While our role at Aura is to underwrite unparalleled ambition in world-class founders — we know that sustained, impactful innovation requires the collaboration of capital, government, institutions and local communities.
Grassroots innovation, capability development, and policy are the cornerstones of building strong local economies. Last week, Sabrina joined Spark Festival's panel to discuss Startup Funding and Growth, supported by partners UNSW Founders, Investment NSW and Catalysr, with a powerful opening keynote from Charishma Kaliyanda, MP.
Key takeaways from the discussion:
1. When it comes to funding, no doesn't always sound like no. Measure success not by how many yeses, but by how many no's you hear. Use every no as an opportunity to reflect on how your articulated vision aligns with the market.
2. While Australia's startup ecosystem has made significant strides, fragmentation still exists. To support founders, we need cohesive collaboration across government, venture capital, education, and industry.
3. Technology and innovation are essential for local communities to thrive, develop, and connect with the world. Our communities hold lived experiences and unique insights into untapped markets.
4. We have access to a plethora of platforms that have democratised technology and technical capabilities. It's never been easier, faster and cheaper to test and iterate new ideas.
It was a pleasure to contribute to this conversation alongside Andrew Corbett-Jones, Anne-Marie Elias and David Lt (Lillo-Trynes), connect with the local community, nurture tangible support and action, and be a voice for venture capital and founders in the Australian startup ecosystem.
#venturecapital #startupfunding #techstartups
