Day One®

In this engaging episode of "In the Blink of AI," host Georgie Healy speaks with Christina Maher, founder and CEO of BrainLand. Christina, a neuroscientist and biomedical engineer, shares her journey from academia to launching a health tech startup focused on brain health. The discussion explores the intersection of AI technology and healthcare, touching on the use of biometrics, the significance of personal and familial health experiences, and the future of digital health tools. Insights into the challenges and processes of integrating AI in medical applications, as well as the broader impact of technology on healthcare, are also discussed.

00:00 - Introduction to Christina Maher and BrainLand

01:27 - Why Christina pursued a PhD in neuroscience

05:22 - The healthcare system's diagnostic challenges

07:47 - From academia to launching BrainLand

11:13 - The role of AI in BrainLand

14:32 - Using AI for customer research and data analysis

18:29 - Explanation of 'nearables' and homomorphic encryption

23:23 - Impact of AI in healthcare according to Christina

28:30 - Christina's academic background and its impact on her startup journey

33:09 - Hiring practices and team dynamics at BrainLand

36:28 - Introduction of Melon Mag for brain health education

41:02 - Closing remarks and call to action

• BrainLand: Christina’s health tech startup.

• Fetch Pet: AI tool for pet health.

• Melon Mag: An educational resource created by Christina to promote brain health awareness.

Weekly Substack: https://georgiehealy.substack.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georginahealy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georginahealytech/

In The Blink of AI is part of Day One, the podcast network dedicated to founders, operators & investors.

Sign up to get your weekly insights into the up-and-coming AI startups: https://dayone.fm/newsletter

Founders scale faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes, hire anyone anywhere, and get visas handled fast, so you stay focused on scaling. Deel takes care of onboarding, HR, IT, EOR, benefits, and compliance, so your team can grow without borders.

It’s why more than 40,000 fast-growing companies trust Deel to move fast.

Visit https://www.deel.com/dayone

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Episode Summary

Elizabeth Stephens is CEO of DBS Cyber, where her team deliver IT solutions for clients in various industries. A retired Marine Corps Major and author of the book Building a Resilient Digital Future: A Comprehensive Guide to Cyber Risk Monitoring, Elizabeth draws from her diverse experience in her work. In her conversation with Cole Cornford, they discuss leveraging AI to be helpful and not harmful the politics and nuance of cybersecurity, lessons from Elizabeth's military experience that she applies to her current role, and plenty more.

1:00 - Elizabeth's background

7:30 - How we can leverage AI to be useful not harmful

14:30 - Using AI to help with parenting

20:30 - The politics & nuance of cybersecurity

23:30 - Roblox & cybersecurity for kids

27:00 - Lessons from the military Elizabeth applies to cybersecurity

30:30 - Elizabeth's journey as an author

36:30 - Cybersecurity for small business

Mentioned in this episode:

Call for Feedback

In this episode of the NTP's Engineering Success podcast, we sit down with James Coventry, the site manager at AGL's Liddell Power Station. James shares his journey from a boilermaker to his current role overseeing the closure and demolition of one of Australia's largest coal-fired power stations. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in transitioning the energy industry, the importance of recycling and environmental responsibility, and AGL's commitment to renewable energy. James provides insights into the complex process of decommissioning a power station, the skills required for the future energy sector, and the exciting developments in the Hunter region. He also touches on his personal experiences moving to Australia and his passion for exploring the country. This conversation offers a fascinating look at the changing landscape of the energy industry and the role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future.

In this episode of First Cheque, hosts Cheryl and Maxine engage in a compelling conversation with John Sharp, co-founder of Hatcher+, an innovative AI-driven venture capital platform based in Singapore. John recounts his fascinating transition from conducting orchestras to pioneering data-driven venture investing, highlighting how his early experiences with technological disruption in the music industry inspired him to embrace AI and big data. He delves into how Hatcher+ analyses over 600,000 startup deals to predict investment success, emphasising the importance of the power law and large, diversified portfolios in maximising venture returns. John also shares his insights on the future of algorithmic investing in venture capital, drawing parallels to the transformation of public equities in the 1990s. Throughout the discussion, he underscores the necessity of adapting to technological advancements and offers valuable lessons for founders, operators, and investors aiming to leverage AI for smarter investment strategies.

