcoming startup ecosystem

(21:21) - Validation with early customers

(27:33) - The startup crimes Scotty sees most often

(30:58) - Validation with invalidation

(34:10) - Understanding your customer’s buying process

(37:38) - Signals of validation and scale

(42:54) - Owning sales as a founder

(46:17) - Founder-led sales and life-changing outcomes

(49:08) - One big piece of advice – spend time with customers

(50:26) - How Scotty’s education background keeps him grounded

(51:47) - Show & Tell – Gamma

(55:01) - What Scotty would call this episode

(55:46) - Where to find The Product Bus & The BootstrapPodcast

(57:55) - Wrap up

Show & tell:

In this episode, we sit down with Charlie Westerman, founder of Personr, to unpack how his own experience with identity theft inspired a mission to fight financial crime.

From building anti–money laundering (AML) compliance technology to helping businesses meet new Tranche 2 obligations, Personr is on the front lines of protecting trust in the digital economy.

We explored the hard realities of selling compliance tech, the challenges of scaling in a regulated space, and the human side of building software that truly makes a difference.

Problem:

Financial crime is one of the biggest threats to modern business, with identity theft and money laundering costing billions each year. As regulations tighten and Tranche 2 compliance takes effect, many organisations are struggling to stay ahead and protect their customers.

Solution:
Personr provides advanced AML and identity verification tools powered by Optical Character Recognition (OCR) so that businesses can streamline compliance, detect fraud early, and keep financial systems safe. With intuitive workflows and automation, Personr turns what used to be a manual burden into a seamless, scalable process for fighting financial crime.

One big piece of advice:
Get comfortable with discomfort. Founding a startup takes persistence and belief. Embrace your narrative it is the ultimate chess play and will help you win customers, team members and investors.

Show & tell:

Co-founders Tori and Calum are on a mission to make early literacy magical with their read-along app for kids aged 2–8. From partnering with publishers like Fremantle Press to building a healthy alternative to screen-time, Joey Books is reshaping how children discover the joy of reading. 

This episode dives into the turning points, challenges, and small wins that brought Joey to life—and what’s next in their vision to transform digital publishing for kids, parents, and educators. 

Problem: 
Parents want safe, engaging ways for kids to learn that don’t feel like more scrolling. Screen-time is often passive, unwholesome, and unhelpful for literacy.

Solution: 
A refined set of wholesome stories from trusted publishing houses with both local and international reputations, narrated by professional voice actors and designed for children to read along.  

One big piece of advice: 
Make sure you are really passionate about what you are doing. Do you enjoy it? If you’re only in it for the money—don’t start the company. It’s going to take a long time, and persistence is only possible if you truly love the journey. 

Bullets: 
(00:00 – 02:24) – Intro to Joey Books 
(02:25 – 03:22) – Fremantle Press supports Joey Books 
(03:23 – 04:07) – How Joey Books works 
(04:08 – 04:45) – Cam's experience with Joey Books 
(04:46 – 07:18) – What business Tory & Callum would start today 
(07:19 – 08:30) – Is technology the answer to custom education? 
(08:31 – 09:34) – The turning point for Joey Books 
(09:35 – 10:40) – What makes Joey Books different 
(10:41 – 12:52) – A healthy option for screen-time 
(12:53 – 14:08) – Dopamine tactics 
(14:09 – 15:28) – Reaching their first customers 
(15:29 – 17:15) – Building user feedback into development 
(17:16 – 19:23) – Partnering with publishers 
(19:24 – 20:30) – Disruption in digital publishing 
(20:31 – 22:29) – About the voice actors behind Joey Books 
(22:30 – 23:34) – The ideal customer for Joey Books 
(23:35 – 24:31) – Text tracking and narration 
(24:32 – 27:06) – The benefits of reading for children 
(27:07 – 28:49) – How schools and libraries can use Joey 
(28:50 – 31:38) – Callum's view on Vibe Coding 
(31:39 – 32:38) – Finding fulfillment in product development 
(32:39 – 33:42) – What looks like for Joey Books 
(33:43 – 34:07) – Joey's vision 
(34:08 – 35:41) – On pricing the app 
(35:42 – 36:19) – How the app supports publishers 
(36:20 – 38:09) – One big piece of advice 
(38:10 – 38:52) – The MVP dilemma 
(38:53 – 41:24) – Life hacks and healthy habits 
(41:25 – 43:30) – Entrepreneurship runs in the family 
(43:31 – 45:37) – Are we still ambitious? 
(45:38 – 46:38) – Australia is home to great entrepreneurs 
(46:39 – 47:05) – Commit to lifelong learning 
(47:06 – 48:38) – On using the app and Bookweek 
(48:39 – 49:25) – Closing remarks 

Show & Tell: 

Corporate cards don’t have to be hard.

Born out of the frustration of expense tracking with his own business Oliver decided to take on a challenge impacting every business owner from a new angle, the credit card.

Oliver is rethinking how business owners manage spend and unlock growth. As founder and CEO of Archa, he’s building a powerful alternative to traditional banking and solving a frustrating problem for business owners along the way.

In this episode of Weird Growth, Cam Sinclair sits down with Oliver to explore the world of fintech, funding, and building products that go from “nice-to-have” to “can’t-live-without.”

Problem:

Startups and small businesses struggle with outdated banking systems, corporate card approvals, and clunky expense management.

Solution:

Instant card creation. Smarter spend controls. A fintech product built for high-growth businesses, not red tape.

One big piece of advice:

“Sometimes there’s a fear that you can’t find the solution. There’s almost always a solution. If it’s not working, stop and change. Figure out how to fail fast and change what you’re doing.”

Bullets:

(00:00 – 00:59) – Intro to Weird Growth

(01:00 – 02:39) – Oliver’s journey: From law to fintech

(02:40 – 06:28) – Why Archa started with consumers, then pivoted

(06:29 – 10:45) – What’s broken with traditional banks?

(10:46 – 13:52) – Cold outreach, early partnerships, and finding first users

(13:53 – 17:08) – When they knew they had product-market fit

(17:09 – 21:53) – Maximising spend with credit cards

(21:54 – 24:40) – Mastercard, Visa, and the future of payments

(24:41 – 26:56) – Why fintech in Australia is booming

(26:57 – 30:27) – How Archa improves productivity for business owners

(30:28 – 34:22) – Card creation and spend tracking

(34:23 – 36:43) – Oliver’s one big piece of advice, fail fast and change

(36:44 – 38:02) – Inbox zero, stress hacks, and the importance of rest

Show & Tell:

You've heard startup stories, but few come as inspiring as Dominic Pym’s. From building some of Australia’s most iconic fintech companies to investing in the future of startups, Dom shares lessons every founder should hear. Recorded live at West Tech Fest, this episode of Weird Growth dives into the moments that defined Dom’s journey—and what drives his mission to support the next generation of founders.

Problem: Fixing online payments in Australia. Creating a banking experience that’s the opposite of boring. Supporting the infrastructure for tomorrow’s startups.

Solution: Simple online payments. Easy-to-love banking. An unapologetically different venture fund.

One big piece of advice: If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again…I’m still here, I’m still persisting and I’m still making new startups.

