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Clint Van Marrewijk (pronounced Marra-vick) is director and co-founder of Zelandez, a leading lithium brine technology company building cutting edge sensors and production plants for lithium brine mining operations in the ‘Lithium Triangle’ of Bolivia, Chile and Argentina, as well as the USA and Canada. It’s a long way from the Waihi dairy farm on which he grew up before undertaking a mechanical engineering degree then moving to Colorado and setting up a Kiwisaver scheme.

If you don’t know why people get so excited about lithium, it’s because lithium ion rechargeable batteries are cleaner, greener, more powerful and longer-lasting than most other battery options. This is why lithium ion is the battery of choice for many of the world’s top ten biggest companies, including Apple, Google and Tesla- and why the lithium battery market it worth USD 54.4 billion.

Clint has been running Zelandez from Austin, Texas since his Kiwi-founded safety software company, SaferMe, entered the American market in 2019, having gone from strength to strength - including huge growth with its workplace sign-in and tracking tools, which were massively in demand during the recent COVID pandemic, spurring huge growth.

Today Clint talks about SaferMe’s journey, explains how the services Zelandez offers leave less of a toll on the environment and better lithium yield, and Clint gives advice for young people who want their career to take them from Christchurch to Colorado to the Lithium Triangle and beyond.

In today's episode, we discuss:

* Using oil and gas extraction techniques to get lithium brine out of the ground to help create the lithium-based batteries so many of our electric cars and digital devices rely on

* The history of lithium use in batteries - who pioneered it, who has under-valued it, and how lithium is ready to be hugely valued as a commodity.

* Advice on the right age to transition into an energy/minerals career.

* How a degree in engineering led to working in investment analysis for Kiwi Wealth before Clint moved into SaaS startups.

* How Clint’s bank managers reacted when they saw how much he was investing in lithium extraction technology.

* How SaferMe pivoted during the pandemic to sell contact tracing tools - backed by the NZ government - which could have resulted in up to 20x company growth.

* Getting a business deal with a Fortune 500 CEO through a LinkedIn “spam note”

* Fallacies in New Zealand’s thinking about the best way to provide the cleanest electricity for the national grid.

Referenced:

* Zealandez: https://www.zelandez.com/

* SaferMe: https://www.safer.me/

* The Lithium Triangle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_Triangle

* Best practices for reinjecting brine during lithium extraction: https://www.zelandez.com/news/the-lithium-brine-industry-must-share-reinjection-best-practices/

Where to find Clint van Marrewijk:

* LinkedIn

* Twitter

In this engaging episode of the Unfunded podcast, host Joan Westenberg chats with Dan Anisse, co-founder of Relume, an AI-powered web design platform. Dan shares his journey from running an agency to building a profitable AI product, offering insights into the challenges and successes along the way. The conversation delves into how Dan and his team have managed to remain profitable while leveraging cutting-edge AI technology and maintaining a strong community of users without the need for VC funding.

Dan discusses the core functionality of Relume, describing it as an AI website builder that seamlessly integrates with popular tools like Figma and Webflow. The platform allows users to generate websites in minutes using a component system, which can be easily exported to kickstart projects. Throughout the episode, Dan emphasizes the importance of building a product that people love and are willing to pay for. He also explores how Relume's unique business model and strategic focus on product development have allowed the company to thrive in a competitive market.

• AI Integration: Relume is an AI-driven website builder that connects to Figma and Webflow, enabling users to generate websites quickly using a component system.
• Profitability Without VC Funding: Dan and his co-founders managed to bootstrap Relume, focusing on building a profitable product without relying on venture capital.
• Community Engagement: Maintaining a close relationship with the user community through platforms like Slack has been instrumental in Relume’s product development and customer satisfaction.
• Scalable Team Dynamics: The growth and scalability of Relume hinge on building a cohesive and efficient team, emphasizing the importance of impact and ownership in a startup environment.
• Strategic Product Development: Focusing on continuously solving user problems and improving product features is key to maintaining a competitive edge and expanding market reach.

Summary

Antonio Deliseo has been in the information security industry for decades. Currently working at Telstra, Antonio has enjoyed a long and winding career path and has plenty of stories and insights to share as a result. In this conversation with Cole Cornford, Antonio discusses how he got started in his career studying physics, overseeing cybersecurity at a goldmine, how to advocate for cybersecurity within a large organisation, and plenty more.

Timestamps

1:40 - Antonio's career background

3:30 - Advantages of coming from a non technical background

8:30 - Stories from Antonio's early career working at a goldmine

14:00 - How Antonio moved into the GRC space

17:30 - The role a board of directors plays in cybersecurity

20:00 - Cybersecurity is less like IT, more like gambling or insurance

25:30 - Calculating the cost of a breach in dollar terms

30:30 - How to advocate for cybersecurity as a CISO

40:00 - Cybersecurity often seen as unaffordable by small businesses

42:30 - Pros & cons of networked technology

Mentioned in this episode:

Call for Feedback

In this week's episode of The Startup Retro, host Will Richards and standing in for Gemma Clancy this week, Cheryl Mack, dive into Uber's new partnership with Turo after shutting down its Car Next Door acquisition. They also discuss Premier Capital Partners' new fund, AirTrunk’s $23 billion sale, and Cheryl’s experience at the Startup Daily Awards. The episode also features a deep dive into Safe Ag Systems, an agtech safety platform. Plus, catch the latest startup raises and Will’s pick for Knowledge as a Service (KaaS).