01:39 Welcome & First Investment Question

02:10 John's First Investment: Education and Orchestration

05:00 Technological Disruption in the Music Industry

06:14 Management Lessons from Conducting Orchestras

10:47 Lessons from Past Industry Disruption

15:03 Introduction to Hatcher+ and AI Venture Model

17:51 Hatcher+'s Methodology & Portfolio Strategy

24:01 The Power Law in Venture Capital

33:33 Building Hatcher+'s AI-Driven Platform

37:12 Insights from Analysing 600,000 Companies

42:40 Importance of Pivots and Board Support

44:31 John's Biggest Courage Moment

Books:

• Orchestration by Walter Piston

• The Professional Arranger Composer by Russell Garcia

• Orchestration books by Nelson Riddle

• Jazz Orchestration by Dick Grove

"If you don't understand AI, figure it out as quickly as you can. Because if you embrace the AI options that are available, you'll become expert at them." – John Sharp

"To succeed in venture, you've got to truly play the odds in a very intelligent way." – John Sharp

"You have to worship at the altar of the power law. It dictates everything that you do." – Maxine

"Sometimes you just got to put yourself out there and follow your gut that you know how to do this." – John Sharp

Deel: Global hiring and payroll can be a headache. Deel brings HR, IT and payroll together in one platform, helping companies including Shopify, Revolut and ElevenLabs scale internationally.

Ready to expand your business?

Build your global team with Deel at deel.com/dayone.

___

Pear Tree: Pear Tree helps Australian and New Zealand founders build high-performing offshore teams without the agency middleman.

As local hiring becomes more expensive and harder to fill, many operators are turning to offshore talent across engineering, development, marketing, accounting and operations at a fraction of local salary costs.

The offshore horror stories you hear usually aren’t a talent problem. They’re the result of outsourcing agencies that overcharge clients while underpaying staff. Pear Tree takes a different approach through a direct, transparent model where your team is paid fairly, fully compliant, and focused entirely on your business.

As part of the Day One community, you’ll receive a free team audit to identify where offshore talent could move the needle in your business, plus 20% off your first hire. Learn more at http://dayone.fm/peartree

To learn more, join our newsletter to be notified of new First Cheque episodes and upcoming shows.

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In this episode of In the Blink of AI, we meet Angela Shi, the CEO and co-founder of Empathetic AI, a Sydney-based startup revolutionising the tax industry with artificial intelligence. Angela shares her journey from being a finance professional with over 14 years of experience to becoming a first-time founder tackling complex tax challenges through their AI assistant, Luna.

She discusses how Luna, a domain-specific large language model trained on decades of Australian tax legislation and rulings, assists tax professionals by simplifying complex scenarios and increasing productivity. Angela delves into the technical aspects of building Luna, the importance of human expertise in AI development, and how Empathetic AI addresses data sensitivity and compliance. She also opens up about overcoming personal challenges as an immigrant and introverted female founder, offering valuable insights into entrepreneurship, continuous learning, and finding meaning in her work.

00:00 Introduction to In the Blink of AI and Angela Shi

03:11 Empathetic AI's Rapid Growth and Building a Community

06:11 Introducing Luna, the AI Tax Assistant

10:11 Building Luna: Data Sources and Model Training

14:36 Handling Data Sensitivity and Compliance

17:51 Updating Luna with Changes in Legislation

21:10 The Role of Human Expertise in AI Development

24:20 Angela's Journey from CFO to AI Founder

28:01 Challenges of Entrepreneurship and Continuous Learning

36:09 Overcoming Personal Obstacles and Finding Meaning

38:38 Rapid-Fire Questions and Insights

44:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mentioned in this episode:

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In this episode of In the Blink of AI, Georgie Healy interviews Alex Valente, co-founder of Redactive AI. They discuss how Redactive helps enterprises manage data threats and empower security teams through innovative use of generative AI. Valente shares his journey from working at Atlassian on enterprise products to founding Redactive, detailing how the company achieved one of Australia's largest seed rounds. They dive into the importance of customer-centric approaches, the challenges of integrating AI into enterprise environments, and the significance of having a large vision as a founder. Valente also emphasises the importance of product-market fit before scaling and shares his thoughts on vertical versus horizontal AI models.

00:00 COVID Testing with Atlassian Software

00:36 Introduction to In the Blink of AI

01:39 Meet Alex Valente of Redactive AI

03:20 The Birth of Redactive AI

08:27 Challenges and Lessons in Enterprise Software

16:04 The Importance of Product Market Fit

22:22 Business Hypothesis and Model Quality

22:43 Sensitive Data and Workflow Automation

25:04 Redactive's Unique Data Handling Approach

28:01 Customer Obsession and Success Stories

30:45 Career Journey and Recruitment Insights

35:43 Rapid Fire Round and Fun Facts

37:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Founders scale faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes, hire anyone anywhere, and get visas handled fast, so you stay focused on scaling. Deel takes care of onboarding, HR, IT, EOR, benefits, and compliance, so your team can grow without borders.

