Promise

We’re taking a short break till mid-April. In the meantime, check out the highlights of the season so far, and see the interconnections between all our guests.

*I’m taking a short break next week, but normal service resumes in April 😊

This week I speak with Samuel Wines, co-founder of Co-Labs. With Andrew Gray, Samuel founded Co-Labs to be a laboratory-as-a-service for innovators outside of the traditional academic ecosystem.

Co-Labs counts some exciting startups amongst its current and past members, including Vow, Great Wrap, and recent guest Tina Funder from ALT.Leather.

We speak about systems thinking, the pitfalls of traditional science pathways, creating new ones at Co-Labs, expanding the innovation ecosystem, and keeping a keen focus on giving more than they take.

You can get in touch with Samuel via LinkedIn above or Instagram, and do the same with Co-Labs as well.

Links

* Bioquisitive, Andrew’s earlier venture

* The Phoenix School Program that Samuel and Andrew lead as well

* A podcast covering Tyson Yunkaporta’s Sand Talk that Samuel references. Highly recommended listen (Podcast | 70 mins)

* …especially if you don’t have time to read the book itself (Book | 288 pages)

* Fritjof Capra and Daniel Wahl, the inspirations behind Co-Labs

Show notes

[00:02:10] - [First question] – What Co-Labs is trying to be

[00:04:30] - Issues with current scientific and innovation pathways

[00:06:46] - The primary objectives of Co-Labs, and trying to change how society works

[00:10:13] - Samuel’s early career in DJ-ing, modeling and running a creative agency

[00:11:59] - The moment of clarity at a music festival for his life’s purpose

[00:12:56] - Why trans-disciplinary thinking matters

[00:13:30] - From Bioquisitive to Co-Labs with Andrew

[00:15:02] - How remote music festivals stimulate thinking

[00:16:15] - Recognizing the need for a place like Co-Labs

[00:19:06] - Enabling more innovation through connection, and being an inspiration for the next generation of innovators

[00:21:04] - Who Co-Labs is for

[00:22:09] - The broad values alignment Samuel and Andrew aim for

[00:23:37] - Co-Labs alumni and current members, and all the interesting things getting developed

[00:27:25] - How Samuel and Andrew facilitate “innovation-as-a-service” as well

[00:31:16] - What equipment Co-Labs can provide, plus how and why

[00:32:27] - Flexible membership models and why they matter

[00:35:22] - The vetting process for joining Co-Labs

[00:38:34] - Expanding Co-Labs and supporting a broader range of people

[00:40:03] - Existing and blossoming partnerships

[00:41:40] - The potential to expand the model overseas as well

[00:43:04] - Getting much-needed help as Co-Labs expands

[00:44:38] - A democratized dream of the future

[00:46:27] - Being role models for this change

[00:48:01] - Socials and contact info

This week I have a blockbuster of a conversation with Nikki Tugano, founder of SeenCulture. SeenCulture is aiming to be the “Moneyball” platform for workplaces by enabling unrecognized talent to be “seen”.

Through a powerful founding story, loaded with references to psychology and behavioral science, Nikki shows us how SeenCulture is more than just a 360 degree review. She also hopes for a world where the underappreciated can feel seen and valued; a sentiment in full alignment with this podcast.

This episode is on the longer side and my ordinary introduction summary doesn’t do it justice, so please enjoy my discussion with Nikki Tugano.

For more on Nikki and the business of SeenCulture, check out Raveen Kuhadas’s Venture Journeys post about her and the company. You can also follow SeenCulture directly on LinkedIn.

If you’re interested to hear more about people working to open doors and help others recognize their true potential, check out my episodes with Paulwyn Devasundaram and Chris Hudson.

