AI/Machine Learning

Tech Council boss Scott Farquhar says it’s cool to lift Atlassian’s IP without paying for it if we all get better software

- August 13, 2025 3 MIN READ

Atlassian cofounder Scott Farquhar said he wouldn’t mind if others took the $60 billion tech company’s intellectual property without paying for it if it leads to better software. The Tech Council of Australia chair, who stepped down as Atlassian co-CEO last year, but remains on the board, has been advocating for changes to Australian copyright… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

In defence of AI: composer Charlie Chan on how technology has shaped their musical creativity over 40 years

- August 13, 2025 9 MIN READ

Picture this: It’s 2023 and I’m 26 hours into what would become Supernova, the world’s longest improvised piano concert. My mental and physical acuity is fading and the Gold Coast sun is beating down on the HOTA outdoor stage. But here’s the thing that blew everyone’s mind – when I needed those precious micro-breaks for… Read more »

Life hacks

STARTUP 360: The caravan origin story, tech transforming founder life and exploiting privilege

- August 8, 2025 2 MIN READ

Everyone knows the startup-founded-in-a-garage origin story, but Kinde cofounder David Berner can top that. He was in a caravan travelling in outback NSW with his family, with his two cofounders in Sydney, when they built their developer platform, which takes care of “the boring but essential stuff” to help founders move faster. Kinde in a… Read more »

Leadership

Aconex cofounder Rob Phillpot & Airtree’s Daniel Petre feature in the new program for high-performance founder accelerator The Komo Club

- August 7, 2025 2 MIN READ

While founders know how to scale a company, many are flying blind when it comes to their most important business asset: themselves. Entrepreneur, investor and podcast host Rohit Bhargava (Playbook Ventures, The Startup Playbook Podcast) has seen it all too often – founders neglect their health, energy, clarity and relationships, leading to quiet burnout, missed… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

YEAH BUT NAH: Expat Australian AI founder turns down Zuck’s $1.5 billion offer to join Meta

- August 6, 2025 3 MIN READ

An Australian AI researcher has reportedly turned down a $1.54 billion package from Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. University of Sydney graduate and Perth native Andrew Tulloch accrued a reputation as a ‘genius’ during a ten-year tenure at Meta, where he initially worked on machine learning for Facebook before eventually securing one of the company’s… Read more »

Global tech

BOOK REVIEW: The CEO of US data surveillance giant Palantir thinks Big Tech needs a moral compass

- August 5, 2025 7 MIN READ

Critics of those who misuse power tend to be outsiders. So, it’s striking that Alexander Karp, cofounder and CEO of data analytics giant Palantir Technologies, has written a book, with Palantir’s head of corporate affairs Nicholas Zamiska, calling on Silicon Valley to find its moral compass. Together, they upbraid fellow big tech companies for “building… Read more »

3 older men
Leadership

Privilege and ageism: The devil is in the attitude

- August 5, 2025 3 MIN READ

One of the reasons I stepped back from ageism and stereotype activism this year was encapsulated in an apathetic LinkedIn post by a well-known male digital and investor leader. The intention of shaming and internalised ageism expressed riled me and others up to no end. I couldn’t stay silent. It was not only inaccurate but… Read more »

Kevin Gounden
Business

Buildkite finally has a new CEO

- August 5, 2025 2 MIN READ

Software development scaleup Buildkite has found a new CEO to replace cofounder Keith Pitt, who left the business suddenly five months ago, handing the reins to veteran Silicon Valley exec Kevin Gounden. The 12-year-old US-Australian business, allows developers to build, test, and deploy software at scale, has been rebuilding its C-suite over the last 18… Read more »

Happy group
Business strategy

The power of online branding in a noisy market

- August 4, 2025 2 MIN READ

At a recent panel discussion on building and scaling tech teams, a recurring challenge stood out – hiring and opening doors is significantly harder without a strong company brand. Building a company’s brand takes time; a logo or catchy tagline is no longer enough. People still seek genuine connections in an era of information overload… Read more »

Business

School leaver edtech Year13 acquires local assistance platform Student Edge ahead of US push

- August 4, 2025 2 MIN READ

Edtech platform Year13, which helps school leavers with the transition to work, has acquired veteran student discounts and support platform Student Edge. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal for Year13, which coincidentally is 13-years-old, comes as cofounder and CEO Will Stubley prepared to relocate across the Pacific and join cofounder Saxon… Read more »

Peter Thiel
Global tech

All about right-wing tech investor Peter Thiel, who’s reshaped US politics all the way to the White House

- August 4, 2025 8 MIN READ

The money is easy to trace. Scroll back through tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel’s political donations and you’ll soon hit US$15 million worth of transfers sent to Protect Ohio Values, JD Vance’s campaign fund. The donations, made in 2022, are a staggering contribution to an individual senate race, and helped put Vance (Thiel’s former employee at… Read more »

Life hacks

Startup 360: Know thy podcast, where there’s a Will there’s a media way & the Vegemite space race

- August 1, 2025 2 MIN READ

Happy horse’s birthday! The way the cofounders of podcasting community engagement startup Dome met is positively old-school in an era of swiping left and right. Sophie Greiner and Bella Filacuridi met at an International Women’s Day event in Sydney, and the mutual love for the pop culture podcast Shameless launched their friendship. Six months later,… Read more »

Scott Farquhar
AI/Machine Learning

Tech Council boss Scott Farquhar on Australia’s AI future and techno optimism to team up with government

- August 1, 2025 12 MIN READ

Over my career, I’ve always preferred doing rather than talking. Building things, solving problems, creating new ventures, not giving speeches about them. But I’m here today because I believe Australia is standing at the edge of the next great industrial revolution. One powered not by steam or electricity – but by artificial intelligence. And like… Read more »