Advice Archives

ACS says closing the digital skills gap could be worth $25 billion – and workers are hungry for training

Tom Williams - July 31, 2025 3 MIN READ

Closing digital skills gaps could create a $25 billion economic boost for Australia according to the 11th Australia’s Digital Pulse report, released this week by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) — the professional association of the nation’s technology professionals. A survey commissioned for the report and carried out by consultancy firm Deloitte found 77% of… Read more »

Business strategy

The challenger brands: Why the future of media marketing belongs to the bold

Drew Usher - July 30, 2025 2 MIN READ

For decades, brands were defined by size, market share or legacy. But in 2025, those markers are no longer the be-all and end-all. What separates leaders from laggards today isn’t whether they’re big or small, it’s whether they’re static or dynamic. Enter the ‘challenger mentality’, where brands are rewriting the rulebooks, not just in product… Read more »

Business

Brighter Super is tipping $50 million into startups via the state government’s Queensland Investment Commission

Simon Thomsen - July 30, 2025 2 MIN READ

Queensland-based superannuation fund Brighter Super will invest $50 million into local startups in a partnership with state government-backed investment manager QIC. The Brighter Super mandate will invest in startups expected to deliver strong investment returns, create jobs and have a positive impact on Queensland’s innovation landscape and economy. The project has already seen QIC back… Read more »

Funding

VENTURE DEBT: Friend or foe for startup founders?

Benjamin Chong - July 29, 2025 3 MIN READ

A growing number of start-ups are accessing venture debt to fund the growth of their business. With the primary appeal of limiting equity dilution, it’s easy to see why founders might jump on board the venture debt train. But venture debt has been linked to a number of collapsing startups both here and in the… Read more »

Advice

The legal gaps that kill startup deals, according to a lawyer, and how to avoid them

Marianne Marchesi - July 29, 2025 3 MIN READ

Let me tell you a little story about Jane* … Jane was the founder of a clever new tech startup. She had a slick product, a loyal fanbase and media coverage that made her look like an overnight success. TikTok was practically frothing over her. Naturally, to fuel her next stage of growth, Jane set… Read more »

Advice

Why more founders need a personal wealth strategy

Rebecca Klodinsky - July 29, 2025 3 MIN READ

When I launched my first business in my twenties, I thought success meant sales, scale, and building a brand with cut-through. And to some extent, it did. But it took me a little longer to realise that real success – the kind that sustains you beyond your startup – also means financial independence. Not just… Read more »

Climate Tech

How our cities are turning into giant batteries

Bin Lu Marnie Shaw - July 28, 2025 4 MIN READ

As the electrification of transport and heating accelerates, many worry the increased demand could overload national power grids. In Australia, electricity consumption is expected to double by 2050. If everyone charges their car and heats water using electric systems at the same time, peak demand could rise sharply, forcing costly grid upgrades. But this would… Read more »

People

Tech workers scored a 10% pay rise last year – and there’s more to come

Denham Sadler, Information Age - July 25, 2025 3 MIN READ

Salaries in the tech sector increased by nearly 10% in the last year and IT workers are among those most likely to land a “transformational” pay rise in the coming year, according to a new study. Recruiter Hays released its F25/26 Salary Guide this week which also reveals the highest paying tech roles in Australia and those… Read more »

Business strategy

Winning without a safety net: How I bootstrapped and grew without VC

Michael Ripia - July 24, 2025 3 MIN READ

Most people think if you’re not backed by venture capital, you’re not playing in the big leagues. That you’re hustling in the shadows, scraping by until some investor finally gives you permission to scale. But for people like me, who started with no handouts, no blueprints, and no pitch deck, the game has always looked… Read more »

Beauty and fashion

The VC market-fit problem no one is talking about

Tracey Warren & Bree Kirkham - July 23, 2025 4 MIN READ

The majority of women entrepreneurs aren’t building software – they’re quietly launching and scaling the breakout consumer brands that will define the next decade, without a cent of venture capital (VC). According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2022/23 Report: Less than 3% of women globally are building in ICT/tech sectors. Nearly 50% of women… Read more »

Advice

Melbourne’s innovation crisis is about culture – and what comes next

George Hedon - July 22, 2025 3 MIN READ

While Melbourne prepares for another glossy startup gala, let’s talk about what won’t be on the menu. Victoria’s startup agency has locked away $160m+ in public funding—yet no grassroots event support since 2019. VicGov spent $7 m+ on DIF (Digital Innovation Futures)—and it quietly shut down. Melbourne Convention Bureau backs only international events (e.g., C2, GEC)… Read more »

Fintech

Getting rid of surcharging a chance for Australian fintechs to transform payments

Ben Zyl - July 21, 2025 3 MIN READ

Last week’s announcement by the RBA that it will remove surcharges on debit and credit cards and undertake a review of interchange fees is not only welcome news for Australian consumers; it is also a great opportunity for Australian fintechs to mark their territory. Understandably, the impending change has local merchants sweating about further soaring… Read more »

Funding

Yes, we need to talk about funding for Australian women-led startups. Yet again

Roisin O'Neill - July 18, 2025 4 MIN READ

The recent quarterly figures on the Australian startup scene finally put numbers to what everyone has been feeling in their bones for months: the vibes are off. Venture capital investment plunged to an 18-month low, with Q2 2025 clocking in as one of the weakest funding periods in recent memory. This is a major reversal… Read more »

Advice

If you’re a non-technical founder hiring your first – and maybe only – dev, here are 12 traits to look for

T Guthrie - July 17, 2025 8 MIN READ

It’s been a few months now since WhyHive wrapped up. And I was talking to lead engineer, Simon Grant, recently about what his next mission might be. This got me reflecting on a core question I often got asked by other founders – what do you look for in your first dev hire? Whyhive may not… Read more »

Advice

AI has given the small business underdogs the power to take on corporate giants

John Gutteridge - July 17, 2025 4 MIN READ

I recently found myself in the company of some remarkable startup founders, each one brimming with bold ideas, big dreams, and the kind of relentless drive that keeps the entrepreneurial spirit alive. Listening to their stories, the highs and lows, the wins and roadblocks, was inspiring. Whether just starting out or deep into their journey,… Read more »