It’s why more than 40,000 fast-growing companies trust Deel to move fast.

Visit https://www.deel.com/dayone

Weekly Substack: https://georgiehealy.substack.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georginahealy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georginahealytech/

In The Blink of AI is part of Day One, the podcast network dedicated to founders, operators & investors.

Sign up to get your weekly insights into the up-and-coming AI startups: https://dayone.fm/newsletter

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In this episode, Cole Cornford is joined by cybersecurity experts and IRAP assessors, Kat McCrabb and Toby Amodio, to unpack the latest updates to the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) for 2024. They explore the significant changes introduced in the PSPF, such as the heightened emphasis on IRAP assessments, the potential strain on resources due to increased demand for assessors, and the impact on government agencies' compliance efforts. The discussion delves into the restructuring of the PSPF domains, including the separation of information and technology, and the challenges this presents for reporting and governance. They also address issues with self-attestation in agencies, insights from ANAO reports, and the critical importance of managing legacy IT systems. Kat and Toby offer valuable perspectives and practical advice for organisations navigating these new requirements, highlighting the need for proactive planning and adaptation in the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

01:27 - What is the PSPF? Toby explains the framework

03:07 - Kat discusses the biggest changes in the PSPF 2024 updates

04:20 - Challenges with IRAP assessments: time, cost, and limited assessors

06:18 - When are IRAP assessments required? Clarifications

08:13 - Changes in PSPF domains: splitting information and technology

10:08 - Implications of the changes for reporting and governance

12:15 - Comparison with NIST framework and governance considerations

13:38 - Issues with self-attestation and insights from ANAO reports

15:09 - Strategies for improving reporting and assessments in agencies

17:36 - Managing legacy IT systems under the new PSPF requirements

18:52 - Key takeaways and final thoughts from Kat and Toby

Mentioned in this episode:

Call for Feedback

Join Emily Rich and hosts Maxine and Cheryl in this episode where they explore the dynamic world of early-stage and deep tech investing. Emily shares her unconventional journey from being a high school dropout to making a decisive investment in her own education, a move that transformed her path and led her to become a significant player in the venture capital scene. The conversation delves into the thrills of pre-seed and seed investing, the art of identifying and navigating hype cycles in technology—including discussions on the metaverse and blockchain—and the profound impact of backing founders in their earliest stages. Emily also reflects on her transition from founder to angel investor, highlighting the importance of supporting ambitious ideas and the courage it takes to step into the unknown. Packed with personal anecdotes, industry insights, and plenty of laughs, this episode offers both inspiration and practical advice for anyone interested in the highs and lows of venture capital.

00:00 Introduction and Emily's first investment in her own education

04:29 Discussing being bad at being told what to do; founders as bad employees

06:12 Emily on why she invests in pre-seed and seed stages

13:14 Navigating hype cycles; the Metaverse example

18:14 Thoughts on blockchain and crypto as hype cycles

22:26 Understanding and identifying hype cycles in investing

29:28 Changes in AI over the past decade; Emily's background in AI

32:31 Public perception of AI and fear of job loss

37:39 Tips for non-technical investors to understand AI

40:40 Emily's Big Kahuna moment—leaving a safe job to start angel investing

44:44 Closing remarks and thank you

"You know it's gone mainstream when my mum is using it for knitting tips." - Cheryl

"The Metaverse is my favourite hype cycle because it was so overhyped and no one is spending time in the Metaverse." -Emily Rich

"There is some suggestion and quite a lot of research that founders are really bad employees—great founders are really bad employees." - Maxine

"If you're hyping someone from the sidelines, it's like cheering on an athlete—they're probably going to run faster." -Cheryl

"I started investing in myself, in my education—not from a university perspective, but from schooling in general." - Emily Rich

Thought Leaders to Follow:

• Fei-Fei Li – Renowned for her work in AI and computer vision.
• Timnit Gebru – Noted for her contributions to AI ethics.

Reports and Articles:

• Sequoia Capital's Articles on AI: Maxine mentions that Sequoia published insightful pieces examining whether AI infrastructure can generate significant revenue, specifically questioning the potential for $600 billion in revenue.
• Bain & Company's Report on the Jagged Edge of Technology: Referenced by Maxine, this report discusses the adoption of AI, its impact on productivity, and how businesses are integrating AI into operations.

Books and Quotes:

• Charlie Munger's Investment Advice: Maxine recalls his quote, "If your shoeshiner starts giving you stock tips, sell," as a metaphor for identifying when a market might be overheated.