Bullets: (00:00 – 00:30) - Introduction (00:31 – 01:47) - Welcome Dom (01:48 – 03:55) - Dom’s background and philosophy (03:56 – 04:41) - The business Dom would start today (04:42 – 07:30) - Building Australia’s first online payments provider – Pin Payments (07:31 – 08:57) - What was the catalyst for Pin Payments’ growth? (08:58 – 09:55) - Who were Pin Payments’ first customers? (09:56 – 11:25) - When the momentum started to shift for Pin Payments (11:26 – 12:14) - When Checkout acquired Pin Payments (12:15 – 13:20) - Building the all-star team behind Up Bank (13:21 – 14:13) - Ripe conditions for Up Bank to disrupt (14:14 – 16:39) - What ingredients helped Up Bank cut through and grow (16:40 – 19:15) - The inflection points for Dom’s companies – Pin Payments, Up Bank, and Euphemia (19:16 – 25:04) - The story behind Up’s unique brand (25:05 – 26:29) - Up’s partnership with TikTok (26:30 – 27:49) - How Euphemia came about (27:50 – 31:28) - The four areas of Euphemia’s investment thesis (31:29 – 32:31) - The triple bubble fintech fund – primary, secondary, and public companies (32:32 – 34:31) - The one thing Dom can’t live without – his Tesla Model SP100D (34:32 – 35:33) - Dom’s one big piece of advice for founders (35:34 – 36:32) - Wrap-up

Show & Tell:

You've been trapped in a spiralling cycle of marketing mystery but don't worry Creative Mystery Officer Mike Drysdale is here to help. This year, Mike started his new business, Folklore, a tabletop entertainment company. Mike is a man of many talents. He leads creative direction on marketing campaigns, advises brands on how they can contribute to cultural conversations, and builds brands with the art of storytelling. Learn how to create and use a message your customers will connect with on this episode of Weird Growth. 

Problem: 

People are searching for genuine connections and unique events. How can we spend time together without our phones? 

Solution:

A tabletop mystery game that creates authentic, memorable and fun environment for everyone involved. 

One big piece of advice:

Celebrate your achievements, mark your mark with rituals and elevate your brand. 

Bullets:

(00:00 - 01:19) - Introduction

(01:20 - 03:07) - Where it all started for Mike – Solving problems with creativity

(03:08 - 04:09) - The value of a great message

(04:10 - 05:19) - Seth Godinism 1 - People always believe what they tell themselves

(05:20 - 05:53) - Seth Godinism 2 – The best stories don't tell us anything new, but how right we were in the first place

(05:54 - 07:05) - People seek information that reinforces their beliefs

(07:06 - 08:23) - Investigating remarkability

(08:24 - 09:52) - Use your customer's language

(09:53 - 11:19) - Don't fall for this communication trap

(11:20 - 14:21) - Make your message about the benefits not the technology

(14:22 - 17:32) - Mike's new business – Folklore

(17:33 - 20:56) - How Folklore is a refreshing take on creating in-person connection

(20:57 - 23:30) - What drives Mike – on making moments for people

(23:31 - 26:05) - Identity, worldviews, and cultural conversations

(26:06 - 28:00) - Republic of Fremantle's Birchal Campaign

(28:01 - 31:10) - How brands can add value to cultural conversations

(31:11 - 33:58) - What it looks like when brands add value to the conversation

(33:59 - 38:47) - On TikTok and growing a content engine

(38:48 - 40:05) - Help them share the pebbles

(40:06 - 42:06) - Cleo Abrams – Huge if true

(42:07 - 44:16) - Mark Zuckerberg's image change

(44:17 - 45:39) - We are approaching a new tech age

(45:40 - 46:29) - What's next for Mike

(46:30 - 47:45) - Celebrate your year, mark the moment

(47:46 - 49:23) - Storytelling elevates moments so you can look back at them

(49:24 - 51:28) - Show & tell – Write down your ideas in notes, use ChatGPT more

(51:29 - 52:58) - How Mike uses ChatGPT for creativity

(52:59 - 53:48) - Connect with Mike

(53:49 - 54:41) - Wrap up

Show & tell:

Jared Carlin and James Shamim, co-founders of Willow, share their journey from identifying a common household problem to launching a solution on Kickstarter. In this episode, they dive into how they grew Plant with Willow beyond crowdfunding. They also give great tips on nailing your story, maintaining engagement with your backers, and building a community.

Problem:  

Australians kill 72 million plants a year. Imagine how big this could be globally. 

Solution: 

A sensor device to track your plant's health with a mobile app that teaches you how to look after it. 

One big piece of advice: 

Have a large enough customer base and problem to warrant going after it. Find the passion in what you are doing. Maintain that level of passion – test, iterate and learn. 

Bullets:

(00:00 – 02:52) - Introduction to Jared Carlin & James Shamim 

(02:53 – 03:54) - Origins of Willow – where the idea came from 

(03:55 – 06:41) - Pop Quiz – What business would they start today? 

(06:42 – 08:46) - When they knew Willow was onto something 

(08:47 – 10:42) - How to move from identifying a problem to building a product 

(10:43 – 14:41) - Tips for Kickstarter success 

(14:42 – 19:57) - Growth challenges with hardware 

(19:58 – 20:44) - Who uses Willow today? 

(20:45 – 21:56) - How Willow works 

(21:57 – 22:47) - How most plants are killed by their owners 

(22:48 – 25:35) - Sensor technology behind Willow 

(25:36 – 27:05) - Gamifying the product experience 

(27:06 – 28:56) - Growing beyond Kickstarter 

(28:57 – 30:58) - Marketing channels and content strategies 

(30:59 – 32:20) - Designing a workspace for success 

(32:21 – 33:04) - The team behind Willow 

(33:05 – 33:57) - Where Jared & James focus time as founders 

(33:58 – 36:35) - Partnership with Bunnings 

(36:36 – 38:13) - What’s next for Willow 

(38:14 – 39:57) - One big piece of advice for founders 

(39:58 – 41:38) - Show & tell – One thing they can’t live without 

(41:39 – 43:56) - Storytelling in sport 

(43:57 – 45:04) - Wrap up

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive cutting-edge links from around the web, podcast updates, and marketing insights.   

Andrew Holder, the visionary behind Revo Fitness, shares the remarkable journey of how he grew Revo into the largest independent gym operator in Australia. Unlike other fitness operators, Revo Fitness was built without being influenced by existing industry structures.

Problem: Traditional gyms can be intimidating and unwelcoming, often prioritising profit over the member experience, leading to high churn rates and a lack of community.

Solution: Revo Fitness transforms the gym experience by focusing on simplicity, accessibility, and member satisfaction, creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels motivated and supported. Member experience is designed to be as frictionless as possible from joining to leaving.

One big piece of advice: Play for the right reasons. Put one foot in front of the other. Let go of the outcomes you want to achieve personally. Think about what you can achieve as a “we” not a “me”.

Bullets:

(00:30) - Intro to Andrew Holder
(04:52) - Start from scratch
(06:22) - The reason it started
(10:41) - How Revo reached their first customers
(13:25) - The point Andrew knew he was onto something
(16:22) - Surviving COVID as a fitness business
(22:45) - How Andrew’s background in sport helped him build resilience
(23:45) - How to balance the short and long term
(25:52) - How is Revo different?
(32:36) - Who is Revo for?
(36:35) - Managing capacity at Revo clubs
(39:55) – Revo’s approach to competition
(41:47) - What’s next for Revo?
(42:18) - Andrew’s advice for Founders
(46:21) - Show & Tell
(48:00) - How Andrew balances family and business

Show & tell

In this special episode, we sit down with Cecily Rawlinson, the Director of Cyberwest and the organizer of The Cyberwest Summit, held annually. Filmed at The Cyberwest Summit 2024 at Pan Pacific, this mini episode delves into the event and crucial aspects of cybersecurity.

The Cyberwest Summit stands as Western Australia's premier event for cybersecurity education and awareness. It provides a platform to learn from numerous experts in the field and equips attendees with the knowledge to safeguard their businesses against cyber threats.

