The week's news · new episode 23 Oct 2026
Startup 360
Hosted by Startup Daily
Australian startups and the investors backing them.
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Investors named as guests in the most episode titles on Startup 360.
Every episode 81 · page 1 of 3
- 81The founder mindset for doing good, with Mark Dombkins23 Oct 2026 · 57 minMatt Jackson▶
About this episode
What can startup founders teach philanthropy, and what can philanthropy teach founders? On episode 80 of Startup 360, Forever Projects founder Mark Dombkins explores how entrepreneurial thinking can create lasting social impact without losing sight of dignity, trust and the people at the centre of the problem. Mark’s…
- 80Why leadership means you don’t have the answers15 Oct 2026 · 1h 0mMatt Jackson▶
About this episode
What does good leadership look like when you stop pretending anyone has it all figured out? Simon and Julie sit down with entrepreneur, storyteller and Mentor Walks cofounder Bobbi Mahlab for episode 79 of Startup 360, talking about careers, community, judgement and the value of being a little messy. Bobbi shares how…
- 79How The Laundry Lady’s Susan Toft turned her washing into a global brand9 Oct 2026 · 1h 3mMatt Jackson▶
About this episode
On episode 78 of the weekly Startup 360 podcast, Susan Toft joins us to unpack how a government redundancy, a toddler and a mountain of washing became The Laundry Lady, the Queensland scaleup that’s now an international marketplace with more than 600 laundry partners. Susan takes us through the unglamorous reality of…
- 78Ranya Alkadamani on the “So what?” test every founder needs2 Oct 2026 · 1h 4m▶
About this episode
On episode 77 of Startup 360, we’re talking about storytelling, influence, AI, parenthood and the increasingly important business of staying human with Ranya Alkadamani, founder of Impact Group International. Ranya worked for Kevin Rudd when he was foreign minister, in a career that also spans media, international…
- 77How to build a startup without losing yourself25 Sept 2026 · 1h 4m▶
About this episode
In this special edition of Startup 360, we revisit four conversations about the decisions, doubts and relationships behind building a business -the parts founders often leave out of the story. Mark ‘Z’ Zmarzly, head of startups at Morfless, shares the loneliness of his journey, a cofounder breakup that almost ended…
- 76The power of data: Seer’s Kristi Mansfield on connection and community in the AI age18 Sept 2026 · 1h 1m▶
About this episode
We know data is powerful. But there are important questions around who owns it, who can access it, and who gets to make decisions with it? This week, on episode 75 of Startup 360, Julie and Simon sit down with Kristi Mansfield, philanthropist, community advocate, and founder and CEO of 10-year-old Seer Data &…
- 75Regrets, Jason Dunn's had a few, but now he's a triathlete and loves adversity18 Sept 2026 · 1h 8mJason Dunn▶
About this episode
“Regret got me into running” is an unusual reason to become a triathlete, but then Jason Dunn, the author of Greatness Doesn’t Care, has taken an unusual career path since he dreamed of being a soccer player growing up in England. Jason, who now helps entrepreneurs build resilience, discipline and purpose on their…
- 74Finding your startup tribe with Innovation Bay’s Ian Gardiner4 Sept 2026 · 60 minIan GardinerJelix Ventures▶
About this episode
On episode 73 of Startup 360, Simon and Julie sit down with Ian Gardiner, cofounder of Innovation Bay, investor, entrepreneur and champion of founder communities. Ian reflects on his journey from Glasgow to Australia, his life with his wife Andread, founder of Jelix Ventures, the dot-com boom, building Viacorp, and…
- 73How Lucinda Hartley’s great Australian dream is rethinking home ownership30 Aug 2026 · 49 min▶
About this episode
This week on Startup 360, Majella Campbell returns to the host’s chair in Simon’s place, alongside Julie Trell, to unpack a huge week in Australian venture capital before sitting down with urban designer, serial founder and author Lucinda Hartley. Lucinda has spent her career exploring how the places we live shape the…
- 72Four Pillars Gin cofounder Matt Jones on making your story come true20 Aug 2026 · 1h 14m▶
About this episode
Matt Jones describes himself as a creative strategist, accidental entrepreneur and serial failure. As his career pinballed between military intelligence, political speechwriting, brand strategy and co-founding Four Pillars Gin, he developed a theory about how people make decisions and why story matters. Matt, now…
