In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Mitch Hughes, founder of NextGen Ventures, for a real look at what it takes to raise a first-time fund – when you don’t have the “standard” VC network or track record behind you. 

Mitch breaks down how NextGen closed ~$2m in its first close (targeting $2.5m), what the fundraising process actually looked like, and why cold outreach was a huge part of getting momentum early. He explains the strategy they used to build credibility before writing a single cheque: setting up a national student scout network, meeting hundreds of startups, writing memos, and building proof points by showing which companies went on to raise from other investors. 

We also dig into the engine of NextGen: a student VC model across six universities, designed to find ambitious founders from “underground” campus communities - the people who won’t show up through the usual top-down channels. Mitch shares what he looks for in young founders (speed, rate of learning, customer obsession, ambition), why “first-time founder” can be a misleading label, and how the falling cost of building with AI changes the entire startup curve. 

This episode is for anyone thinking about venture, fundraising, building a fund, or building a company - and for students wondering what the next decade of careers might actually look like. 

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This episode was recorded OnAir @ IMARC. For more information on the world's biggest mining conference and how to get involved, visit ⁠⁠imarcglobal.com⁠⁠.

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Mark Kristoff, CEO of global commodities trading firm Traxys, to unpack how careers in physical commodities trading are built. 

Mark takes us back to his earliest jobs, running lawn-mowing and painting businesses as a teenager, learning early what it meant to be responsible for outcomes, cash flow, and customers. He walks through attending Cornell on a Navy ROTC scholarship, preparing for a career as a fighter pilot, and the abrupt pivot that forced him to rethink his future. 

We then dive into how Mark entered the commodities world through a job in the mailroom, why reading the shipping documents he was delivering on the subway mattered, and how understanding learnings from these moments of curiosity led to him making an ascension to lead Traxys as CEO. 

For anyone curious about commodities, trading, or how senior careers are built over decades - no shortcuts - this episode offers a rare, practical look inside an industry most people never see. 

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In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Marcus Marchant, CEO of Vistaprint and founder of Bondi Joe, to unpack how a career actually evolves when you’re willing to pivot and take risk. 

Marcus reflects on his first job at Dymocks, what retail taught him about customers, and how those early lessons shaped everything that followed. He walks us through starting his career as a lawyer in M&A, realising it wasn’t where he wanted to stay, and the difficult decision to leave law without “starting from zero.” 

We dive into his transition through Citibank’s management associate program, where he combined legal knowledge with customer insight to launch a same-day personal loans product - and how that moment set the foundation for senior leadership roles. 

The conversation also explores corporate venture capital, innovation inside large organisations, and what Marcus learned founding Bondi Joe as a creative outlet alongside a demanding executive career. 

For anyone navigating early career decisions, considering a pivot, or trying to understand how skills compound across industries, this episode offers a grounded, practical look at how careers are actually built. 

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This episode was recorded on 21 October 2025, OnAir @ IMARC. For more information on the world's biggest mining conference and how to get involved, visit ⁠imarcglobal.com⁠.

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Shane Jones, New Zealand’s Minister for Resources, to unpack what a career inside politics really looks like – and how responsibility changes the way decisions get made. 

Shane reflects on growing up in rural New Zealand, his first job in an abattoir, and how early life experiences shaped his appetite for leadership. He explains why a cancer diagnosis became a turning point that pushed him toward public service, and what surprised him most when he moved from governance and advisory roles into Cabinet. 

We also discuss the realities of governing: pressure, trade-offs, and why resource development and mining became culturally stigmatised – as well as what political leadership actually requires when you decide to challenge that narrative. Shane breaks down how governments think about certainty, regulation, fast-track approvals, and capital attraction, and why tone and execution matter as much as policy intent. 

For anyone interested in careers in politics, public service, leadership, or operating at the intersection of government and capital, this episode offers a rare, unfiltered look at how decisions are really made.

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In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down in New York with David Teh, Partner at Simpson Thacher, one of the world’s most prestigious law firms, to unpack what a truly global legal career looks like. 

David traces his journey from Macquarie University to Hong Kong, London, and ultimately Wall Street - including formative years at Cravath during the dot-com boom and a front-row seat to the evolution of private credit from relationship lending to one of the most powerful forces in global finance. 