Tune in to gain valuable insights and tips on fortifying your cybersecurity strategies.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction to the Cyberwest Summit

(03:05) - Lack of cybersecurity strategies in Small/Medium businesses

(07:02) - Cyberwest Innovation Hub

(10:04) - How collaborative efforts in cybersecurity can benefit the entire industry.

(10:46) - Show & tell

(11:50) - Comparing popular messaging apps in terms of security and usability.

(13:20) - Utopia for idealists

(14:53) - Closing remarks from Cyberwest.

Show & tell

On this episode, we have a returning guest, Iain McIntyre, who has journeyed from the realm of neuroscience with Humm to the forefront of AI innovation at MindsDB in San Francisco. Iain's story goes through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and the constant pursuit of ground-breaking solutions to complex challenges. Problem: Software developers face a common hurdle which is the time-consuming and intricate process of integrating AI into their applications. Solution: MindsDB with its open-source virtual database, automates the connection between data and AI models, enabling developers to deploy AI applications quicker and easier. One big piece of advice: You really need to look after yourself, if you know how to then you will go further. (Take time off, see family and friends, talk to other founders)

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(03:50) - How humm became a thing

(09:24) - Hardware is hard

(10:07) - The realisation Humm wasn’t going further

(13:00) - Living in a UFO landing pad during COVID

(14:13) - Helping people with anxiety

(17:31) - Progress made in neuroscience

(22:33) - Story of his journey at MindsDB

(27:44) - Self-driving cars

(29:44) - What it’s like living in San Francisco

(35:20) - Chat-GPT going live and society changes

(44:55) - What MindsDB is solving

(46:30) - One big piece of advice

(48:38) - Show & tell

On this episode, we have Harriet Mellor from Your Sales Co, who works with clients to support and improve their sales teams. They can identify in 30 minutes the sales teams’ strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. Hear valuable insights on using your business data to make better decision-making decisions in your business. We discuss the yin and yang between marketing and sales, and the art of building an effective network including LinkedIn.

Problem:

People don’t know how to sell or enable their team to sell, the teams are underperforming.

Solution:

Your Sales Co can identify your strengths, opportunities, and weaknesses in 30 minutes. They solve problems that their clients don’t even know exist.

One big piece of advice:

Take the data you are getting from your entire business and make decisions based on that data that is progressing. There is so much data within our business, that you can apply it across your business.  

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(03:37) - Why people turn away from sales

(05:57) - How to deal with people (McDonalds experience)

(08:55) - Relationship between Marketing and Sales

(10:45) - How successful tech businesses have scaled their sales process

(13:39) - Sales metrics to consider early on

(14:35) - Advice on how to build your network

(17:08) – Tips for LinkedIn networks

(18:08) – Problem Your Sales Co is solving

(20:00) – Are the tools the problem?

(22:06) – System of selling

(24:18) – Rules of thumb for cold outreach

(28:14) – What to look for when hiring a salesperson

(33:12) – What took Harriet to take a leap (Her Day Spa)

(37:13) – Common trait in entrepreneurs

(37:44) – What is next for Your Sales Co

(40:14) – One big piece of advice

(42:03) – Show & tell

Show & tell

On this episode we have Erin Bell from Co-Connect, a workforce app designed to streamline complex communication, information, and emergency systems into a single, user-friendly platform. We'll uncover the pivotal moments that shaped the company, why Erin believes in the power of community involvement, and why cutting ties early can sometimes be the wisest move for growth. Erin shares how they grew Co-Connect, learn why you should apply for awards and whether you should be entering different lanes with your product/service.

Problem:

Communication in mining workforces is very large-scale in complexity and always changing, an example is a worker trying to find their room at a mining site.

Solution:

Co-Connect App provides all essential site & village information, manages emergencies, and creates amazing site experience with the app.

One big piece of advice:

Identify and cut the cord earlier, and get involved in the community because it is easy to get lost in time – how can you help others more? The more inclined you are to help, it can also broaden your network.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(03:08) - The business Erin would start today

(04:33) - The problem co- connect is solving

(09:45) - How Co-Connect reached their very first customers

(12:38) - The moment Erin realised they were on to something

(16:58) - How they grew Co-Connect

(21:28) - Doing a whole re-build

(22:00) - Erin’s experience during Plus 8 Accelerator program

(25:10) - How to assess different lanes

(28:43) - WA Innovator of the Year

(31:33) - Process for applying for awards

(32:50) - One Big piece of advice

(34:46) - Show and tell

Show & tell

On this episode, we have Amanda Price from KPMG High Growth Ventures who works with founders to help them understand their opportunities. We discuss the dynamics of founder-led sales and the challenges faced by founders, particularly when expanding into the US market. Amanda shares experience from her extensive career, from her first job at Tech Specific to setting up programs for founders to get into the US. The conversation looks at the role of accelerators and the moment Amanda realised the potential of the high-growth venture space. Amanda provides an extreme amount of entrepreneurial wisdom. Problem: Founders struggle to understand what opportunities they have, who to connect with, or the market they need to expand into. Solution: KPMG High Growth Ventures works like a concierge service, they help the founders to understand their opportunities and help connect them to relevant people like vetters, SMGs & advisors. One big piece of advice: You have to do founder-led sales, the best salesperson for customers and investors is the founders.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:09) - The business Amanda would start today

(05:38) - Founder-led sales

(06:50) - Amanda’s first job at Tech Specific

(08:26) - Going from startup office to a corporate job

(09:25) - Amanda’s travels to the United States during the Global Financial Crisis

(12:30) - Challenges Aussie founders have when they the US market

(15:16) - Many people fight for that 1% of the market

(17:16) - What the best founders that do that reach customers elsewhere

(18:55) - Role of accelerators

(22:04) - Sustaining high performers

(24:23) - How was it when Amanda realised this high-growth venture space was working

(25:33) - Putting satellite dishes on 500 Woolworths stores

(28:35) - What Amanda would change for founders

(31:16) - One Big Piece of Advice

(37:57) - Show & tell

Show & tell

In this episode, Clinton Schroeder and Kevin Venter, Founders of TOKN, shed light on the challenges faced by mid-tier enterprises in keeping up with the digital transformation. With thousands of hours given back to users, 10,000s of active users, and 150,000 app interactions weekly, TOKN addresses the struggle of these enterprises with their complex IT landscapes. Their solution involves bringing together intricate systems and data for customers, with a focus on making these systems accessible through various interfaces, including mobile. The duo emphasizes the importance of digitalizing services like timesheets and administrative procedures.

Problem:

Mid-tier enterprises have a large workforces, services and complex IT Landscapes. They want to bring systems together to be available on different user interfaces.

Solution:

TOKN brings complex systems and data together for their customers (Mid-enterprises). The second thing is to make sure they are available to their workforce on interfaces like mobile. Some of the systems they digitalise are timesheets and admin procedures.

One big piece of advice:

Kevin: Get traction and the money will come to you. Don’t let the idea sit in your mind, do something about it, don’t just sit on it.

Clinton: Don’t force yourself to define the problem because people are asking you. Prove you have put skin in the game as-well. (Define the problem and believe in it)

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(04:45) - The business they would start today

(07:37) - The problem TOKN is solving

(11:55) - How enterprises are miles behind

(14:39) - Reaching their first customers

(16:29) - Blind faith

(17:33) - The steps that led them to today

(19:52) - Listening to their customers

(23:51) - Marketing & brand activities used

(26:05) - The one thing that brings their business

(31:10) - The next for TOKN Technology

(32:57) - One big piece of advice

(35:55) - Hubflow: a communication engagement tool

(37:34) - Show & tell

Show & tell

·     Phone

·     Massage gun

In this episode, Gabe Alves discusses the challenges faced in asset management due to a lack of human engagement and introduces a unique solution, EXTAG. The software engages users by providing tags for locations or assets that can be scanned to collect and visualize data. Gabe shares insights into the mindset of founders, emphasizing the importance of thinking about the selling aspect early on. He suggests that validating a product through sales before its actual development can lead to better outcomes.