- 71What scammers and founders have in common - and why slowing down matters14 Aug 2026 · 1h 7m▶
About this episode
What happens when a teacher, criminologist, sociologist and self-described geek - yes, that’s all one person - turns her attention to one of the biggest threats we all face: scams? Episode 70 of Startup 360, sees Simon and Julie “TreLLM” sit down with Lively founder Stacey Edmonds, creator of gamified school and…
- 70A comedian and corporate marketer walk into a startup with a 2000-year-old Roman sports drink6 Aug 2026 · 58 min▶
About this episode
Merrick Watts is a comedy legend. But he also has a serious side as a startup founder as Ed Stening discovered when he became his cofounder in drink brand Posca. And it turns out resurrecting a 2000-year-old Roman sports drink is no joke.Ed is this week’s guest on episode 69 of Startup 360, talking about building a…
- 69To head the cowboys off at the pass, Emma Earley is getting 1000s of women into AI31 Jul 2026 · 1h 4m▶
About this episode
AI has a cowboy problem. When not bragging on LinkedIn about their work being done while asleep, they’re writing AI cheques they can’t cash - without pausing to ask whose data they’re feeding into the machine, what it’s being used for, or who was duffed along the way. Episode 68 of Startup 360 talks to Emma Earley,…
- 68The 2am Macca’s test on loving your startup idea24 Jul 2026 · 1h 2m▶
About this episode
For episode 67 of Startup 360, Simon and Julie talk with Mark Zmarzly - founder, prolific angel investor and AWS credits-turned-coupons fairy. Or Z. Not Zed, because that sends things into Pulp Fiction territory. Among many hats, the Nebraska-born accidental Australian and former startup whisperer is also a…
- 67How to lighten the load for founders and who can make the best decisions17 Jul 2026 · 1h 0m▶
About this episode
Most founders start a business believing they'll build freedom. Sometimes it can end up imprisoning you. Every important decision lands on the founder's desk. Every approval, problem, late-night phone call. As Nicholas Thomson, the founder of Iceberg explains it on episode 66 of Startup 360, it’s like carrying a…
- 66Getting women tech ready, when your MVP’s ready, results or excuses10 Jul 2026 · 58 min▶
About this episode
If you've ever looked at a successful founder and wondered how they always seem to know exactly what they're doing, this week's Startup 360 might come as a relief. Our guest is engineer, entrepreneur and Tech Ready Women program director Renate Crollini, who admits she once assumed all the smart people in the corner…
- 65Obama played her game. Now Sian Priest wants founders to tell better stories2 Jul 2026 · 56 min▶
About this episode
Before Sian Priest was helping deep tech founders tell better stories at Cicada Innovations, one of the games she created as a 2000s gaming founder ended up being played by President Obama at the White House science fair. This week on episode 64 of Startup 360, Majella’s away, so Simon sits down with Sian to talk…
- 64Australian startups ‘punch above their weight’ - and why tax changes are a blow to the head26 Jun 2026 · 42 min▶
About this episode
Startup 360 hit the road for episode 63, recording in front of a studio audience for the first time from Growth Summit Sydney. Simon and Majella’s guest was Ben Grabiner from Side Stage Ventures, taking them through the findings of the Australia Venture & Startup Report 2026 , which looked at the past decade of the…
- 63Lessons in leadership with a gun on the table and your share price plummeting19 Jun 2026 · 1h 10mDane Hudson▶
About this episode
Vision gets a lot of attention in startups. It's the thing founders pitch to investors, talk about with customers and use to inspire teams. But as Dane Hudson argues, vision alone isn't enough. After more than 25 years leading businesses across five industries and mentoring more than 150 founders and CEOs, Dane learnt…
- 62Cicada’s Liza Noonan on R&D’s new valley of death & the ‘missing middle’ for deep tech12 Jun 2026 · 59 min▶
About this episode
R&D investment and commercialisation can't be treated as separate issues, says Liza Noonan, CEO of Sydney deep-tech hub Cicada Innovations, on episode 61 of Startup 360. Liza unpacks deep tech, think quantum computing, medical devices and advanced manufacturing, and the unique challenges the sector faces with Simon…
