You've heard startup stories, but few come as inspiring as Dominic Pym’s. From building some of Australia’s most iconic fintech companies to investing in the future of startups, Dom shares lessons every founder should hear. Recorded live at West Tech Fest, this episode of Weird Growth dives into the moments that defined Dom’s journey—and what drives his mission to support the next generation of founders.

Problem:

Solution:

One big piece of advice:

Bullets:

Show & Tell:

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to

⁠https://www.ammo.marketing/subscribe

You've been trapped in a spiralling cycle of marketing mystery but don't worry Creative Mystery Officer Mike Drysdale is here to help. This year, Mike started his new business, Folklore, a tabletop entertainment company. Mike is a man of many talents. He leads creative direction on marketing campaigns, advises brands on how they can contribute to cultural conversations, and builds brands with the art of storytelling. Learn how to create and use a message your customers will connect with on this episode of Weird Growth. 

Problem: 

People are searching for genuine connections and unique events. How can we spend time together without our phones? 

Solution:

A tabletop mystery game that creates authentic, memorable and fun environment for everyone involved. 

One big piece of advice:

Celebrate your achievements, mark your mark with rituals and elevate your brand. 

(00:00 - 01:19) - Introduction

(01:20 - 03:07) - Where it all started for Mike – Solving problems with creativity

(03:08 - 04:09) - The value of a great message

(04:10 - 05:19) - Seth Godinism 1 - People always believe what they tell themselves

(05:20 - 05:53) - Seth Godinism 2 – The best stories don't tell us anything new, but how right we were in the first place

(05:54 - 07:05) - People seek information that reinforces their beliefs

(07:06 - 08:23) - Investigating remarkability

(08:24 - 09:52) - Use your customer's language

(09:53 - 11:19) - Don't fall for this communication trap

(11:20 - 14:21) - Make your message about the benefits not the technology

(14:22 - 17:32) - Mike's new business – Folklore

(17:33 - 20:56) - How Folklore is a refreshing take on creating in-person connection

(20:57 - 23:30) - What drives Mike – on making moments for people

(23:31 - 26:05) - Identity, worldviews, and cultural conversations

(26:06 - 28:00) - Republic of Fremantle's Birchal Campaign

(28:01 - 31:10) - How brands can add value to cultural conversations

(31:11 - 33:58) - What it looks like when brands add value to the conversation

(33:59 - 38:47) - On TikTok and growing a content engine

(38:48 - 40:05) - Help them share the pebbles

(40:06 - 42:06) - Cleo Abrams – Huge if true

(42:07 - 44:16) - Mark Zuckerberg's image change

(44:17 - 45:39) - We are approaching a new tech age

(45:40 - 46:29) - What's next for Mike

(46:30 - 47:45) - Celebrate your year, mark the moment

(47:46 - 49:23) - Storytelling elevates moments so you can look back at them

(49:24 - 51:28) - Show & tell – Write down your ideas in notes, use ChatGPT more

(51:29 - 52:58) - How Mike uses ChatGPT for creativity

(52:59 - 53:48) - Connect with Mike

(53:49 - 54:41) - Wrap up

Jared Carlin and James Shamim, co-founders of Willow, share their journey from identifying a common household problem to launching a solution on Kickstarter. In this episode, they dive into how they grew Plant with Willow beyond crowdfunding. They also give great tips on nailing your story, maintaining engagement with your backers, and building a community.

Problem:  

Australians kill 72 million plants a year. Imagine how big this could be globally. 

Solution: 

A sensor device to track your plant's health with a mobile app that teaches you how to look after it. 

One big piece of advice: 

Have a large enough customer base and problem to warrant going after it. Find the passion in what you are doing. Maintain that level of passion – test, iterate and learn. 

Bullets:

(00:00 – 02:52) - Introduction to Jared Carlin & James Shamim 

(02:53 – 03:54) - Origins of Willow – where the idea came from 

(03:55 – 06:41) - Pop Quiz – What business would they start today? 

(06:42 – 08:46) - When they knew Willow was onto something 

(08:47 – 10:42) - How to move from identifying a problem to building a product 

(10:43 – 14:41) - Tips for Kickstarter success 

(14:42 – 19:57) - Growth challenges with hardware 

(19:58 – 20:44) - Who uses Willow today? 