Problem:

There was little human engagement with asset management.

Solution:

Created software that engages with people differently, they provide tags that can be put on locations or assets. Which then can be scanned to collect data and be visualized.

One big piece of advice:

Most founders are product people who want to solve a problem, but they think about the selling part later. If you can sell a product and get validation before you have it, then it will be better.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(04:17) - The stat of successful founders

(06:43) - Gabe’s Morning Startup talk

(08:27) - The most successful marketing strategy

(10:55) - The problem EXTAG is solving

(15:48) - The piece of tech they accidentally made

(22:10) - How they sell EXTAG to people

(26:13) - Other promoting strategies

(29:29) - What’s next for EXTAG

(32:00) - Sales process

(35:22) - Technology showcase

(42:09) - The biggest lesson Gabe has learned

(44:23) - One Big Piece of advice

(46:54) - Show & tell

Show & tell

- Ultra Running (42km+)

- Motorbike Riding

Matt Ikin, Head of Growths and Partnerships at We Money delved into the common struggles people face with credit scores, status, and relationships. We Money offers clarity by consolidating finances into one accessible platform. Matt shares valuable advice, emphasizing meticulous tracking, mindset optimization in recruitment, and honest self-evaluation. The episode covers We Money's growth journey, from 500,000 downloads in Australia to practical activities for brand growth and team development. Discussions touch on credit scores, customer outreach challenges, growth tactics like influencers and user-generated content, the impact of TikTok, and the significance of partnerships.

Problem:

People struggle with their credit score, status, belonging, and relationships – finance tends to be at the core of these issues.

Solution:

We Money gives them clarity and confidence surrounding their finance. The platforms collate all their finances and debts into one place.

One big piece of advice:

Track absolutely everything, optimise for mindset when you recruit, in a fair way be really harsh on yourself on the results you are delivering. You will look back and see the moments of magic. Be really honest, and have an ultimate focus on doing things that help deliver your outcome.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:35) - 500,000 downloads in Australia or 5 MCGs

(04:02) - The business Matt would start today

(05:20) - Importance of credit scores

(09:20) - The problem We Money is solving

(11:15) - Reaching their first customers

(15:40) - Surveying non-users

(17:08) - Practical activities to grow their brand

(20:00) - Growing a growth team

(24:10) - Identifying a growth mindset individual

(30:42) - Growth tactic of influencers

(32:44) - Two ways to use user-generated content

(36:12) - How people are using TikTok

(41:11) - The importance of partnerships

(42:45) - Why has Cashback taken off

(44:14) - Helping members access better financial products

(47:16) - We Money’s awards program

(51:50) - What’s next for We Money

(53:00) - One big piece of advice

(54:25) - Show & tell

Show & tell

Live at We Work in Perth, David Press from Risk Talk & Stuart Riddle from KNKT dive into conversations regarding problem-solving and growth in business and the entrepreneurship landscape. They both share invaluable advice; David Press underscores the importance of resilience in the face of rejection, while Stuart Riddle emphasizes the significance of customer engagement and trusting instincts. Additionally, the episode explores aligning personal interests with life stages, advocating for a life filled with pursuits that bring true fulfillment. We also discuss the power of listening and storytelling in building connections and overcoming challenges in the entrepreneurial world.

Problem:

KNKT – Clients get burnt out from software development projects.

Risk Talk – Front-line workers getting frustrated with filling out risk management forms, would rather talk.

Solution:

KNKT – They have their own clients who they build the software for. They have a rapid-fire delivery approach to pump out the Software development projects.

Risk Talk – Use voice technology to run risk assessments, safety observations, and hazard and incident reporting.

One big piece of advice:

David Press - Be prepared to be rejected over and over, have resilience

Stuart Riddle - Spend more time talking with your customers. Also, trust your gut.

Bullets:    

00:00 - Introduction

04:00 - The business they would start today

05:25 - Burnout of developing software

09:04 - Problem of risk assessments

10:45 - Finding their first customers.

14:20 - An alignment of your stage in your life and what you want to focus on

19:10 - Communicating in the tech world

22:47 - The no-code and AI intersection

27:29 - The future for them

29:06 - Their one big piece of advice

30:00 - Show & tell

Show & tell:

Serial entrepreneur Kevin Garber discusses the challenges of finding the right idea and solving problems for startups. He emphasizes that overthinking ideas can hinder progress and suggests that building upon existing concepts can lead to success. He shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including his experiences with Managed Flitter, a social media app. Kevin highlights the importance of adapting to changes and finding ways to provide value in the startup world. The episode delves into his current venture, Zlinky, a mobile and web app focused on bookmark and image organization. The conversation touches on the thrill of entrepreneurship, learning from failures, and the rewarding feeling of making a positive impact. 

Problem: 

As huge content consumers, there was a lack of tooling around storing and organising these links.  

Solution:  

Zlinky helps to store and organise all your saved links including bookmarks, articles, videos, etc into one place.  

One big piece of advice: 

Keep learning and pulling all the different levers, and try not to compare yourself to others in the tech press. Sometimes it's very easy to think everyone is crushing it very easily, which is not the case. 

Bullets:    

(00:00) - Introduction 

(04:02) - The business Kevin would start today 

(07:24) - The lead-up to launching ManageFlitter 

(16:13) - What led the business to take off 

(17:44) - Tips on how to build something or find a solution for a problem 

(19:24) - What's happened with Twitter (X)? 

(24:00) - The stressful decision 

(26:12) - The problem Zlinky is solving 

(31:00) - Reaching Zlinky’s first customers 

(33:20) - How they collect feedback 

(36:05) - What’s next for Zlinky in the future 

(37:45) - Entrepreneurship is... 

(38:44) - Kevin's one big piece of advice 

Show & tell 

Kevin’s Dog – Banjo 

Ever Nimble, an IT company founded by Chris Morrissey, marks its fifth anniversary with remarkable growth and a reputation for excellence in cyber security. Coming from a retail background, Chris leveraged his experiences and learnings to build a business that values diversity and fosters a high-performing team. With a customer-centric approach and a focus on cyber security, Ever Nimble has carved out a unique position in the market, distinguishing itself from over 2,500 competitors. Ever Nimble sets its sights on future growth, with a heightened emphasis on cyber security, advisory services, and upskilling their clients. 

Problem: 

People were not excited to see IT teams, it was seen as a cost and something that had to happen.  

Solution:  

Create a team that people could rely on for tech issues 

One big piece of advice: 

Get some really good mentors 

Bullets:     

(00:00) – Introduction 

(05:29) – How retail skills are transferable 

(09:30) – Addressing the IT Professional Trope

(12:40) – The impact of a micro change  

(14:25) – Chris' leap into IT 

(16:50) – What is an MSP? 

(19:05) – The importance of Cybersecurity 

(20:06) – 5 years ago... 

(22:35) – Growing Ever Nimble 

(24:35) – What is Cyber Security? 

(26:35) – Cyber Tips for Startups  

(29:25) – Verifying Details 

(30:39) – Electric Peach 

(32:23) – Expanding Service Offerings 

(34:20) – The Importance of People  

(36:05) – Business Structure  

(37:00) – How Culture Helps Find Good People 

(39:37) – Burnout in Tech 

(40:15) – Standing out from Competitors. 

