Remi Roques

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

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Innovation thrives when opportunity meets vision. At Attivare, we connect investors with Aussie startups primed for growth. 💼 Let’s drive Australia’s future economy together—one smart investment at a time. Find out more: www.attivare.com.au #FutureOfAustralia #EmpoweringInvestors #InvestSmart #AustralianInnovation #AttivareVision #TaxEffectiveStrategy #TaxBenefits #TaxEffectiveInvestment

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How much does a company waste on duplicated / unused technology? According to a report* NZ businesses are wasting $334M / year technology they don't use. For small business for $900 of spend, $600 of that was going to waste and when you scale.... phew.... it's not pretty! And while a 2022 report, I don't think this has got better. At STATE3 we see this a lot. A proliferation of similar technology all doing a similar job or technology subscriptions which were brought and used once if at all... why have one SaaS subscription / portal / CRM / app when you can have 6 that do the same thing and that are possibly never used! The reasons are pretty straight forward: Poor Processes IT Investment - The business goes off roading and buys something on a credit card without due diligence or engaging with the digital / technology team first. Shadow IT - total frustration with the processes in-house so someone gets a bright idea and buys something.... Mergers & Acquisitions - a company acquires another and they keep everything separate and ta dah! There will be others. In hard economic times, the belts get tightened so it makes perfect sense to aim for where the bloat is... in the spend that is duplicated or not used. And this means taking some steps, such as.... * Figure out what you have (Technology / capabilities audit) * Find out if its actually being used (surveying usage (if possible) * Standardise Technology Offerings via a menu of options * Move to a 'user pays' model * Undertake the very unsexy approach of strengthening technology Governance by making people accountable and responsible. We can help with this by showing you what you have, how integrated it is with the rest of your stack and what the TCO is. When you know what you have, you can optimise decision making and ditch the risk. #digitaltransformation #businessstrategy #success #state3enterprise * Report: https://lnkd.in/gRxU_7mC

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We can’t manage what we don’t measure and we can’t grow what we don’t fund. While the sucking sound of Aus super and VC investment going to US companies is becoming deafening, the Australian Business Growth Fund backing an ambitious cohort of innovator companies has flown under the radar. If Aus has a sovereign future, as opposed to vassal state dependence writ large and irreversible, we need 10 more commercially and globally funds to acknowledge a long forgotten asset class.

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🚨 𝗪𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵—𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿! 🚨 Why does New Zealand have a Minister for Racing and Space but no one dedicated to overseeing Big Tech? It’s time for change. Here’s why: Did you know? 💸 $𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆: Scammers exploit platforms like Facebook to target vulnerable Kiwis—stealing life savings and costing our economy dearly. Big Tech faces little scrutiny while banks shoulder the blame. 🌐 $𝟭 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀: Each year, Facebook sends this amount from New Zealand to low-tax jurisdictions, while contributing little to solving local issues like scams or misinformation. 🤷‍♂️ 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Oversight is scattered across multiple portfolios. There’s no single figure holding Big Tech accountable for their role in scams, misinformation, and economic impact. NZ digital marketing agencies are also unregulated, yet they manage significant amounts of business money through these platforms (predicted to reach $2 billion USD per annum by 2028). Regulating this industry would help distinguish professional operators from the cowboys that provide little return and run high churn rates. Duncan Greive of The Spinoff puts it plainly: “It’s unserious to pretend that the biggest problem in scams is banks, not Facebook.” Link to full article below. Let’s learn from global leaders like the EU, which imposes hefty fines, or Malaysia, which mandates licenses for platforms to curb cybercrime. NZ deserves better oversight for the platforms shaping our digital lives. The solution? 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵. A leader who can stare down global giants, push legislation, and demand they contribute meaningfully to our society. Thoughts? ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gAycYyUR #BigTech #Policy #Leadership #DigitalAccountability #NewZealand

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Few people in Australia have the purview that Cheryl Mack does for #angelinvesting deals, movements, trends, and state of pulse - if you want to be in the know, then this is a must attend 👇 #startups #venturecapital