We dive into how major financing markets actually develop, why cycles repeat under new labels, and how lawyers can add real value beyond black-letter law - particularly as clients demand sharper structuring advice and commercial judgment. 

For law students, young professionals, and anyone curious about elite global careers, this episode offers rare insight into how top lawyers build trust, credibility, and client relationships over decades - not shortcuts. 

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In this episode of Sweat Capital, we sit down with Steve Kovac, CEO of Idemitsu Australia, to unpack what it’s like running the Australian arm of a global Japanese conglomerate during a once-in-a-generation shift. 

Steve shares how Idemitsu is navigating its transition from coal into critical minerals, what that pivot looks like in practice, and how global strategy, culture, and long-term thinking shape decision-making inside one of the world’s largest energy and resources groups. 

We also dive into Steve’s personal journey – from early-career mining engineer to CEO – discussing how to build credibility on-site, make the right career moves, and lead through complexity as responsibility grows. 

If you’re interested in the energy transition, critical minerals, or how to build a long-term career in mining and resources, this episode offers rare, practical insight from someone who’s actually done it. 

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This week on Sweat Capital, we are joined by Stellar Health CEO, Michael Meng.

Mike’s transition from what many would see as a dream job, Principal at a high performing private equity firm, into taking a chance on a somewhat spontaneous opportunity is interesting in itself. But the challenge he took on certainly raised our eyebrows…

A core goal of aligning the interests of health insurers, care providers and patients is something that many people would dismiss as utopian thinking. However, by leveraging their proprietary technology platform and >200 strong team, Stellar Health are doing just that.

A must listen for anyone who is curious about the way that tech can impact problems in ways that we had never thought possible.

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This episode was recorded on 22 October 2025, OnAir @ IMARC. For more information on the world's biggest mining conference and how to get involved, visit ⁠⁠imarcglobal.com⁠⁠.

In this episode of Sweat Capital, we’re joined by Bryan Quinn, Managing Director of Aurelia Metals, to unpack what it’s really like stepping out of big mining and into the driver’s seat of a mid-cap resource company.

Bryan shares the lessons he learned moving from large, global firms to running a mid-cap miner – where capital allocation, operational discipline and decision-making hit very differently. We explore how Aurelia is positioning itself for the next phase of base metals growth, why these commodities matter in a changing global economy, and how leadership looks when every decision truly counts.

We also chat about their key asset in the Cobar Basin – one of Australia’s most prospective and under-appreciated mineral districts – discussing its geology, infrastructure advantages, and why it remains central to Aurelia’s long-term strategy.

If you’re interested in mining, commodities, or what it takes to lead a resource company through cycles of volatility and opportunity, this episode offers a rare, on-the-ground perspective.

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This week on Sweat Capital, we welcome back Anthony Liveris, our first-ever returning guest – and for good reason.

Anthony is the CEO of Proto Axiom, Australia’s first company creation and investment platform for the life sciences, and someone who’s shaping the direction of the industry in real time.

In this episode, we explore why the life sciences industry is poised to become Australia’s breakout industry, the momentum Anthony is seeing across research, capital formation and talent, and how Proto Axiom has evolved since we last spoke. From scientific breakthroughs to commercialisation pathways, Anthony lays out the structural advantages Australia has - and what needs to happen next to compete globally.

We also explore what life is actually like as a young CEO operating in a field defined by long timelines, high uncertainty and massive upside.

If you’re interested in the future of frontier science, investing in uncertainty, or building high-conviction companies from the ground up, this should be a great listen.

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In this month’s internal Sweat Capital pod, we unpack a few things that have shaped how we’re thinking about the show and our own careers lately – starting with the power of simply asking for advice. We talk about why vulnerability builds connection, why you don’t need a formal “mentor” to get world-class guidance, and how your own experiences can become a real competitive edge.

We also break down the learnings from our first truly “sort-of viral” clip – what worked, what didn’t, and what it means for how we approach short-form going forward.

Finally, we run through what we’re planning for the Sweat Capital offsite: tightening our strategy, getting clearer on our brand, and building the systems that will help us improve the show.

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