- 61Australia’s lagging innovation metrics; a new owner for Fishburners4 Jun 2026 · 1h 6m▶
About this episode
Fishburners has a new owner. And episode 60’s guest is Carolyn Breeze, CEO of the buyer, ASX-listed Scalare Partners. Scalare bought Fishburners from the voluntary administrators this week and the startup community and its members will leave the Tech Central Innovation Hub to become part of Tank Stream Labs. The move…
- 60The budget: The facts on capital gains tax, family trusts, shares and the impact on startups29 May 2026 · 1h 15m▶
About this episode
After 3 non-event federal budgets for the startup sector, all hell broke loose on May 12 when treasurer Jim Chalmers announced capital gain tax changes that will reduce the size of the cheque startup shareholders receive in a liquidity event. The backlash has been enormous and the sector is hoping Treasury will hear…
- 59The hidden cost of startup hustle: Burnout, breakdown and leadership22 May 2026 · 58 min▶
About this episode
Startup founders are told to hustle harder, push through and never let the cracks show. But what happens when the pressure becomes too much? This week on Startup 360, host Simon Thomsen sits down with workplace mental health advocate Graeme Cowan for a candid conversation about burnout, psychological safety and the…
- 58OpenAI’s Thomas Jeng on why AI won’t replace founders anytime14 May 2026 · 54 min▶
About this episode
OpenAI’s APAC startups lead Thomas Jeng has a warning for founders worried AI is about to replace them: calm down. The tools are getting smarter at breakneck speed, but the people building the future are still very much in the driver’s seat. Speaking with Startup 360 co-hosts Simon Thomsen and Majella Campbell, Thomas…
- 57Humanitix’s Josh Ross on putting the human in impact tech8 May 2026 · 53 minJoshua RossNew Zealand▶
About this episode
A decade ago, Joshua Ross and his good mate Adam McCurdie went looking for an idea that would have maximum impact in doing the most good. So they decided to take on the global ticketing industry and launch Humanitix. Their second crazy big idea was to give away all the company’s profit. They’ve succeeded on both…
- 56How to travel better and cheaper with AI1 May 2026 · 1h 4mMatt Jackson▶
About this episode
The global business travel market is worth more than $2 trillion annually, but when most employees seek to get from A to B, how it works is not something many think about. Altitude AI founder Aimee Armstrong has, transforming the industry to help smaller businesses save time and money thanks to AI. She's Simon and…
- 55Using AI to deal with 'carenting' in the Sandwich years24 Apr 2026 · 49 min▶
About this episode
The term Sandwich Generation was coined in the early 80s to describe people, aged in their 30s to 60s, who found themselves not only raising a family, but also caring for their parents - "carenting" - at the same time. In the middle of all those competing demands, they're also trying to build their careers and the…
- 54This teenage entrepreneur is using AI to help people 'vent' for their mental health17 Apr 2026 · 48 minSam Altman▶
About this episode
School and Malachy Doyle were never the best of mates.Our guest for episode 53 is now 17 and left school for entrepreneurship, founding his first startup Venty. Never mind the education, even being told when to have lunch got on his goat. And Malachy likes to have control of his destiny."I like building cool things,"…
- 53Let's get metaphysical - learning from great books faster10 Apr 2026 · 1h 4m▶
About this episode
If, like Startup 360 cohost Simon and Majella, you have a pile of non-fiction books beside the bed that you're trying to get around to reading, you'll love episode 52's guest. Shruta Satam left nearly 20 years as a corporate consultant for the likes of Deloitte and PwC to become a startup cofounder last year. Pustakh…
- 52Tim Fung on 13 years of being Airtasker in chief2 Apr 2026 · 1h 10mTim Fung▶
About this episode
The wild thing about building a marketplace for jobs is that you never know what your customers will need. Airtasker cofounder and CEO admits on episode 51 of Startup 360 that when a man wanted someone to fly from Australia to the US to pick up an engagement ring and bring it back, they deleted, thinking it was a…
Who the show talks about
Firms named in its episodes, and people named in descriptions: talked about, rather than on the show.