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#joinus for our largest and most expansive #smartcities #event and #program ever in #aotearoa Hear from our: #global #thought #leaders #global #taskforce #leads #regional #leads #global #team On: #smartairports #smarttourism #regional #communities #smartbuildings #smartinfrastructure #cybersecurity #digitaltwins #ai #machinelearning #blockchain #digital #transformation #digital #infrastructure #ethics #sustainability

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#circulareconomy #systemsinnovation #industrialsymbiosis #thealternative One of the most rewarding aspects of consulting and advisory work is the chance to plant a “#seed” of an idea and watch it evolve into something of varying shapes, sizes, and scales. Recently, a team of us at pitt&sherry had the privilege of doing just that for an industry cohort responsible for 60% of #Tasmanian manufacturing exports. Key insights from our discussions included: 1. We’re leaving value on the table. 2. The cost of inaction is too high. 3. There are immediate opportunities to act. 4. Project initiation takes too long. 5. We need to upskill and cross-skill our people to support this transition. And many more… Together, we reached a clear consensus on the next steps, and we’re excited to watch this seed grow and support its development along the way. Thank you Susie Bower Leigh Darcy Kim Willoughby Simon Talbot Shane Power Mark Cooper and all the members of BBAMZ for the trust Lesley Turner Robert Nicholson MAICD Andrew Buckley Tara Kooloos David Atchison Dean Comrie Andrew Turner Robert Casimaty

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Incentives to safeguard PPI data will likely come from punitive fines that drive boardroom decisions to fund CISOs and Tech/Product leaders aiming to create secure, scalable software. Government needs to take action to prevent further breaches by regulating more strictly. MediSecure's loss of healthcare data of 12.9M people in the latest cyber incident that shows the lack of investment in cyber resilience in healthcare. As is quickly becoming the norm in BFSI, government and healthcare providers should stipulate compliance to cyber standards during procurement and for on-going renewal. As with regulation for safety in cars that we now take for granted, e.g. airbags and seat-belts, this should become a standard. Its not good enough when your personal data is compromised by companies we trust to provide core services.

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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

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🌟 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

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Great result by the Kiwi SaaS community In 2023 New Zealand’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) sector earned $3.6b in revenue. It has been growing revenue by a 15 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) since 2016, and at this rate it is on track to earn $9.7b by 2030.  By 2030 the report estimates that SaaS export-led added value will be growing faster and contributing more nominal GDP ($4.5b) than New Zealand’s top three primary sector industries (horticulture, dairy product manufacturing and meat product manufacturing).  Since 2016 SaaS exports have been growing at an inflation adjusted rate of 8.7 percent.  This is two and a half times higher than the inflation adjusted CAGR of 3.4 percent that New Zealand’s overall export economy has recorded in the past two decades.  Bruce Jarvis, Head of kiwiSaaS, says that the SaaS sector remains an ‘invisible giant.’  “How much the SaaS sector contributes to our economic wealth today, and could do in the future, is only just becoming visible,” says Jarvis. 