• 00:00 Introduction and Welcome
• 00:28 Uber pivots to Turo partnership
• 05:15 Premier Capital Partners new fund
• 10:22 AirTrunk’s $23 billion sale
• 13:45 Startup Daily Awards highlights
• 20:15 Startup Raises: Safe Ag Systems
• 28:10 KaaS Recommendations

To access the links to the stories mentioned in this episode, check out this week’s Overnight Success newsletter. https://newsletter.overnightsuccess.vc/p/7th-september-2024

• Australian Startup Financial Confidence Report 2024
• Airwallex Report
• Uber’s Turo Partnership
• Uber has partnered with Turo to let users rent peer-to-peer vehicles through the Uber app starting in 2025.
• Premier Capital Partners Fund
• Premier Capital Partners is launching a fund targeting mid-market tech companies with a size of $30-$50 million and a hard cap of $75 million. The fund will write cheques between $5-$20 million.
• AirTrunk Sale
• AirTrunk was sold to Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $23 billion, marking one of Australia’s largest acquisitions.
• AFR Article on AirTrunk Sale

• David Burt

In the interview, David Burt from UNSW Founders discusses the impact of Labor's proposed cap on international students and its potential effects on Australia's startup ecosystem, universities, and the broader economy.

• Safe Ag Systems
• Founders: Katy Landt and Caroline Graham
• Safe Ag Systems, an agtech safety platform, raised $2.5 million to expand its reach to 10% of farm workers.

• Will’s Pick 💁🏻‍♂️
• How to Do Great Work by Paul Graham

• Cheryl on LinkedIn
• Will on LinkedIn

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Paul Stovell, Founder and CEO of Octopus Deploy, shares how transparent compensation models can build trust and improve pay equity in tech companies.

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When Zachary Tan - actually, Doctor Zachary Tan - became president of Optain Health, the role combined three lifelong passions: treating patients, running future-focused tech businesses, and taking exciting risks with venture capital in one of the world’s most important areas: the health of human beings.

Zach’s career has gone from strength to strength. He was in 2022 recognized by Forbes as 30 Under 30 for Healthcare & Science, before going on to be elected as a director of The Fred Hollows Foundation in the US.

In today's episode, we chat through how one gap year away from medical school to run a future-focused healthcare business became a ‘gap decade,’ what he learned from the differences between treating one patient in Sydney and working with a healthcare provider treating millions of patients in upstate New York, and how there is potential to massively disrupt the economics around insurance costs and the cost of treatment simply by examining a patient’s retina.

Zachary also tells us about two deeply significant businesses he’s worked with on his journey: Osara Health, as well as New York’s VC studio Aegis Ventures - of which he is a partner - and how he has currently settled on Optain to apply his passion.

In today's episode, we discuss:

* Leaving Auckland at age 17 for Queensland- then hearing the call of the United States, a healthcare industry worth four trillion dollars

* Using the eye as a window to the body to detect and diagnose disease and save billions - as well as save lives

* Tech solutions for New York’ state’s biggest hospitals

* Using AI in healthcare to minimise admin for healthcare staff, speed up diagnoses, diagnose disease early and reduce costs on patients, insurers and everyone in-between

* Investing in tech to tackle disparities between healthcare access for babies, adults, ethnic groups and other patient segments

* How healthcare practitioners were forced to embrace telemedicine technology across the last five years as the Covid pandemic put pressure on staff to work remotely

* What Zachary thinks could be improved in the intersection between patients, insurance and healthcare ‘payviders’

* Steps to take when you’re looking at doing business in America’s healthcare sector and you need FDA approval.

Referenced:

* Optain Health: https://optainhealth.com/about/

* Aegis Ventures: https://aegisventures.com/

* Northwell Health: https://www.northwell.edu/

* Osara Health: https://osarahealth.com/

* The Fred Hollows Foundation: https://www.hollows.org/

Where to find Zachary Tan:

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharytan/

In this episode, Chris Titley is joined by Caroline Bowler, the CEO of BTC Markets, to discuss the evolution and current status of Australia's leading crypto exchange. They dive into Caroline's extensive background in traditional finance and how it has shaped her approach to driving innovative solutions in the digital assets space.

BTC Markets, which has been pioneering the Australian cryptocurrency space for over eleven years, distinguishes itself by prioritizing security and localized solutions for the Australian market. The conversation highlights BTC Markets' stability and reliability, especially during turbulent times like the FTX collapse. Caroline emphasizes the importance of staying ahead in the rapidly converging fields of traditional finance and digital assets, highlighting the role of major financial institutions in adopting blockchain technologies globally. BTC Markets continues to innovate, with plans to offer staking and expand into international markets like the UAE.