Links

* The Ryan and Deci article on “Self-determination theory” (Article | 10 pages)

* “Drive” by Daniel Pink (Book | 242 pages)

* Fred Luthans, Positive Psychology, and Psychological Capital

* How 360 degree reviews should be done, according to HBR (Page | 6 mins)

* Moneyball by Michael Lewis (Book | 317 pages)

* Reejig, Culture Amp and BambooHR, talent intelligence and employee experience platforms

Show notes

[00:01:42] - [First question] – What Nikki is trying to do with SeenCulture

[00:03:25] - What talent intelligence platforms overall try to do

[00:04:52] - What these platforms try to measure

[00:05:44] - How these measurements are usually collected

[00:07:35] - Nikki’s journey from HR operator to founder

[00:12:18] - The powerful back story that has driven Nikki throughout her career and onto the current trajectory

[00:14:46] - The various “ceilings” that needed to be broken through

[00:17:37] - Validating these feelings with potential customers who might not relate at all with Nikki’s journey

[00:18:30] - The first trial of a SeenCulture method to spotting talent

[00:22:06] - Success of the trial that was reflected in Nikki personally

[00:23:58] - How the current SeenCulture platform works to remove bias

[00:25:16] - Comparisons with Moneyball

[00:27:02] - The 5 dimensions of Positive Psychology

[00:28:33] - Discussing Self-Determination Theory

[00:29:39] - Overlaying data science with all this behavioral science

[00:31:21] - How to quantify all of this

[00:33:42] - Comparing SeenCulture with 360 degree reviews, Reejig, and Culture Amp

[00:33:42] - Seeking to augment rather than compete with these platforms

[00:35:40] - Drilling down to the individual rather than satisfying the average

[00:36:58] - Using segmentation to do so

[00:38:14] - Indicators that might flag potential employee dissatisfaction

[00:39:53] - Indicators that might highlight an employee with high potential, and some history behind the theories

[00:42:58] - Next steps for Nikki and SeenCulture

[00:44:08] - The long term vision

[00:44:56] - Possibly using SeenCulture to recognize high potential startups

[00:46:30] - Dream partners for Nikki

[00:47:23] - The work that needs doing to build the platform and the kinds of investment/investors required

[00:49:10] - Additional skills Nikki wants on the team

[00:50:13] - What the world looks like if everyone is “seen”

[00:52:12] - Nikki’s committment to be open, to recognize the value in others, and to share that recognition

[00:53:34] - Socials and contact info

My guest this week is Tina Funder, co-founder of ALT.Leather. True to the name, ALT.Leather is creating Australia’s first 100% plant-based leather alternative, by using agricultural waste.

We discuss the enormous environmental costs of leather and textile production,the hidden pitfalls of existing leather alternatives, redesigning traditional manufacturing operations, the efficiency benefits of doing so, the huge range of possible applications for this material, and the importance of being principles-led.

Along with co-founders Dr. Antonin Demazy and Peter Taitoko, Tina and ALT.Leather have just commenced the latest cohort of the SproutX Accelerator.

We also reference 2 other episodes regarding the Circular Economy: Season 1, Episode 7 with Dr. Shafali Gupta and Andy Epifani, as well as Season 2, Episode 1 with Sara Smeath.

If you’re interested in finding out more, you can follow ALT.Leather’s Linkedin page, or get in touch with Tina directly at tinafunder[@]gmail.com.

Links

* LOM Australia, Tina’s first foray into more sustainable materials

* Co-Labs, the co-working lab space in support of science

* Research on the 92 million tons of textile waste (Article | 11 pages)

* Desserto, the world’s only producer of cactus leather

* Creating Polyurethane and Polyvinyl Chloride as synthetic leathers and/or components of plant-based leather alternatives (Article | 1 min)

Show notes

[00:01:32] - [First question] – What Tina and ALT.Leather are trying to do

[00:03:07] - The total environmental impact of leather production

[00:05:03] - Issues with existing leather alternatives

[00:08:19] - Tina’s background and lightbulb moment to explore this space further

[00:10:35] - A shoutout to former guest Sara Smeath

[00:11:06] - Realizing where and why Tina could have the greatest impact

[00:12:38] - Assembling a team to take on this challenge

[00:16:30] - Working with and validating ideas with potential customers

[00:17:58] - Making the material itself - what goes into it and why

[00:20:07] - Additional manufacturing efficiency benefits compared to animal leather

[00:22:38] - The importance of focusing on circularity, and what happens at the “end” of a product’s lifecycle

[00:24:43] - What logistics are involved in order to turn agricultural waste into alternative leather

[00:27:43] - How Tina sees competition for agricultural waste as an input

[00:29:14] - Managing the fluctuation of input materials and production output

[00:30:30] - Roadmap for the next year of product development

[00:31:48] - Dream partners and a dream team

[00:33:07] - Where and how Tina envisions ALT.Leather scaling in the future

[00:33:58] - What Tina believes needs doing to get there

[00:34:28] - Socials and contact info

This week I host Max Carter, co-founder of Goti. Goti is building a new payments and document-sharing platform to help businesses protect themselves against invoice fraud.