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💡 “From Civil Engineer to SaaS Founder: How Simon Klobass Mastered No-Code to Build a Profitable Tech Business” In this episode of the Unconventional Founders Podcast, Dave had the pleasure of speaking with Simon Klobass, a versatile entrepreneur who transitioned from civil engineering and real estate to founding a profitable SaaS company using no-code tools. Simon’s journey from mining operations in Australia to launching his own SaaS platform is a testament to the power of adaptability and perseverance. If you’re looking to bootstrap a startup, harness no-code technology, or learn from business pivots, this episode is for you. Episode Highlights: 🌟 From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: Simon transitioned from civil engineering to launching a real estate business in London, managing creative spaces and offices before moving into the SaaS world. 🌟 Learning from Failure: Simon reflects on shutting down his business during the pandemic, emphasizing the lessons from failure and the importance of planning for a business exit. 🌟 Discovering No-Code: Searching for a CTO led Simon to Bubble.io, where he took control, built a solution for a client, and turned it into a long-term SaaS product. 🌟 Building with Bubble.io: Simon explains how no-code tools like Bubble helped him build, iterate, and scale efficiently, empowering him to own the tech development process. 🌟 Advice for Founders: Simon advises founders to validate ideas by talking to customers, proceed carefully with SaaS, and focus on mastering sales and marketing. 🌟 The Power of Planning: Simon highlights the importance of backend and workflow planning, likening it to organizing Lego pieces to save time and avoid issues later. Simon’s experience, from real estate to SaaS, offers invaluable insights into building profitable businesses with a lean approach, leveraging no-code tools, and learning from challenges. A huge thank you to @SimonKlobass for sharing his fascinating journey and practical advice with us! 🚀 🔗 Listen now: https://buff.ly/4cR3rBC #UnconventionalFounders #NoCode #BubbleIO #Startups #Innovation #Podcast #TechEntrepreneurship #SaaS #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #NoCode #TechStartups #SaaS #BusinessStrategy #ProductDevelopment #FounderMindset #TechLeadership #BusinessGrowth #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #AIInnovation #FutureTech #AIDevelopment #DigitalTransformation #TechInnovation #AIFuture #AIRevolution #Podcast #Leadership #Innovation #Bubbleio #NoCode #DroidCam #MobileWebcam #Figma #DesignTool #UIUX #InterfaceDesign #Lemlist #EmailOutreach #LinkedInCampaigns #IndieHackers #EntrepreneurCommunity #StartupResources #LearnBubble

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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!

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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

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🤖 🗺️ This week promises to be another pivotal week designing Australia's AI, Data, and Digital Innovation Agenda 🌟 🌏 Excited to be joining two significant forums: 1️⃣ National AI Centre's "AI at Work - Industry Day (22nd May): In collaboration with our friends at the 🤝 Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), CSIRO we will explore transformative AI applications in Aussie business. We will hear from Rita Arrigo, Innes Willox, Stela SOLAR, Luiz Pizzato, Principal Data Scientist at Commonwealth Bank, Donna Forlin and Simon Harrison. Expecting some energetic and engaging discussions on optimising business operations through AI and its sector-specific impacts 🏥 🏭 🛒 💬 2️⃣ ADAPT AI & Data Edge Summit (23rd May): Focusing on data innovation, AI scalability, and the strategic transition of AI projects from experimentation to production. Including insights, fresh research from Australia's top technology leaders and discussions including Mal Wanstall, VP Data Cochlear (former Head of Data Westpac), Chase Ginther, Adam Beavis Databricks, Alois Reitbauer, Chief Technology Strategist, Dynatrace, Lenka Bednarikova, Data & AI Practice Lead, Telstra Purple, Dayle Stevens OAM, Heidi Badgery, Brett Dunsmore, Anthone Withers, Dr. Michael G. Kollo, Evolved.AI, Claudine Ogilvie, Former CIO Jetstar Airways, Joanna Gurry from NAB, Dr. Shivaji Dasgupta, Benjamin Henshall, Richard Fleming, Pascal Gautheron, James Larmer and Stephen Hardy from Bain & Company and many more. We will be covering a range of topics: 🤖 How is AI transforming business operations and which industries are seeing the most impact? 🛡️ What steps are being taken to ensure AI is developed and used ethically? 🚧 How can AI technologies enhance workplace safety, productivity, equality and efficiency? 📊 What are the foundational elements of a data strategy that supports AI scalability? 😊 How can AI improve customer experiences in various sectors? 🧩 What are the main challenges when transitioning AI projects from experimental stages to full-scale production? 🧬 How are generative AI & LLMs being integrated into real-world business applications? 🔒 With AI integration deepening, how are organisations ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations? 👥 How is AI reshaping the workforce, and what strategies and up-skill programs are companies using to manage this transition? ⚖️ How are regulatory bodies impacting the deployment and ethical considerations of AI? 🤔 Most importantly, what do you ask of the industry & tech leaders shaping Australia’s AI, Data & Digital Future? Ping me in the comments below 👇