(42:00) – Reputation and Referrals 

(43:35) – The road to cyber 

(46:04) – Chris' one big piece of advice 

(49:40) – Show and Tell 

(51:10) – Chris on AI 

Show & tell 

Brad Dessington, the Director of Legion Lab, a brand innovation lab in Perth, Australia, works with brands to create cutting-edge brand innovations that outperform the competition. Legion Lab creates customised consultancy by allowing the self-selection of world-leading individuals for brands to achieve success. With a background as a founder of various businesses, discover how Brad has combined his knowledge and experience across AI, Brand and Strategy. Providing his insights into the evolution of branding and the impact of AI on creatives.  

Problem: 

By solely focusing on executing brand strategies through brand communications, there is a risk of neglecting the crucial element of prioritising the customer experience. 

Solution:  

Providing diversified thinking by 'parachuting in' leaders in respective fields to assist brands develop growth strategies and birth new innovations that improve customer experience, and the brand. 

One big piece of advice: 

Talk to your prospective customers through the development process, that way you market and validate before you even have the product. 

Bullets:     

(00:00) - Introduction  

(01:36) – Founding a Brand Agency 

(04:06) – What is Brand Consultancy? 

(06:15) – Evolution of Branding 

(07:59) – Journey of Business Growth 

(10:47) – Moving into Digital Products – Nectir 

(14:18) – Shift from Agency to Product 

(16:40) – Back to the Forefront of Innovation 

(17:42) – September AI Labs 

(19:00) – Detect Circulating Tumour Cells in the Blood 

(20:28) – Kids Books 

(21:42) – AI Data Dependency 

(22:50) – Intersection of AI and Branding 

(24:17) – Legion Labs 

(29:30) – Brad Loves Creating New Businesses 

(30:40) - Brand Ideology 

(31:20) – Unique Factor 

(32:55) – Impact of AI  

(36:28) – Do Creatives Benefit from AI? 

(38:52) – Brad's Hard View on AI 

(39:32) – Digital Twin 

(40:53) – Are we in a Simulation? 

(42:30) – Devices for Kids 

(43:21) – Brad's Big Piece of Advice 

(48:18) – Show and Tell 

Show & tell 

Kevin Brown, Chief Operations from Icetana joined us in a captivating episode where we delve into the AI-powered software that transforms camera footage analysis. Discover how their innovative solution filters routine motion and enables operators to focus on identifying and responding to unusual behaviour. Gain valuable insights from Kevin's entrepreneurial journey, including his experience in project managing at Virtual Gaming World, where he worked alongside the visionary and dynamic founder, Laurence Escalante. Explore intriguing topics such as A/B testing, navigating market cycles, and how he found the right price point with Nearmap (Google Maps on steroids). Tune in for an inspiring discussion on the transformative power of AI, entrepreneurship, and the collaborative energy of visionary leaders. 

Problem: 

Organisations are running with thousands of cameras and are unable to track all unusual behaviour that is occurring. Their largest client has 8,000 cameras with 24/7 footage. 

Solution:  

Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Icetana software effectively detects and filters routine motion, enabling operators to focus on unusual behaviour. 

One big piece of advice: 

There is no excuse to be ignorant about a subject when you can read, watch YouTube, listen to a podcast or even ask Chat-GPT.  

Bullets:    

(00:00) - Introduction  

(11:30) - The business Kevin would start today 

(14:40) - The dot.com bubble burst 

(17:46) - A/B testing Ebay’s page 

(19:10) - Got acquired by Accenture around the GFC 

(20:28) - What Kevin learnt about the financial cycles

(25:15) - How humans chase a sunken cost 

(27:21) - Screenshotting $1m in the bank 

(28:32) - Buy an iPhone for 42c 

(30:49) - Working at a web development company 

(31:12) - Google Maps on steroids 

(35:00) - Finding the right price point 

(37:45) - Made $3m in one month 

(38:34) - Virtual Gaming World  

(40:20) - Laurence's Escalante  

(43:13) - Kevin went to Europe for a month 

(46:35) - Project Managing  

(48:40) - Replaced the whole tech team 

(50:35) - Only had 3-months in the tank 

(54:29) - Welcome to the business – your budget is 0 

(54:50) - Laurence took the company to Boracay 

(56:43) - Icetana and the use of AI 

(1:00:10) - First fire detection detected red-haired people 

(1:03:00) - The pre-success of Icetana 

(1:03:30) - Kevin's views on AI 

(1:08:46) - Kevin's one big piece of advice 

(1:11:40) - Show & Tell 

Show & tell 

Midnight Health is a Digital Healthcare platform that is addressing the challenges of limited accessibility and poor healthcare experiences. With over 50,000 customers, the platform encompasses four distinct brands, including Youly (women's healthcare), Stagger (men's healthcare), Hub Health (general health), and Vidality (gut-health product), offering a comprehensive range of healthcare solutions. Co-Founder, Nic Blair also explains the technical process they went through to identify their market opportunity.

Problem: 

The healthcare system suffers from significant accessibility issues, particularly in remote and regional areas, where individuals often face long wait times and limited options for seeking medical assistance. Fragmented healthcare data and poor customer experiences further increase these challenges. 

Solution:  

Midnight Health aims to simplify healthcare experiences and enhance accessibility for individuals by empowering them to take control of their own health. Through integrated telehealth, doctors, and pharmacy networks, the platform offers patient-led solutions, enabling users to access healthcare services conveniently and efficiently. 

One big piece of advice: 

At the start of your business, you need to really understand your financials and have a good business model to begin with.   

Bullets:     

(00:00) - Introduction  

(03:50) - The business Nic would start today 

(05:52) - Benefits of starting a Services business 

(09:40) - The problem Midnight Health is solving 

(10:55) - The rapid technology innovation – is healthcare last? 

(14:25) - The point that led Nic to the Health Industry 

(18:27) - Reaching their first customers 

(20:54) - The PR process 

(22:39) - The brand strategy of having multiple brands  

(25:10) - NIB invested $16m  

(28:35) - The vision and product roadmap 

(33:20) - Nic’s one big piece of advice 

(36:40) - Brisbane is punching above their weight 

(38:56) - Show & tell 

Show & tell 

Ammo Marketing has turned 9 years old, celebrating over 250 businesses they have worked with over the years. Director Cam Sinclair shares his story; the journey Ammo has taken and what is next for the team. 

Problem: 

A lot of small businesses are working with marketing and brand agencies and spending loads of money on logos and designs, then being left with their own devices to grow their business. 

Solution: 

Ammo is there to support an ongoing relationship with clients to help them grow their businesses.  

One big piece of advice: 

If you are waking up in the morning and not looking forward to the day ahead, you need to solve that.  

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction  

(01:50) - The business Cam would start today 

(05:50) – Cam applied for the wrong job, but it ended up being the best decision 

(09:32) - “Not happy Jan!" 

(10:50) - In 2004, Cam suggested Google Ads to his boss 

(13:00) - 3 main vote drivers in Australia 

(16:25) - Running digital campaigns in Politics 

(19:40) - The power of social media 

(20:24) - The problem Cam was solving with Ammo 

(24:45) - The 4-hour workweek 

(25:00) - Reaching his first customers 

(28:00) - Why do we not have online voting  

(29:55) - Everyone wanted a growth hack 

(34:33) - A tech favourite of Cams – Bamboo 

(36:23) - The authentic content that can come from a third party 

(38:04) - Cam's one big piece of advice 

(39:25) - Show and tell 

(41:33) - Ammo’s latest chapter 

Show & tell 

The average wait time for public dental health care is 2-3 years. Dr Kyle Turner created Pearlii to provide oral care for disadvantaged people.