We talk about the many hidden risks businesses face with current payment workflows, how Goti is tackling each one, the need to keep pushing innovation in a “boring” but critical space, and Max’s deep-seated mission to advocate for victims of fraud.

We also discuss the breakdown of trust, a theme I also cover in my very first episode with Danai Fadgyas.

Max and co-founder Aaron are currently in the midst of the Australian Antler Residency.

If you’re interested in finding out more, you can follow Goti’s LinkedIn Page, or get in touch with Max directly at max[@]gotiapp.io.

The scale of fraud is growing rapidly, so I’ve shared links below for resources should you need them.

Links

* BECS - the current most widespread payment system in Australia

* NPP - “New Payments Platform” being rolled out, albeit slowly according to Max

* ABA files - the data format that enables batch transactions

* ABC news reporting on the spoofed Bendigo Bank site Max mentions (Article | 4 mins)

* ACCC’s “Scamwatch” statistics on total fraud losses for 2022, as well as past and more recent data

* Reporting a scam through Scamwatch

* IDCARE - ANZ’s cybersecurity support service should you need it

Show notes

* [00:01:47] - [First question] – Max’s past experiences that led him to explore payment fraud

* [00:03:23] - The most common misconception people have about fraud

* [00:04:34] - The scale of fraud attacks against businesses and the recent rapid growth

* [00:05:29] - Detail about how Max’s previous company suffered at the hands of fraudsters, as well as the unseen implications for the company

* [00:07:11] - How fraud affects personal lives of victims

* [00:08:26] - Max’s ambitions and how they aligned with fighting fraudulent attempts

* [00:10:32] - How fraud is symptomatic of broader erosions of trust, and the opportunities to change that

* [00:12:04] - Validating the initial ideas and mapping out initial opportunities for the product

* [00:13:51] - Pivoting from the initial idea to a space that had real value for customers

* [00:14:34] - The variety of businesses that the founders spoke to, to validate the new concept

* [00:16:57] - The story behind the name

* [00:18:25] - How a customer might use Goti on a day-to-day basis

* [00:19:23] - The speed and security increases Goti provides compared to ordinary workflows

* [00:21:10] - Specific security issues with common accounting/invoicing software and banking portals

* [00:23:15] - A rundown of the PayID and PayTo payment rails unique to Australia that Goti makes use of

* [00:25:24] - Staying ahead of the curve by making use of new technology

* [00:26:40] - How Goti onboards customers to ensure their safety

* [00:27:49] - How Goti might scale beyond Australia, given the reliance on Australia-specific payment rails

* [00:28:41] - The experience so far with Antler

* [00:30:13] - What founders are looking for in a partner

* [00:31:01] - The various technologies Goti might make use of in the future

* [00:31:37] - The kinds of people Goti wants to work with to grow the company and make the space exciting

* [00:32:42] - The dream of being the gold standard in secure payments

* [00:33:23] - Leveraging urgency to make change and be leaders in the space

* [00:34:28] - Socials and contact info

This week I sit down with Jordy Kitschke, founder of Flux Robotics. Flux Robotics is building AI-powered robots to help us grow better, healthier, and more environmentally-friendly crops.

We talk about the unseen complexities of farming and getting food to the table, the history and impacts of pesticide use, life on a farm in rural South Australia, the considerations taken in designing robots with an d for farmers, and a dream to put power back into their hands.

Like last week’s guest Jarman Stephens, Jordy has also just started the Startmate Accelerator program. If you’re interested in this problem space and just love solving hard problems in general, tune in to the 24 minute mark to find out what skills Jordy and Flux are looking for.

You can get in touch with Jordy on Twitter through his handle @jordykitschke.

