Karen Cohen
People

YBF now has a blockchain expert in da house

- August 31, 2021 2 MIN READ

YBF Melbourne has appointed a blockchain expert-in-residence to help startups better understand the potential of distributed ledger technology. Karen Cohen, deputy chair of the Blockchain Australia Board, has taken on the role, and when the city’s latest lockdown hopefully lifts soon, she’ll be based at the Melbourne CBD co-working facility, where she will offer advice, introductions,… Read more »

Ben Quilty
People

Atlassian’s Mike Cannon-Brookes & Scott Farquhar have donated $2 million to artist Ben Quilty’s campaign to help Afghan refugees

- August 30, 2021 2 MIN READ

A campaign by artist Ben Quilty to raise $30,000 to help people in Afghanistan has turned into a $4.5 million donation for the UNHCR thanks to support from Atlassian co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar. Early last week, when Quilty’s fundraising campaign for the UNHCR, to help people in Taliban-controlled Kabul following the withdrawal of… Read more »

Leigh Travers
People

DigitalX boss Leigh Travers is leaving the ASX-listed blockchain company to become CEO of Binance Australia

- August 30, 2021 2 MIN READ

Digital currency exchange Binance Australia has appointed Leigh Travers, the former CEO of ASX-listed blockchain company DigitalX, as its new Executive Officer. Travers spent seven years at DigitalX. He previously created a tech and investment professionals startup hub in WA and has served on the board blockchain industry body, Blockchain Australia. Travers has provided technical,… Read more »

superman idea
Advice

Professor Founder: An academic shares 6 tips on making the leap from uni to startup

- August 24, 2021 3 MIN READ

Australia is a hotbed for start-up innovation, with investments of $3.4 billion over the past financial year, a new record according to figures from KPMG. More than four in five start-up founders in Australia are university graduates. Universities here have created and fostered an environment that encourages students to foray into the start-up economy, creating several programs to foster… Read more »

Meditation, beach
Advice

‘We just don’t have time for that’: why prioritising mental health is a cornerstone to startup success

- July 29, 2021 4 MIN READ

A compelling mission, values, fast paced operations, inherent risks when things don’t go to plan – startup life and special operations have a lot of similarities and a dark side people like to avoid: mental health issues. Coming from the background of having dedicated time to train my skill set, improve fitness and structured training… Read more »

Atlassian, Mike Cannon-Brookes, Scott Farquhar
People

The Atlassian Foundation is helping startup founders ramp up their philanthropic efforts with equity pledges

- June 16, 2021 3 MIN READ

Startup founders who want to do more to change the world through philanthropy now have an easier way to achieve it as part of the global Pledge 1% movement. The Atlassian Foundation has partnered with PwC Australia, Herbert Smith Freehills, and Australian Philanthropic Services to create a Deed of Equity Gift. The Deed gives startup… Read more »

Amy Lesnick, Pledge 1%
People

The world’s biggest VC firms are backing Pledge 1% to help startups donate $6.5 billion to charity

- June 9, 2021 3 MIN READ

Philanthropic movement Pledge 1% has partnered with the world’s leading venture capital firms with a goal of donating A$6.5 billion (US$5bn) in new charity funding over the next five years. The new program, Boardroom Allies, will see a group of leading US and global VCs, including Australia’s Blackbird Ventures, commit to helping portfolio companies set… Read more »

Indigenous IT
People

Indigenous firm New Future IT is developing the next generation of Aboriginal IT workers

- June 3, 2021 2 MIN READ

Two Aboriginal health service providers on the Eyre Peninsula have trained Indigenous staff to provide IT support with help from another First Nations company. The Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation in Ceduna and the Nunyara Aboriginal Health Service in Whyalla have chosen New Future IT from Darwin to train Indigenous workers to cover their internal IT… Read more »