The Pearlii app lets the user take a free photo of their teeth and will give feedback on any signs of dental issues. Pearlii has landed on product hunt multiple times including being number #9 for the product of 2020.

Problem:

35% of people rely on the public dental system in Sydney and Melbourne, the appointments are expensive and people are neglecting their dental health.

Solution:

Pearlii is helping to solve this problem by having an AI algorithm which detects gum/teeth issues for free by taking a photo of your mouth. They are also working towards treatment via a dental treatment van.

One big piece of advice:

You must have a strong why behind your business and need to do some good with that why. Try to have a purpose-led business.

Bullets:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:18) - The business Kyle would start today

(02:21) - The problem and solution Pearlii is giving

(04:50) - Good oral health

(05:50) - Reaching Pearlii’s first customers

(09:50) - Pearlii got on product hunt

(12:20) - The business model didn’t work

(15:15) - There are two sides of the coin for Public Health

(16:19) - Kyle will be pissed if they don’t get the truck

(19:00) - People are more conscious of their health now

(19:55) - How to stand out in a busy market

(22:18) - The key to success for a product hunt launch

(25:40) - The next thing in the future for Pearlii

(27:40) - What made Kyle a better founder

(30:00) - Kyle's one big piece of advice

Show & tell

Kyle’s Dog – Brian the Mascot

Morning Startup host and Fastvue co-founder Scott Glew explain why every Australian startup founder should consider moving to the USA. 

Fastvue does internet usage reporting that extracts details from your firewall to give you insight into keeping your network productive and safe. Scott’s global business has partnered with The Internet Watch Foundation in the UK who works to stop child sexual abuse online.   

The Problem:  

Online Firewalls do not have many options when it comes to reporting and gaining insights. Fastvue has helped to solve this issue.

Bullets:

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:35) - Scott's global company

(03:17) - The problem Scott is solving   

(05:19) - How he found his first customers   

(07:12) - The moment he knew his product was going to work   

(08:10) - Find the key people to help you get in front of others

(10:50) - Do you need to move to the USA to pursue your business?   

(13:08) - Having the nice lifestyle  

(14:19) - Unicorn Business  

(16:30) - Fastvue partnered with The internet watch foundation

(19:00) - The beginning of Morning Startup   

(21:00) -  Validate your idea   

(23:16) - The business Scott would start today from scratch  

(25:36) - The new GPT chat function

Show & tell

Noisy Guts is giving an alternative option for people suffering IBS.

There are many people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome who suffer symptoms when eating certain foods. They often require an intense low-fodmap diet which can be hard to stick to. Josephine and Mary wanted to solve this issue and they came up with Noisy Guts, they conduct research on gut health, provide recipes to help your gut health and have their own products including protein balls and shakes.

Problem

People with irritable bowel syndrome are suffering from symptoms and have a specific diet to minimise these symptoms. Noisy Guts provide food options that don’t cause these symptoms.

One big piece of advice

From Mary - Know your numbers, your costs, your economics, margins and do your numbers work?”

From Josephine - Make sure if you’re a sole founder, you are not stuck inside your head, don’t isolate yourself at home, and don’t listen to the voices in your head.

Bullets:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:46) - The business they would start today

(03:30) - Solving the product market fit

(04:30) - The problem being solved – Troublesome guts

(05:50) - The wicked problem

(07:20) - Symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome

(09:27) - The hangry problems Josephine was facing every day

(10:50) - Finding their first customer

(14:40) - The confidence to jump off the cliff

(17:30) - The benefit of accelerators

(20:17) - Hurdles with Med Tech

(22:47) - Super Flora and the importance of brand

(25:49) - Teach someone how to fish, just don’t feed them

(30:03) - Lifetime value customers

(33:20) - Tips on pitching from the pitching Queen

(38:20) - Investing in the team, not the product

(40:00) - Founders are nuts

(40:15) - One big piece of advice from the pair

(43:10) - A one-sentence pitch

Show & tell

On this episode, we are coming to you live from Perth Podcast Festival. Hear from Megan Del Borrello and Steve Knight on the value  communication can have when it comes to growing your business. These two advise executives, directors, and the next generation of entrepreneurs. There's so much to learn on this episode of Weird Growth.

The Problem

Female founders are facing challenges when building businesses, Megan provides them with mentoring, programs, and support to overcome these challenges.

Executive level professionals struggling at being good at communicating. Steve teaches them to change their mindset from ‘public speaking’ to ‘having conversations.’

Bullets:

(00:00) - Introduction

(04:40) - The businesses they would start today

(05:35) - The problem Megan is solving

(06:26) - The problem Steve is solving

(08:00) - Finding the first customers

(10:00) - Communicating well, now more than ever

(11:39) - Uncertainty causes stress

(11:50) - The new format of communicating

(13:39) - Communication channels

(14:10) - The reason why Weird Growth was started

(15:30) - What founders can learn about the importance of communication

(18:23) - What the best communicators do

(20:54) - The future of Behind the Brands

(22:03) - What is Steve Knight going to do next?

(23:45) - One big piece of advice from the guests

One big piece of advice

From Megan - Build resilience, if you don’t have resilience, you are not cut out to be a founder

From Steve - You have to have such a passion and a hunger for what you want to do

Show & tell

From seed capital to hemp growth. Medicann provides science-backed, reliable and affordable cannabis medicines to patients in need.

2016 was a big year for cannabis. And we’re not just talking smoke but the industry in Australia took a massive step forward when medicinal cannabis products finally became legal. This was the opportunity Matt and the Medicann team were looking for. Their first customers consisted of hemp seed and oil products sold through pharmacies and supermarkets. Today, Matt and the team are crowdfunding on Birchall to keep up with demand.

Problem
65% of deaths in Australia right now are from painkillers. Improving the quality of life for people in need. Medicann creates products with fewer side effects.

One big piece of advice
Stick with it. When you have the passion for what you are doing you will find a way.

Bullets:

(00:33) – Matt introduces himself

(01:13) – The business Matt would start today

(02:04) – How it all started for Matt

(04:14)- We’re still discovering the possibilities of cannabis

(05:40) - The problem Medicann solves for patients

(07:25) – How Medicann reached their first customers

(08:25) - Matt’s first seed capital consisted of $50 and a trip to the casino

(10:39) - What it took for Matt to start a medical cannabis business

(14:37)- How Medicann Clinics found their first patient

(18:44) - How Birchal works to raise capital

(20:06)- Matt’s advice for crowdfunding

(21:05) - Medicann’s clinical trials in concussion

(23:45)- Matt’s one big piece of advice for founders

(26:03) – Hemp Brothers products to get you through the day

Show & tell:

Kate brought her spark to this episode of Weird Growth. Lover of creating and driven by people and purpose. You’ll often find her in glitter, coding or hooping outside of She Codes. Why do She Codes exist? Simple. To inspire 100,000 women by 2025. Their programs involve teaching technical skills, connecting women to career pathways, and working with fantastic partners. Their flagship program, She Codes Plus, is a six-month program that is designed to supercharge the tech career of its participants – ideal for women looking to enter, or advance in, the tech industry. They also offer one-day workshops and tutorials. Kate packed a lot of brilliant advice in this episode so strap in.

Problem
We need another million people in tech in Australia by 2025. She Codes solves both the hiring and diversity problems of the tech scene. 