Links

* Flux’s first product, “Onyx” in action (Video | 1 min)

* A prototype example of Flux’s second product in action (Video | 6 secs)

* Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” (Book | 378 pages)

* An example of an old DDT advert from 1946 (Video | 5 mins)

* A list of the “agricultural revolutions” Jordy mentioned, as well as a few more

* Coverage of US-based Verdant Robotics’ “sniper robot” (Video | 8 mins)

* Data on increasing prevalance of pesticide-resistant weeds (Chart)

Show notes

[00:01:32] - [First question] – How Jordy describes himself and what Flux is trying to do

[00:02:29] - The complexities of growing crops and getting them onto the shelf at the store

[00:04:42] - A brief history of pesticide development and use

[00:05:28] - DDT, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, and why thinking about pesticides still matters

[00:07:32] - Comparing the technical and capital requirements between controlled indoor cropping (hydroponics/aquaponics) with outdoor cropping

[00:09:05] - How growing up on a farm spurred Jordy into engineering

[00:11:14] - Jordy’s lightbulb idea to start Flux

[00:12:54] - Understanding where Flux would be most valuable in Australia’s agricultural ecosystem

[00:13:48] - Speaking with farmers to develop a go-to-market strategy

[00:14:40] - Flux’s first product and how it works

[00:15:18] - The value of minimizing pesticide use to a farmer

[00:15:55] - Flux’s second product and the next step in pesticide minimization

[00:17:58] - Why Flux is focused on weeds as opposed to other kinds of pests

[00:19:35] - Keeping the robots simple enough to cater for a broad range of uses

[00:21:06] - Comparisons with US-based potential competitors, Verdant Robotics, and Flux’s unique approach to the problem

[00:22:41] - Technology being used currently to manufacture the robots

[00:23:16] - Flux’s expansion strategy beyond Australia

[00:24:16] - The immediate next steps for Flux

[00:24:54] - The value that working with farmers has on Flux

[00:25:42] - The kinds of interesting people that Flux might be on the lookout for

[00:26:49] - Jordy’s dream to put power back into the hands of farmers

[00:27:42] - Keeping a steady hand and prioritizing the work that matters

[00:28:40] - Social media info

In this week's episode, I chat with Jarman Stephens, co-founder of Gridmo. Gridmo is building software for a hidden problem in our electrical grid: that being the bottleneck of grid modeling.

What is that? Well, we get a crash course on the intricacies of the energy grid to begin with, before diving into what grid modeling is and the bottlenecks it causes. We also chat about Gridmo’s solution to the bottleneck, the different challenges posed by renewable versus non-renewable energy, the balance between regulation and innovation, and finish with a rallying cry to the energy industry.

Alongside co-founder Damien Vermeer, Jarman has just started the Startmate Accelerator program. If you’re interested in this problem space, tune in to the 26 minute mark to find out what skills Gridmo is looking for.

You can get in touch with Jarman via email: jarman[@]gridmo.io, and follow their Linkedin page here.

For more on new ways to think about our energy industry, check out my discussion with Billy Jeremijenko from Aquila, and their moonshot idea to build the “Internet of Energy”.

Links

* A US government page on the implications of transitioning to inverter-based energy (Article | 8 mins)

* A nuanced take on the pro/anti nuclear debate (Op-ed | 12 mins)

* The Dunning-Kruger Effect that Jarman referenced (article | 6 mins)

* The wiki page on the 2016 South Australia Blackout (20 mins)

* The corresponding government investigative report (210 pages)

Show notes

[00:01:42] - [First question] – How Jarman describes himself and what Gridmo is trying to do

[00:02:43] - Jarman’s description of how the Australian electricity market works

[00:05:05] - What grid modeling is, and why its important

[00:06:37] - How grid modeling becomes especially important as society shifts towards renewable energy sources

[00:08:33] - Where Gridmo might fit in, if the future was based around nuclear energy

[00:09:51] - Jarman’s background, and when he first noticed there were key problems in grid modeling

[00:10:55] - Taking the leap to founding a company to solve these problems

[00:12:51] - The efforts Jarman and co-founder Damien took to validate this issue around the industry