Deel: Global hiring and payroll can be a headache. Deel brings HR, IT and payroll together in one platform, helping companies including Shopify, Revolut and ElevenLabs scale internationally.

Ready to expand your business?

Build your global team with Deel at deel.com/dayone.

___

Pear Tree: Pear Tree helps Australian and New Zealand founders build high-performing offshore teams without the agency middleman.

As local hiring becomes more expensive and harder to fill, many operators are turning to offshore talent across engineering, development, marketing, accounting and operations at a fraction of local salary costs.

The offshore horror stories you hear usually aren’t a talent problem. They’re the result of outsourcing agencies that overcharge clients while underpaying staff. Pear Tree takes a different approach through a direct, transparent model where your team is paid fairly, fully compliant, and focused entirely on your business.

As part of the Day One community, you’ll receive a free team audit to identify where offshore talent could move the needle in your business, plus 20% off your first hire. Learn more at http://dayone.fm/peartree

To learn more, join our newsletter to be notified of new First Cheque episodes and upcoming shows.

Mentioned in this episode:

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Nicole Gibson, CEO and founder of inTruth, joins host Georgie Healy on "In the Blink of AI" to explore how her company is pioneering the tracking of human emotions through wearable technology with clinical-grade accuracy. They delve into the innovative technology that processes biometric data from PPG sensors to objectively quantify emotions, discuss the potential personal and societal impacts, and address the ethical considerations surrounding data sovereignty and privacy. Nicole shares her vision for enhancing emotional intelligence globally, the challenges faced in societal acceptance, and the transformative applications of integrating AI with emotion-tracking technology.

00:00 - Introduction and Nicole's perspective on emotional intelligence

07:06 - Data sovereignty and users owning their health data

11:03 - How inTruth processes biometric data to map emotions

13:50 - The five-star vision for inTruth's technology

15:06 - Potential applications like AI coaching and conflict resolution

22:03 - Balancing technological advancement with societal acceptance

25:09 - Addressing AI hallucinations and inTruth's approach

26:51 - Funding focus and the potential creation of a foundation

30:20 - Cultural disruption and integrating emotion data with art

35:09 - Evolution of human emotions and creating an objective model

38:42 - The importance of empathy in unifying people

46:59 - Rapid-fire questions and closing thoughts

1) Circumplex Model of Emotion: A psychological model used to describe the structure of emotions.

2) PPG Sensors and IBI Data: Photoplethysmography sensors used in wearables to collect Inter-Beat Interval data.

3) Books and Authors:

• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Founders scale faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes, hire anyone anywhere, and get visas handled fast, so you stay focused on scaling. Deel takes care of onboarding, HR, IT, EOR, benefits, and compliance, so your team can grow without borders.

It’s why more than 40,000 fast-growing companies trust Deel to move fast.

Visit https://www.deel.com/dayone

Weekly Substack: https://georgiehealy.substack.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georginahealy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georginahealytech/

In The Blink of AI is part of Day One, the podcast network dedicated to founders, operators & investors.

Sign up to get your weekly insights into the up-and-coming AI startups: https://dayone.fm/newsletter

Mentioned in this episode:

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In this episode of the Fintech Fun podcast series, host Chris Titley sits down with Matthew Sek, Vice President for Airwallex Australia and New Zealand. Matthew shares the intriguing origin story of Airwallex, which began as a coffee shop in Melbourne facing challenges with international supplier payments. This real-world problem led to the creation of a global fintech company dedicated to providing financial solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). They discuss Airwallex's suite of products, including FX services, global payouts, corporate cards without international transaction fees, and spend management tools. The conversation highlights the increasing globalisation of SMBs, the importance of educating businesses on available financial tools, and how Airwallex is helping save time and money for its clients. Matthew also touches on the company's significant growth, the challenges of building trust in the financial sector, and shares personal insights into his work-life balance and unique hobby of frequent flyer point hacking.

00:21 – Airwallex's origin: From a Melbourne coffee shop to fintech innovation

02:06 – The importance of being a global company and trends in international business transactions

03:55 – Overview of Airwallex's product suite and prioritization

05:21 – Future plans: Introducing lending products and credit cards

06:01 – Insights from the Spend Management Report and challenges faced by SMBs

07:28 – The necessity of educating SMBs about available financial tools

09:58 – The value of time savings for SMBs and the impact on productivity

13:19 – Airwallex's growth journey and Matthew's experience within the company

14:52 – Building trust in financial services and the fintech industry

15:49 – Matthew's personal life: Balancing work with family and travel

17:38 – Hobby spotlight: Frequent flyer point hacking

19:49 – Closing remarks and final thoughts

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