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Did you know that Australia is the home of 2.3% of the world's tech unicorns ($1b plus valuation companies). Deep tech is clear strength of Australia and it is why Japanese corporates are looking at Australia. The Australian Japan Business Cooperation Committee (AJBCC) is lifting the lid on what is driving Japanese businesses and Australian startups. If you are interested, then this webinar could be for you. Richard Andrews, Cristina Merino Ishizuka, Jonathan Raju, Annie Jiang, Emily Doran, Takero Izuhara, Tim Mclennan, Ken Jefferd, Invest Victoria

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💡 “From Civil Engineer to SaaS Founder: How Simon Klobass Mastered No-Code to Build a Profitable Tech Business” In this episode of the Unconventional Founders Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Simon Klobass, a versatile entrepreneur who transitioned from civil engineering and real estate to founding a profitable SaaS company using no-code tools. Simon’s journey from mining operations in Australia to launching his own SaaS platform is a testament to the power of adaptability and perseverance. If you’re looking to bootstrap a startup, harness no-code technology, or learn from business pivots, this episode is for you. Episode Highlights: 🌟 From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: Simon transitioned from civil engineering to launching a real estate business in London, managing creative spaces and offices before moving into the SaaS world. 🌟 Learning from Failure: Simon reflects on shutting down his business during the pandemic, emphasizing the lessons from failure and the importance of planning for a business exit. 🌟 Discovering No-Code: Searching for a CTO led Simon to Bubble.io, where he took control, built a solution for a client, and turned it into a long-term SaaS product. 🌟 Building with Bubble.io: Simon explains how no-code tools like Bubble helped him build, iterate, and scale efficiently, empowering him to own the tech development process. 🌟 Advice for Founders: Simon advises founders to validate ideas by talking to customers, proceed carefully with SaaS, and focus on mastering sales and marketing. 🌟 The Power of Planning: Simon highlights the importance of backend and workflow planning, likening it to organizing Lego pieces to save time and avoid issues later. Simon’s experience, from real estate to SaaS, offers invaluable insights into building profitable businesses with a lean approach, leveraging no-code tools, and learning from challenges. A huge thank you to Simon Klobas for sharing his fascinating journey and practical advice with us! 🚀 🔗 Listen now: https://buff.ly/3MCIcsy #UnconventionalFounders #NoCode #BubbleIO #Startups #Innovation #Podcast #TechEntrepreneurship #SaaS #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #NoCode #TechStartups #SaaS #BusinessStrategy #ProductDevelopment #FounderMindset #TechLeadership #BusinessGrowth #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #AIInnovation #FutureTech #AIDevelopment #DigitalTransformation #TechInnovation #AIFuture #AIRevolution #Podcast #Leadership #Innovation #Bubbleio #NoCode #DroidCam #MobileWebcam #Figma #DesignTool #UIUX #InterfaceDesign #Lemlist #EmailOutreach #LinkedInCampaigns #IndieHackers #EntrepreneurCommunity #StartupResources #LearnBubble

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In case you missed it: NZ is raising* the tax exempt 💰 thresholds for share scheme benefits companies offer employees. The maximum value of shares provided to employees will rise from NZ$5,000 to $7,500 annually, and the maximum discount on shares will increase from $2,000 to $3,000. This change to the tax exempt scheme will be good news especially for large (& particularly listed) businesses that want to implement a company-wide share scheme on top of existing remuneration and perks. Offering shares is a great way of aligning the incentives of teams and the business. It can give employees more understanding, a sense of belonging and responsibility for what is going on in the company. With that said, I don’t personally subscribe to the opening statement that “technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds…”. I'll follow-up with a blog soon unpacking why this tax exemption is largely redundant in this sector, and specifically what could be addressed to support early-stage ventures. *These changes are set to take effect on April 1, 2025, as part of the 2024-25 Taxation Bill.

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