• BTC Markets is an eleven-year-old, Australia-based cryptocurrency exchange known for its stability and trusted by early adopters.
• Caroline Bowler has a solid background in traditional finance, which she leverages to guide BTC Markets.
• There is a growing trend of traditional financial institutions adopting blockchain technology.
• BTC Markets plans to introduce staking services and explore international markets, focusing on security and tailored solutions for Australian users.
• Despite international competition, BTC Markets retains a loyal Australian customer base by understanding and meeting local market needs.

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In this week's episode of The Startup Retro, hosts Gemma Clancy and Will Richards explore three exciting new funds and initiatives in the Australian startup ecosystem, including the launch of the $66 million 66ten fund by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, and Main Sequence's new Atmosphere program. They also cover the latest venture from SEEK co-founder Paul Bassett, Amplify, and discuss AustralianSuper's significant $1.1 billion write-off in their Pluralsight investment. The hosts highlight standout startups, including WhyHive, a data analysis tool, and Cropify, an AI-powered grain grading AgTech company. The episode also features an interview with Gav Parry on the launch of the Centre for Arts, Sports and Technology (CAST), and concludes with KaaS recommendations on essential startup content and a special announcement about a new co-host joining next week.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:28 New Fund Launches and Initiatives

06:12 Paul Bassett's Amplify

09:45 AustralianSuper's Pluralsight Write-off

12:40 Weekly Startup Raises

20:30 Interview with Gav Parry on CAST

28:00 KaaS Recommendations

30:45 Special Co-Host Announcement

31:00 Outro

Three New Funds and Initiatives

• 66ten Fund: WEHI’s $66M fund to back biomedical innovation.
• Seedlab Australia: Secures an additional $7M from Woolworths to support food, drink, and sustainable products.
• Main Sequence’s Atmosphere: New program to transform cutting-edge research into venture-scale businesses.

Paul Bassett Launches Amplify

• Amplify aims to improve trust in democracy through events, online conversations, and sharing of evidence.

AustralianSuper Write-Off

• AustralianSuper writes off $1.1B in their Pluralsight investment, which had acquired A Cloud Guru in 2021.

• WhyHive: A $600K raise led by Skalata Ventures, making data analysis user-friendly.
• Cropify: A $2M seed round for AI-powered precision grain grading, led by Mandalay Venture Partners.

• Gemma’s Pick: Crucible Moments (Season 2) by Sequoia Capital, featuring founders of ServiceNow, YouTube, DoorDash, and more.
• Will’s Pick: Blog on common VC scams - OpenVC.

• Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels & The First Cheque podcast will join as a co-host next week while Gemma enjoys a vacation in Italy.  

• Gemma on LinkedIn
• Will on LinkedIn

Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of The Startup Retro possible.

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Cameron Priest is the co-founder and former CEO of TradeGecko, an inventory and order management platform for e-commerce businesses that was acquired by Intuit in 2020 for around $100M. He’s now building AMP, a company that acquires, rolls up, and scales Shopify apps - and incubating new ventures at the intersection of AI and vertical SaaS.

In today's episode, we discuss:

* Cam’s journey from an NZ kiwifruit orchard to founding Trade Gecko, how they landed in Singapore.

* Scaling a B2B product, including specific growth tools, frameworks they used along the way - so much of which is still relevant today, and eventual $80M+ acquisition by Intuit.

* Building Amp and the strategy of acquiring "landing pad" businesses in the Shopify ecosystem, how - as acquirers - they assess, value, and execute an acquisition … including the use of debt, how to think about revenue multiples, etc.

* The vision for a platform allowing businesses to build customized niche software

* Reflections on ambition, the importance of a supportive ecosystem, and the potential for fostering innovation in New Zealand

Where to find Cam online:

* https://x.com/cameronpriest

* https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpriest/

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In this episode of the Unfunded podcast, host Joan Westenberg welcomes Cole Cornford, the founder of Galah Cyber. The discussion dives deep into the journey of building a successful cybersecurity business from the ground up and the unique dynamics involved in bootstrapping a company. Cole shares his experiences, challenges, and strategies, shedding light on the importance of maintaining a work-life balance amid the hectic demands of entrepreneurship.

Cole discussed the inception of Galah Cyber, launched amid the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the decision to bootstrap his cybersecurity firm and the meticulous efforts required to maintain steady growth without external funding. Key themes include productizing services, navigating customer acquisition, and scaling the business—all underlined by the importance of understanding market demands and crafting a compelling brand identity. Cole also shares practical insights on the vital role of mentorship, balancing operational duties, and leveraging personal branding to foster business growth.

• Productising Services: Cole emphasizes the importance of turning services into standardized products to deliver consistent value and scale the business.
• Work-Life Balance: Strategies for maintaining a healthy balance between work and family life are crucial for long-term success and personal well-being.
• Bootstrapping Approaches: Insights on maximizing limited resources, conducting effective sales, and understanding market needs for sustained growth.
• Mentorship and Guidance: The significant role mentors and advisors play in setting realistic goals and avoiding potential pitfalls in business.
• Branding Strategies: Creating a unique and relatable brand can greatly enhance business recognition and customer trust.