Martin Herbst

Scaling isn’t just about resources—it’s about networks with “boots on the ground” insight. Startup ecosystems like French Tech Australia (FT AU) connect founders to mentors, resources, and markets, offering local knowledge that is crucial for expansion. These networks lend credibility, open doors, and provide on-the-ground insights to navigate new markets with confidence. From strategic partnerships to market access, ecosystems are invaluable in a startup’s journey from local success to global presence. Tip: Use your ecosystem’s resources proactively—growth is faster with the right boots on the ground. How has your network helped you scale? Share your experiences below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gmuYeYDB #StartupGrowth #ScaleUp #BusinessNetworking #GlobalExpansion #StartupCommunity #EcosystemSupport #InnovationHub #EntrepreneurTips #MentorshipMatters #CrossBorderBusiness Resumption - Sales, Marketing, and Operations Consulting

3

A valuable swan song report into New Zealand's SaaS sector by kiwiSaaS Community, summarised well here by Timothy. "4. Content is easily accessible, but knowledge from lived experience is scarce and its hampering our ability to produce more scale-ups." Letting my community know that from late July, I have 2 days' deep SaaS leadership knowledge and lived experience available for fractional or project hire. If you have a commercial acumen gap in your team; need to drive new pricing and packaging; improve your product positioning, value propositions and product marketing; or align your product and GTM teams and motions for revenue growth - let's talk. #growth #commercial #SaaS #leadership

27

2 Comments

🌟 Exciting news in Australian tech! 🌟 Cyan and Collis Ta’eed, co-founders of Envato, have achieved a $375.2 million exit as Shutterstock acquires their company. Envato, a marketplace for creatives, was built from scratch without external funding, proving you can build a massive business and a fulfilling life. 🌐 Key Highlights: $375.2M exit with Shutterstock acquiring Envato. Co-founded by Cyan, a notable female entrepreneur. Bootstrapped success, no external funding. Continued focus on work-life balance and philanthropic efforts. Cyan and Collis remain directors, with Cyan continuing to inspire women in tech. This story highlights the power of innovation and dedication. 🚀👩‍💼 Inspire future women entrepreneurs with “When I’m an Entrepreneur” https://ow.ly/MF4Q50SmWaN Read more: https://ow.ly/ROAa50SmWaM #TechNews #FemaleFounders #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Envato #Shutterstock

15

In the midst of budget allocation challenges, it's crucial to reflect on strategic decisions for the future. Australia's recent budget choices highlight significant disparities in investment, with $56 million designated for Reproductive assistance juxtaposed against a $22 billion commitment to the "made in Australia" fund, alongside a notable surge in Aged Care expenditure. These allocations, coupled with declining migration intake, raise concerns about the sustainability of Australia's financial trajectory over the next decade and beyond. The necessity of prioritizing national defense is undeniable, yet the lack of emphasis on large-scale digital transformation within the SME sector is a noteworthy omission. Rather than conventional investments, there's a compelling argument for equipping SME owners with AI capabilities to enhance productivity and adapt to evolving economic landscapes. With declining birth rates impacting employment and tax revenues, accelerating automation and digitalization becomes imperative to bolster Australia's productivity, which has been on a downward trend for years. As we navigate these complex dynamics, it's evident that fostering innovation and efficiency through digital transformation is pivotal for Australia's economic resilience. The evolving landscape underscores the pressing need for proactive measures to address productivity challenges and steer the country towards sustainable growth amidst changing demographic and economic realities. #distiai #productivity #budget #digitalchange #transformation #challenges

1

The recent Australian federal budget announcement is a major boost for small businesses, the education sector, and startups. As CEO of Ticketless Parking, a NED at Jeddle, and an investor in innovative startups, I see great opportunities for strategic growth and innovation. With increased government investment in infrastructure, the parking industry is poised to embrace more efficient, technologically advanced solutions, advancing the mission of #ticketlessparking. Meanwhile, the increased support for education will empower companies like #jeddle to further integrate technology and learning, propelling us towards a future where innovation is at the core of education. This budget resonates deeply with my belief in the power of vision, strategy, and execution to drive growth. Let us leverage these developments to push boundaries, innovate, and build a resilient future. #FederalBudget #GrowthStrategy #Education #Innovation #StartupInvesting #ParkingIndustry #jeddAI

13

Mark "Z" Zmarzly 🦄 substack brings all the startups to his yard. And the startups are like, it's better than yours. And Mark's like "Damn right it's better than yours ... I can teach you, but I have to charge." Good thing he's got access to plenty Amazon Web Services (AWS) credits. See you in Melbourne at Intersekt next Wednesday and the AWS Financial Services Symposium in Sydney on Thursday. #AWSStartups #CloudInnovation #StartupEcosystem #AWSActivate #ScalableSolutions #TechForStartups #CloudForStartups #AWSGrowth #BuildOnAWS #StartupSuccess #AWSPartners #CloudFirst #FounderSupport #StartupJourney #TechInnovation #AWSCloud #ScaleWithAWS #StartupResources #AWSFunding #EntrepreneurSupport #AWSStartupsAccelerator