One big piece of advice.
It never hurts to ask. Everyone is so nice. What is the worst that can happen? An ignored email? And listen to your customers. Don’t be afraid to ask them what they want.

Bullets:

(00:00) – Introduction 

(01:37) – The business Kate would start today

(06:00) – How She Codes reached their first customers

(07:14) – Why Kate took the leap

(09:16) – Their first partnership with BHP

(11:55) – What next-level customer validation looks like

(12:52) – The Cupcake Effect 

(14:07) – What we can learn from the cupcake effect

(18:18) – Spacecubed turned 10 – Here are some of Kate’s highlights

(20:44) – Kate’s advice for encouraging STEM

(23:46) – What’s next for Kate and She Codes

(24:46) – How East Coast states differ from Perth

(27:20) – Be helpful first

(28:17) – How Kate asks customers for feedback

Show & tell: 

From a shipping container to a brew pub in the heart of Perth’s trendy suburb – Subiaco. Golden West has grown from door-to-door delivery to producing thousands of litres a week.

What gives someone the confidence to launch a brewery in the middle of COVID? Customers, Community and a Trusted Brand.

Founders often forget that when building a company your product (in this case beer) still needs to taste good. Creating tight feedback loops with your customers and community keeps you on the pulse of your taste.

We’ve packed this episode with lots of growth flavour and nutrients. Enjoy watching or listening with a glass of your favourite beverage.

Bullets:

(00:00) – Introduction

(01:50) – The business Dan would start today

(03:16) – The catalyst to starting the brewery

(06:17) – Tight feedback loops

(07:32) – Golden West’s milk run deal

(08:40) – The Brand and its background story

(12:00) – Dan’s growth journey

(16:50) - What it takes to run a hospitality venue in Perth

(18:53) – The Tech & brewery world colliding

(24:15) – The future for Golden West!

(26:12) - Dan’s one big piece of advice

(27:32) – Show & Tell: Working in bursts thanks to his personal alarm – A one-year-old child

(29:00) – Look for organic growth

One big piece of advice for Founders:

Seek as much advice as possible, not just from highly successful people, talk to people who failed too. You will know what’s relevant, cherry-pick it.

Show & Tell:

Mihailo a.k.a “Michael Christmas” Bozic, CEO & Founder of Envited joined us for this episode of Weird Growth. Envited helps you create events for any social media in under 2 minutes. What we like most about Envited so far is it is so lightweight and easy to use. Mihailo shares the non-scalable tactics he used to grow his meme page “Just Jedi Things” and now Envited which launched across the globe this week. Mihailo & Jordan Saddik raised a Seed Round with Galileo Ventures and now looking for their next round of funding to keep up with growth.

Problem

Only 2% of teens use Facebook. Therefore, Facebook Events cannot be a sustainable solution to social media events in the future. What will that platform look like? Envited is on the journey to find out.

One big piece of advice for Founders

Talk to customers. Super simple. Don’t overcomplicate it. If you have their phone number just call them. It’s so important as a founder to be close to your users. You need to know what users are frustrated with and what they love.

Bullets:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:47) - Meet Michael Christmas

(02:09) - The business Mihailo would start today

(04:11) - How Envited built a prototype at TechStars startup weekend

(05:32) - Growing a meme page – Just Jedi Things

(07:30) - Why memes grow so fast

(07:51) - A brief history of memes

(08:23) - Harambe’s death was a turning point for memes & culture

(10:31) - What running a meme page taught Mihailo Bozic about growth?

(13:50) - Find early customers who will use your product when its crap

(14:26) - Building in public

(16:33) - What’s the biggest challenge for Envited right now?

(19:19) – Raising 350K Seed over Zoom

(23:14) – How Envited found their first team members

(28:22) – Creativity is the most underrated skill to hire for

(29:20) – What’s next for Envited?

(30:07) – Mihailo’s one big piece of advice for founders

(31:04) – The one thing Mihailo can’t live without – Dual Monitors

Show & Tell:

Steve Grace, CEO & Founder of Nudge Group joined us for this episode of Weird Growth. Since 2019, they’ve experienced some rapid growth. Nudge is now a global recruitment business for startups. Steve also has his own show “Give it a Nudge” and a high traffic content site for business owners, “Balance the grind”. Steve and his team know what it takes to build content, community and a talent network for the Startup Ecosystem. Steve shares top advice for Founders at all stages and how to come up with an attractive offering for the modern workforce.

Problem

Nudge Group help fast growing start-ups and scale-ups find talent, offering a bespoke and flexible pricing model to suit the needs of the company.

One big piece of advice for Founders

Everyone needs to slow down a bit. There’s too much growth for growth’s sake. Don’t grow at all costs. I’d like to see more purposeful growth from Founders.

Bullets:

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:26) - What is Nudge?

(03:14) - The business Steve would start today

(04:06) - Scaling a service business vs a product business

(06:17) - The Problem Nudge is solving

(11:20) - How Nudge reached its first customers

(13:08) - How content marketing helped Nudge

(18:35) - Nudge’s key tactic to building an audience

(19:31) - Be everywhere, be a part of the community.

(24:17) - What Steve calls “The Karma circle”

(27:01) - A massive push towards gamification

(28:35) - Finding the right people for a start-up

(30:25) - What founders can do to reach the best people

(37:00) - What is next in the future?

(39:19) - Steve’s One big piece of advice

(41:48) - The difference between start-up and scale-up

(42:38) - Apple watches & Soda Stream

Show & tell:

Carl shares his top 5 no-code tools on this episode of Weird Growth. No-code development is a type of development that allows non-programmers and programmers to create software using a graphical user interface, instead of writing code. We covered DeFi, Accelerators, his startup journey and The Xrossing, an Indi-film he co-produced and released. Stick around to the backend of this episode to learn more about the powerful prototypes you can create with no-code and even what you can make with a shovel.

Problem
The no-code movement rests upon the fundamental belief that technology should enable and facilitate creation, not be a barrier to entry. Carl and Next Revolution help Founders and Teams ride the no-code wave.

One big piece of advice for Founders

Have the right attitude to be curious and to learn. Don't expect to be perfect. The success founders incrementally improve. You'll find success if you stick at it long enough. 

Bullets:

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:28) - Early career in financial services and property
(02:22) – Carl’s first startup BuyerUp
(02:44) - Carl’s experience with Perth’s Plus Eight Accelerator
(03:27) – The problem Buyerup was solving
(06:39) - The business he would start today
(07:58) - Decentralised Finance (DeFi)
(11:31) - Why he’s building with Next Revolution
(12:30) - How businesses can use no-code tools to unlock growth
(14:48) – Anyone who has an idea can build a version of it with no-code
(15:30) – How Next Revolution is helping people navigate no-code
(17:24) – The sweet spot for no-code tools
(22:51) - Raising money for an Indi-Film
(26:00) - The Xrossing release
(30:37) – What’s the next wave for no-code?
(34:08) - Carl’s Top 5 no-code tools to get started
(40:25) - Carl’s one big piece of advice
(41:10) - The Shovel Guitar

Happy Birthday to Earlywork who turned 1 this week. Earlywork is a community of young people working for and interested in the Startup space. It all started with three co-founders out of UNSW – Marina Wu, Dan Brockwell and Jono Herman. Now, they've grown their community to 2,500+ young people and raised 700K Seed Investment in just a year. Their mission is to give young people access to a network of like-minded professionals and startup gigs so that they progress in their careers and build the local ecosystem. In this episode of Weird Growth, Marina covers how community building is the only real moat left when it comes to your Marketing Strategy. Marina says, “you can copy other tactics and software, but you can't copy your audience.” When you build an authentic community from day one, it acts as great customer research tool, and it allows you to co-create a product with your community. We get into the ‘nitty gritty’ of community building in this episode while chatting about memes, hacker houses, and colourful lights for your room. Join us as we go back to the beginning of Earlywork and how it came to be a pillar for young people in the Australian Startup community.