[00:13:51] - Where Gridmo software fits into the power systems software ecosystem

[00:15:08] - Who customers of Gridmo might be and why

[00:16:42] - What Jarman means when he refers to standardization of grid modeling

[00:17:44] - A rundown of the 2016 South Australia Blackouts

[00:18:52] - How Gridmo software works with the new rules created in response to the blackout

[00:20:06] - Shifting internationally with different regulatory regimes

[00:21:20] - Jarman and Damien’s unique advantages starting off in Australia first

[00:22:07] - How Jarman envisions Gridmo might work with energy regulators

[00:23:08] - Taking the next steps by beginning the Startmate accelerator

[00:24:50] - Key partners to work with in the near future

[00:25:57] - Additional skillsets needed in the team to really succeed

[00:27:35] - Jarman’s dream of a living renewable energy grid

[00:28:32] - Jarman’s call to arms for the energy industry to keep evolving

[00:29:20] - Social media and contact info

To begin Season 2, I speak with Sara Smeath, co-founder of CiRCLR. CiRCLR is out to promote a circular economy, by helping businesses understand the value of their waste streams. Billing themselves as the “Tinder for Trash”, CiRCLR aims to match these waste streams to businesses looking for those exact inputs.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Sara and I speak about her operational expertise in the fashion industry, why a circular economy should be more valuable for businesses, the two-faces of greenwashing, the data problem behind it all, the changing winds of regulation, rubbing shoulders with famous people, and doing this all for the kids.

CiRCLR is just about to start fundraising and launch their product on the app store, and are currently part of the Orion Energy Accelerator.

If you are interested in getting in touch with Sara, you can find send an email to sara[@]circlr.nz.

For more on products using waste streams as an input, check out my episode with Dr Shafali Gupta and Andy Epifani, the co-founders of Uuvipak.

Please enjoy my discussion with Sara Smeath.

Links

* Circular Economy basics from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (Video | 10 mins)

* “Fashion Graveyards” in Chile and Ghana (both videos | both 3 mins)

* H&M’s attempts to be more sustainable, in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (Page | 4 mins)

* The NZ government’s initiatives in this space (Page | 3 mins)

Show notes

* [00:02:19] - [First question] – Sara’s background

* [00:03:39] - Working in fashion innovation in China

* [00:05:07] - What is a “Circular Economy”?

* [00:05:44] - Shifting responsibilities to businesses

* [00:07:04] - Sara’s experience with implementing circular practices in China

* [00:09:29] - How businesses can re-think their waste

* [00:10:39] - Measuring the value of waste and leveraging it

* [00:11:54] - Enabling companies to take genuine action rather than just carbon offsetting

* [00:13:44] - How waste is really a data problem at heart

* [00:15:29] - Making use of waste/input materials with limited shelf life

* [00:16:49] - The behavior change required for businesses

* [00:17:14] - How the fashion industry saw value in becoming more circular

* [00:18:55] - CiRCLR’s method for traceability of goods

* [00:19:39] - Rewarding everyone down the supply chain

* [00:21:08] - Getting invited to COP27 after less than 1 year since founding

* [00:23:17] - Conflicting feelings about attending COP27

* [00:24:35] - Getting to have lunch with Prime Ministers

* [00:26:33] - Gearing up for product launch and fundraising

* [00:29:33] - Hopes and dreams for a circular future

* [00:31:19] - Who and what all this effort is for

* [00:32:03] - Socials and contact info

Welcome to 2023! We’ll be launching Season 2 soon: from looking at trash with a new lens, to hidden problems in our electrical grid, we'll cover a huge breadth of today's challenges being solved by tomorrow's heroes.

We will also start meeting some of the fascinating people who are beginning their own journeys, uncovering and supporting these pioneers.

Stay tuned, subscribe, and learn what it's like before the success… when what we've got is Promise.

As we close out 2022, I hope you enjoy your holiday season. A gentle reminder that it can be a trying time for some of us. Please reach out if you're feeling a little down; and for those who have a spare seat at the table, perhaps welcome a friend in need.

A massive shout out to all the guests who’ve lent their time so far. To our listeners, there will be more stories to come in Season 2 next year, see you all then!