4

Aussie Founders Club has always been about building an open-source community where founders, investors, and supporters can connect, grow, and thrive together. Recently, a few awesome people reached out to me, wanting to share some exciting opportunities – like workshops (with special discounts for AFC members!), news about grants, and open accelerator programs. It got me thinking: how can we better spread this information to benefit everyone? So, I’ve set up a dedicated submission space where you can easily share valuable opportunities, events, jobs, cofounder openings, and resources with the AFC community. This way, we can keep each other in the loop about all the things that can help founders get ahead. Here’s what we’re looking to share in the AFC newsletter: 🎉 Events – Whether it’s workshops, networking sessions, or panels, if it’s helpful to founders, we want to know about it. 💼 Job Openings – Let’s connect great talent with exciting roles in the startup world. 💸 Funding & Grants – Got tips on grants or funding opportunities? Share them with the community! 🚀 Accelerator Programs – Let founders know about accelerator programs with open applications. 🤝 Cofounder Opportunities – If you’re searching for a cofounder or business partner, share it here. 📚 Free Resources – Guides, templates, and other tools that help startups thrive. If you’ve got something to share, head over to the submission page on Aussie Founders Club or through my Linktree (via my LinkedIn profile). If you want to sign up to recieve the newsletter, you can sign up via our website too! Looking forward to seeing what you all have to share!

98

12 Comments

Balancing startup life and personal moments? Thoughtly co-founder Casey Mackrell took that to a whole new level. On his wedding day, a colleague needed urgent access to code, and Casey stepped away from the dance floor for a quick 30-second fix. A photo of him wrapping up the task amid wedding festivities, taken by co-founder Torrey Leonard, quickly went viral—sparking a mix of admiration and criticism. While some were inspired by Casey’s dedication, others saw it as a sign of unhealthy work-life balance. The post tapped into the ongoing debate around "founder mode" vs. "manager mode," a concept Paul Graham of Y Combinator often discusses. Founders in "founder mode" are hands-on with every detail, while "manager mode" is about delegation. Casey’s moment resonated with the startup community, with many founders seeing it as a testament to the non-stop hustle required to grow a company. However, outside of tech, the picture prompted concerns about boundaries and burnout. Regardless of where you stand, the viral post is a powerful reminder of the unique challenges founders face. How do you balance being all-in on your startup while also being present for life's biggest moments?

9

3 Comments

Truth, right here. I am elated to have just hired See Me Please's first full-time employee. He just retired from a career as a professional athlete. I hired him because he has grit and works hard. He tells me, if given an opportunity, he will eat bricks for lunch. By choice, I'm bootstrapping See Me Please. At least for the first year. I'm of the view that proven demand and growth, based on the exceptional value we deliver to our early partners, is in the best interest of the business's long-term success. It provides choice, flexibility and negotiation leverage when (if) the time comes to explore potential investment partners. Time will tell if See Me Please will move at the velocity I'd like it to. But if it does, I care too much to give my business away. I have my eyes wide open, this approach means working VERY hard to get it out of the gates. There is absolutely nothing wrong with flexible work and work-life balance depending on your priorities. At the same time, there's immense value in hard work. Hard work can give a sense of purpose and direction, helping a team feel like they are contributing meaningfully to something larger than themselves. Richard Joffe you're singing to me. Thanks for sharing Claudia Levi Pat Jensen

32

5 Comments

The Australian VC landscape is thriving, but gender disparity still casts a long shadow. As revealed by Cut Through Venture's Cut Through Quarterly Q3 report, women-led startups are gaining traction but face an uphill battle as they mature through funding rounds, with participation dropping dramatically from 50% at pre-seed to just 14% at Series A. In our latest Antler article, we explore how persistent barriers are widening the funding gap and why it’s critical to support women founders from day zero - supporting them from the start and providing continued backing throughout their journey. https://lnkd.in/gZds-cyk We're dedicated to pushing forward for a more inclusive and resilient ecosystem and invite all ambitious founders to join our February 2025 residency in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

21

Little did I know I was coming down with something, and so all the warm, reassuring things I meant to say at the start of my talk about if I, as an arts and communications grad, a former maths-despiser, and UX-type, could get my head around commercial concepts, then so can you… Well, that part just fell out of my head. What’s left are some (I think) pretty useful tools and concepts for product people who want to try to lift their financial awareness. Don’t let perfectionism get in your way! #productmanagement #value #viability