(20:45 – 21:56) - How Willow works 

(21:57 – 22:47) - How most plants are killed by their owners 

(22:48 – 25:35) - Sensor technology behind Willow 

(25:36 – 27:05) - Gamifying the product experience 

(27:06 – 28:56) - Growing beyond Kickstarter 

(28:57 – 30:58) - Marketing channels and content strategies 

(30:59 – 32:20) - Designing a workspace for success 

(32:21 – 33:04) - The team behind Willow 

(33:05 – 33:57) - Where Jared & James focus time as founders 

(33:58 – 36:35) - Partnership with Bunnings 

(36:36 – 38:13) - What’s next for Willow 

(38:14 – 39:57) - One big piece of advice for founders 

(39:58 – 41:38) - Show & tell – One thing they can’t live without 

(41:39 – 43:56) - Storytelling in sport 

(43:57 – 45:04) - Wrap up

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive cutting-edge links from around the web, podcast updates, and marketing insights.   

⁠⁠https://www.ammo.marketing/subscribe 

Andrew Holder, the visionary behind Revo Fitness, shares the

Problem: Traditional gyms can be intimidating and

Solution: Revo Fitness transforms the gym experience

One big piece of advice: Play for the right reasons.

Bullets:

(00:30) - Intro to Andrew Holder

Show & tell

Revo Fitness

Andrew’s LinkedIn

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive cutting-edge links from around the web, podcast updates, and marketing insights. 

⁠https://www.ammo.marketing/subscribe

We interviewed Stefan Prandl, Founder and Chief Technology Officer from Hyprfire at the Cyberwest Summit

2024. Hyprfire gives critical network events to the customers, so they know who or what is in their network. Stefan discusses the augmentation of generative AI and explains Zipf’s Laws in the context of fraud.

Problem:

Busy IT teams are still facing breaches and do not know where their network gap is. Even with cybersecurity tools in place, this still leaves them wide open to being hacked.

Solution:

Hyprfire adds an active and consistent threat-hunting capability with a managed NDR solution - Firebug. You are the first to know exactly who and what is on your network.

One big piece of advice:

Know the nature of the market you are trying to enter.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(03:39) – Fraud detection technology

(06:08) – The business Stefan would start today

(09:47) – Augmentation on generative AI

(15:45) – The use of AI tools in cybersecurity

(19:13) – The problem Hyprfire is solving

(25:10) – Finding their first customers

(31:16) – How it felt to go from a couple of customers to international

(32:05) – What Hyprfire did to grow

(38:30) – The bare minimum of checklists

(39:40) – One big piece of advice

(40:53) – Show & tell

Show & tell

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive cutting-edge links from around the web, podcast updates, and marketing insights. 

https://www.ammo.marketing/subscribe

In this special episode, we sit down with Cecily Rawlinson, the Director of Cyberwest and the organizer of The Cyberwest Summit, held annually. Filmed at The Cyberwest Summit 2024 at Pan Pacific, this mini episode delves into the event and crucial aspects of cybersecurity.

The Cyberwest Summit stands as Western Australia's premier event for cybersecurity education and awareness. It provides a platform to learn from numerous experts in the field and equips attendees with the knowledge to safeguard their businesses against cyber threats.

Tune in to gain valuable insights and tips on fortifying your cybersecurity strategies.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction to the Cyberwest Summit

(03:05) - Lack of cybersecurity strategies in Small/Medium businesses

(07:02) - Cyberwest Innovation Hub

(10:04) - How collaborative efforts in cybersecurity can benefit the entire industry.

(10:46) - Show & tell

(11:50) - Comparing popular messaging apps in terms of security and usability.

(13:20) - Utopia for idealists

(14:53) - Closing remarks from Cyberwest.

Show & tell

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter

https://www.ammo.marketing/subscribe

On this episode, we have a returning guest, Iain McIntyre, who has journeyed from the realm of neuroscience with Humm to the forefront of AI innovation at MindsDB in San Francisco. Iain's story goes through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and the constant pursuit of ground-breaking solutions to complex challenges.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(03:50) - How humm became a thing

(09:24) - Hardware is hard

(10:07) - The realisation Humm wasn’t going further

(13:00) - Living in a UFO landing pad during COVID

(14:13) - Helping people with anxiety

(17:31) - Progress made in neuroscience

(22:33) - Story of his journey at MindsDB

(27:44) - Self-driving cars

(29:44) - What it’s like living in San Francisco

(35:20) - Chat-GPT going live and society changes

(44:55) - What MindsDB is solving

(46:30) - One big piece of advice

(48:38) - Show & tell

Show & tell

On this episode, we have Harriet Mellor from Your Sales Co, who works with clients to support and improve their sales teams. They can identify in 30 minutes the sales teams’ strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. Hear valuable insights on using your business data to make better decision-making decisions in your business. We discuss the yin and yang between marketing and sales, and the art of building an effective network including LinkedIn.