Problem

The world of work is still set up to funnel talent into old school jobs. University degrees aren’t teaching the required skills and the classroom/lecture format can encourage habits of passive learning that generally need to be unlearned to be a successful founder or operator. And where is your network? If you take the “safe” option of a grad program you’ve got a built-in group of friends (with the occasional frenemy) but jumping into the new world can mean having to form your own community from scratch. It’s clear that we need a new interface between talent and work.

One big piece of advice for Founders

Start now. The biggest risk is in your career is inaction. It’s not having a go at your crazy idea that you can’t shake from your mind. The worst that can happen if it fails is that you just go back to your previous job. Do it now before it's too late.

Bullets

(0:00) – Introduction

(2:15) – The business Marina would start today

(5:45) – The core problem Earlywork is solving

(7:33) – How Earlywork reached their first community members

(10:40) – Community as a modern-day growth channel

(12:55) – The increasing importance of community in a remote-first world

(15:18) – How Earlywork scaled beyond first community members

(18:08) – The main types of gigs available through Earlywork: ’The careers of tomorrow’

(19:17) – Marina's advice for Startups looking to hire employees in today’s job market

(22:50) - How to use Community as a growth channel and defensive moat

(25:30) – Earlywork’s pre-seed investment from Square Peg Capital

(29:28) – What's next for Earlywork

(31:30) – Earlywork’s launch house

(33:11) – Marina's one big piece of advice

(35:08) – Marina's favourite tool

Show & tell:

Before he was 17, Kai had already left high school to work in startups, marketing and product. He’s got some wicked skills and he chooses to use them for good. Find out how Kai has built products and grown audiences around them, including a story of a global Product Hunt launch. Learn more about how he does it on this episode of Weird Growth.

Company

My Funnel

As an engineer, Derick loves to tinker. Not so long ago he found an opportunity to improve workplace safety all over the world with robots. Roborigger uses a wireless load controlling system which uses gyroscopic and inertial forces to accurately rotate and orient crane loads.

Company

Reducing the cost and improving the safety and efficiency of lifting operations.

For Halloween we celebrated with a live episode in the Perth CBD with Tim Brewer (CEO) of Functionly. Functionly was founded in 2018 with Co-Founder, Damian Bramanis and consists of a global team who have worked with companies including Dropbox, Teamline, Auth0, Yammer and HealthEngine. In 2020, the team won a $598K Accelerating Commercialisation grant from the federal government and this year (2021) secured a $3.6m seed round. Functionly's mission, to disrupt the organisational design industry and bring simple to use software for all companies.

Company

Intelligent organisational design

Problem

Helping leaders solve their people gaps, cracks, and overlaps

Customers

Organisations with 25+ people

One big piece of advice

Know why you’re doing what you’re doing. If you know why, you’ll do it for long enough, and if you do it long enough and listen to your customers hard enough, you’ll eventually work out how to succeed.

Bullets

0:00 – Introduction

3:32 – The business Tim would start if he were starting again today: Working with kind and ‘athletic’ people

6:09 – How Tim found his way into the world of technology

From a tech meetup to cofounding one of Perth's fastest growing development houses. Alex and John from Ninja Software have built a great company over the last 5 years. On this episode of Weird Growth we chatted about Synthetic Biology, Agile Software Development vs Fixed Fee, proof of concept apps and building a passionate dev team. They also run Tech Society a great podcast we've linked below in the show notes go and check it out.

Company

Entrepreneurial software development

Cian gave us a great recap on how he started his business Quantum Contract Solutions and how he scaled through great business metrics. Cian's approach to sales is a great blueprint for service businesses and B2B. If you love sales, you'll love this episode of Weird Growth. More links in the show notes.

Company

Contractual superpowers for construction subcontractors

We hosted our subscribers for a live episode at terraceloft studio in East Perth with two amazing founders Nick Hudson and Elizabeth Knight. Listen to these two founders share the ups and downs of startup life and how showing up and having a purpose driven venture has been the key to their success. Purposeful helps young people find direction in their lives after school. Elizabeth wants to help people graduates find confidence in their careers in a complex world. She's now participating in Plus Eight's Accelerator program to grow and get The Lost Button to market. Check out The Lost Button in the show notes.

Nick founded mental health charity event The Push-Up Challenge after a life changing experience and his own challenges with mental health. Here more about what drives him and all the great work his team has done in the mental health space. The Push-Up Challenge raised around $9 million this year. To date over 241 million push ups have been done as part of the event.

Companies

Purposeful: Helping students find direction in their life after school

KC Co-Founder of Qalo, built a new category of product from scratch, silicone wedding rings. What started as a way to wear a wedding ring at the gym quickly turned into an online business generating millions in revenue which was up to $125million when he sold it. The tipping point? KC knew he was onto something when a Qalo ring ended up on an NFL player’s finger on a TV showed which aired for millions across the US. Although KC didn’t get results from that initially, what followed was just as amazing. Listen in to hear how you can access great resources, education, knowledge and experience from KC himself. 

Company

Silicon wedding rings

A girl from the country, Elsa is a strong and successful business mentor. Elsa Mitchell runs digital marketing workshops for business owners in person (she's old-school). She enjoys connecting with people and being her own bossy bitch. Great episode if you are just starting out in digital and looking to grow/get your content to the next level.

Her first business was a hair salon which she started during the GFC, grew to solid client base, and sold it. Now, she mentors other business owners, especially in digital marketing, while also raising her family with her husband. You’ll often find them with their blended tribe of 4 kids refining their surf skills at Trigg Beach. Her 2 rules for business - 1) Be consistent and 2) Be a good human. Listen in to her from someone who has been through all the ups and downs of an entrepreneur and just some good of fashion honest advice with no sugar coating. *Language warning*

Company

Business Mentors

Dan has been on both sides of the investment table for startups. Now he is leading one of Australia's fastest growing Fintechs, WeMoney. WeMoney helps Young Australians take control of their finances giving them a 360 view of their money.

Through education and a brilliant mobile app, WeMoney is on track to be a success. How did they get to this point? Listen and you'll find out along with some great growth marketing, money and startup tips.

Company

Financial wellness app

David has lived all over the world and spent years between San Francisco and Australia. His current day-to-day as the CMO for Nuheara is exciting but it's taken 7 years to become and overnight success. As we know hardware is hard. However, David and the team have made it work packing a lot of software and complex technology into their award winning earbuds and now a partnership with HP. Hear more about their journey on this episode of Weird Growth. 

Company

Creating personalised hearing solutions that are multifunctional, accessible, and affordable to an underserviced global market

What started with a tweet, quickly become a voice for social media users of Perth. So Perth shares stories, questions and local conversations. It is Australia’s fastest growing new media publishers with over 460,000 followers, average 5,300,000 impressions on Facebook per month and 1,400,000 website views per month. Now the So Media Group is raising capital to expand their community driven media. So, we thought it would be a great time to bring Co-Founder Adam Barrell on the show to tell us all about his journey and the weird growth of the community so far. 

Company

Trending news in Perth

From a Startup Weekend came Ardea Waste. Ardea provides online waste management to businesses across Australia. On this episode of Weird Growth, we discuss the War on Waste, Commercial Waste, The Blue Chilli Accelerator and why it's important just to start and back yourself.

Company

Sustainable waste management