44

17 Comments

Some more great coverage off the back of the #GlobalSearchAwards win, this is in New Zealand from the Fairfax Media, The Southland Times & #ThePress Stuff, telling the story of Ben McIntyre's journey, teaming up with Dan Sim and taking the world by storm with Kia Ora Digital. One helluva story - congrats Ben, Dan, and the whole team. It's a privilege being part of this SEO 2.0 movement, where it's all about generating revenue from organic search for our eCommerce and SaaS clients worldwide. #EveryConversationIsGold #BuildingAnOrganicRevenueRocketShip #WaitUntilTheTechnologyIsReleasedForKeywordRevenueAnalysis

7

2 Comments

Helping startups thrive in Australia requires a deep understanding of their needs. The previous Startup Muster report offered crucial insights into the sector's current state. It's essential to refresh this knowledge base to gain an updated perspective on opportunities for fostering innovation. #Startups #Innovation #AustraliaTech

2

Aussie Angels are running a monthly New Angel AMA, starting next Tuesday, to get angels comfortable with investing and have their queries answered Bridging that gap between joining a syndicate to writing those first cheques can span months / if not longer. And Cheryl Mack will help take some of the fear out of it by having these regular sessions. Open for all to join.  Cheryl will cover all your burning questions: - How do you gain conviction? - Is that a good valuation? - What are the latest updates on wholesale investor thresholds, and how will they impact you? - What qualifies as a small cheque in angel investing, and when is small too small? - And many more insights from the front lines of angel investing! 😇 https://lu.ma/pd22dpfx TORUS Jason Atkins Alexandra Lewis 🌊 Vinko Grgić #startups #angelinvesting #founders #capitalraising #venturecapital

8

1 Comment

👏🏻This week we kicked off our Communicating with Impact Program with Steve Hassett and his amazing team at Foundation Technologies Australia! An brilliant first session, great team and contributions! Communication is key, especially in the new world of AI & remote work. Now more than ever we need to ramp up the human side and create communication that cuts through both internally and with external suppliers, stakeholders and our customers. Communication is the response you get. In the 1st session we unwrapped communication styles and preferences and the importance of body language and looking at what is not being said. We looked at strategies, tools and tips of paying attention to non verbal cues and the importance of listening & questioning and so much more. Lots of hands on activities to bring learnings to life a d time for each person to share their OOV and workshop team norms & wants and needs. The next session will be about rapport building to influence and communicate through negotiation along with building a culture of gratitude. I cannot wait for session 2 in a few weeks and a continued partnership with Steve Hassett & the amazing team at Foundation Technologies Australia!!! #FTA #Limitlessleaders #Communication #Connection #Giftmindset

5

Where is the opportunity for Aotearoa NZ in blockchain and crypto? As these technologies progress from hype (and disillusionment) to realistic expectations, NZ has an opportunity: to attract talent and align with leading global regulators to look at on-chain and fintech solutions that can amplify NZ solutions and drive global impact. This can be a powerful conversation - Aya Miyaguchi and Paul Salisbury (with a third Fellow to be confirmed) will paint a picture of the future and where NZ might fit. Cannot wait!

25

2 Comments

The Creative Co-Operative* spotted in TechCrunch! Through our 2022 report led by Dr Sana Ashraf*, the State of the Startup Ecosystem for Bla(c)k and Women of Colour Founders in Australia, we released the continent's first intersectional datapoint around financial inequality experienced by early stage First Nations, Black and Women of Colour founders. The funding discrepancy was 0.03% (link to Executive Summary in comments below). Since then we’ve seen the ecosystem start taking steps to do something about it - its a start. We look forward to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency collecting and reporting on the intersectional pay gap. Making this start is long overdue but it’s better late than never. #intersectionalpaygap #blackwomen #womenofcolour #startups *PS The Creative Co-Operative has been referred to as a consulting services agency as I assume the journalist referenced our old website. Unfortunately it is out of date as of 2021! We only consult on very specific projects, our focus is on building Maya Cares and programs such as the Anyone Can Community Startup Program to create mental health and economic access, equity and justice for the communities we serve. ** Dr Sana and I are not related, we just happen to share the same surname 🙂

61

14 Comments

As an angel investor, I’ve made over 50 early-stage investments across the UK, US, and beyond. Now, as a Partner at Antler in Australia, I’ve experienced firsthand the shifts between angel and VC investing - and these findings have transformed my approach to supporting founders. I share 5 surprising lessons I learned that about angel vs. VC funding that I wish every founder knew in the article below. From the unexpected empathy VCs have (yes, we pitch too!) to why VCs reserve capital for follow-on funding and how market size can make or break a venture-backed business. Thinking about joining our February '25 residency and/or raising your first round? This is an inside look at the mindsets and strategies VCs use when investing, offering takeaways to help you get funded. 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g_jStAWS

58

1 Comment