Problem:

People don’t know how to sell or enable their team to sell, the teams are underperforming.

Solution:

Your Sales Co can identify your strengths, opportunities, and weaknesses in 30 minutes. They solve problems that

One big piece of advice:

Take the data you are getting from your entire business and make decisions based on that data that is progressing. There is so much data within our business, that you can apply it across your business.  

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(03:37) - Why people turn away from sales

(05:57) - How to deal with people (McDonalds experience)

(08:55) - Relationship between Marketing and Sales

(10:45) - How successful tech businesses have scaled their sales process

(13:39) - Sales metrics to consider early on

(14:35) - Advice on how to build your network

(17:08) – Tips for LinkedIn networks

(18:08) – Problem Your Sales Co is solving

(20:00) – Are the tools the problem?

(22:06) – System of selling

(24:18) – Rules of thumb for cold outreach

(28:14) – What to look for when hiring a salesperson

(33:12) – What took Harriet to take a leap (Her Day Spa)

(37:13) – Common trait in entrepreneurs

(37:44) – What is next for Your Sales Co

(40:14) – One big piece of advice

(42:03) – Show & tell

Show & tell

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive cutting-edge links from around the web, podcast updates, and marketing insights.   

On this episode we have Erin Bell from Co-Connect, a workforce app designed to streamline complex communication, information, and emergency systems into a single, user-friendly platform. We'll uncover the pivotal moments that shaped the company, why Erin believes in the power of community involvement, and why cutting ties early can sometimes be the wisest move for growth. Erin shares how they grew Co-Connect, learn why you should apply for awards and whether you should be entering different lanes with

Problem:

Communication in mining workforces is very large-scale in complexity and always changing, an example is a worker trying to find their room at a mining site.

Solution:

Co-Connect App provides all essential site & village information, manages emergencies, and creates amazing site experience with the app.

One big piece of advice:

Identify and cut the cord earlier, and get involved in the community because it is easy to get lost in time – how can you help others more? The more inclined you are to help, it can also broaden your network.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(03:08) - The business Erin would start today

(04:33) - The problem co- connect is solving

(09:45) - How Co-Connect reached their very first customers

(12:38) - The moment Erin realised they were on to something

(16:58) - How they grew Co-Connect

(21:28) - Doing a whole re-build

(22:00) - Erin’s experience during Plus 8 Accelerator program

(25:10) - How to assess different lanes

(28:43) - WA Innovator of the Year

(31:33) - Process for applying for awards

(32:50) - One Big piece of advice

(34:46) - Show and tell

Show & tell

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to receive cutting-edge links from around the web, podcast updates, and marketing insights.

https://www.ammo.marketing/subscribe 🗞️

On this episode, we have Amanda Price from KPMG High Growth Ventures who works with founders to help them understand their opportunities. We discuss the dynamics of founder-led sales and the challenges faced by founders, particularly when expanding into the US market. Amanda shares experience from her extensive career, from her first job at Tech Specific to setting up programs for founders to get into the US. The conversation looks at the role of accelerators and the moment Amanda realised the potential of the high-growth venture space. Amanda provides an extreme amount of entrepreneurial wisdom.

Bullets:   

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:09) - The business Amanda would start today

(05:38) - Founder-led sales

(06:50) - Amanda’s first job at Tech Specific

(08:26) - Going from startup office to a corporate job

(09:25) - Amanda’s travels to the United States during the Global

(12:30) - Challenges Aussie founders have when they the US market

(15:16) - Many people fight for that 1% of the market

(17:16) - What the best founders that do that reach customers elsewhere

(18:55) - Role of accelerators

(22:04) - Sustaining high performers

(24:23) - How was it when Amanda realised this high-growth venture space

(25:33) - Putting satellite dishes on 500 Woolworths stores

(28:35) - What Amanda would change for founders

(31:16) - One Big Piece of Advice

(37:57) - Show & tell

Show & tell