First Cheque Podcast

Ever wondered how early-stage investors build their portfolios? What factors they consider? Or how they choose a niche when investing? 🧠 In the latest First Cheque episode, co-hosts Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures focus on how investors choose to build their portfolio of startups they invest in over time. 🚀 Cheryl and Maxine debate portfolio investing strategies like diversification vs concentration - and whether decision-making improves or deteriorates after being pitched the same startup idea countless times. 💸 And what it all comes down to, in the world of early-stage investing where you’re looking for those big outlier returns - the power law rules everything. That one outlier that will outshine the rest. So how does that impact your decision-making? 🎯 Listen to the latest episode of the First Cheque podcast for more open-sourced conversations about key early-stage investing topics. 🎧 #venturecapital #funding #investments #vc #seedcapital #angelinvestors #startupfunding #capitalraising

Catch up on the latest First Cheque podcast episode with Georgie Turner, Partner at Tidal Ventures. 🌊 In this episode, co-hosts Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter speak with Georgie delving into the nuances of early-stage investing, cross-border strategies, and the evolving landscape of venture capital. 🚀 The episode opens with an intro to Georgie’s background and her journey from Bailador Technology Investments (ASX:BTI) to founding Tidal, a fund focused on B2B SaaS and AI. 🤖 Their conversation then explores the differences between the Australian and US venture capital ecosystems, touching on themes such as market size, customer sophistication, and the importance of domain expertise in founding teams. 🌎 Georgie also shares insights on navigating the AI revolution and its impact on the tech stack and business models. 💼 Listen to the episode to hear more about bravery needed within the venture capital space while navigating the sometimes overly optimistic or illogical nature of the funding industry. 💰 Download the episode on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎧 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Turo

I'm heading to Intersekt Fintech Festival in Melbourne next week to speak, if you're going to be there, shout out in the comments and let's organise to catch up! If you're not coming to Intersekt, may I suggest you get a ticket? https://lnkd.in/grHhgMyJ Michelle Vu Matt Vitale Lisa Gostinski Rebecca Schot-Guppy #startups #investors

Why do you need to get your hands dirty with biotech investing? 🦄 Paul Kelly from OneVentures highlights the crucial step of going beyond the pitch deck. 🔬 It’s not just about numbers…. 📊 It’s about science! 🧪 As an angel investor or part of a small syndicate, it’s essential to dig deeper. Have someone dive into lab books, validate claims, and even repeat experiments in another lab. 🥼 Go beyond the business plan - ensure the science stacks up before investing. 💼 Tune in to the First Cheque podcast with hosts Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures to discover more about the realities of investing in biotech, both in Australia and globally. 🌏 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Turo

Every breakthrough drug was once just an idea. 💊 Big things start small. 🌱 In the latest episode of the First Cheque podcast, guest OneVentures Founding Partner & Director Paul Kelly shares how turning an idea into a life-saving drug can take decades of hard work - but the potential is enormous. 🚀 It all starts with a single thought and years of persistence. ✅ Want to know how the journey from idea to big impact really works in biotech? 🧪 Download the First Cheque episode where co-hosts Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter interview Paul about his journey from medical doctor to biotech investor. 🎧 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Turo

Have you caught up on all the previous interviews on First Cheque? 🦄 For co-hosts Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures, their mission has been to open-source conversations with some of the best early-stage investors in the world. 🌏 Add some of the recent First Cheque interview episodes to your listen list: ⬇️ 🚀 Christina Fa from NewView Capital with over $2.6 billion in assets under management discusses growth-stage investing and secondaries 📰 Bronwen Clune from Capital Brief dives into Australian journalism, risk appetite and the future of Australian startups 🤖 Ash F. explores AI investing, founding Zetta Ventures and writing cheques between $20K to $20MM for early-stage companies ⭐ Marvin Liao from Silicon Valley has over USD$50M invested into 460+ startups and talks about how to develop an edge within startup ecosystems ⚡️ Michael Batko from Startmate with 250+ startups worth $3.5 billion reflects on community-building and portfolio construction Download the First Cheque podcast on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎧 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make all episodes of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Turo

"There's nothing more inspiring to think what you're working on today could change patients' lives around the world" - Paul Kelly, OneVentures Founding Partner & Director. Paul recently joined Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter on the First Cheque Podcast to discuss biotech investing, making it accessible for newcomers, his journey from practicing physician to investor and insights into the industry's rapid evolution and high stakes. Here are our key takeaways👇 🟠 Success in biotech investing requires deep domain expertise to interpret scientific advances and a strong understanding of market dynamics to evaluate a technology's fit within the broader healthcare landscape. 🟠 Biotech founders must focus on both the scientific and commercial aspects of their innovation from the get-go. Success may take 10 to 15 years, and as the company evolves, the founder's role often changes—having great mentors around helps with this transition. 🟠 The drug development process has critical stages: Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials. Each phase serves as a 'risk pivot,' where the potential for a drug to progress significantly impacts its perceived value. Pharmaceutical partnerships can boost biotech success rates from 15% to 20-30%, enhancing credibility and providing access to additional expertise and resources. 🟠 The impact of technology on drug development and discovery is potentially huge. Some estimates suggest it could improve efficiency and reduce development time by 25-50%, speeding time to market and maximising patent benefits. However, concerns about equitable access and the quality of AI data arise. The ultimate goal remains to develop safe, effective and widely accessible treatments. 🟠 Reaching remote and underserved areas with innovative biotech solutions is about more than just expanding market access. It's about addressing critical health needs and creating equitable opportunities for all. Leveraging technology and strategic partnerships helps us bridge these gaps and significantly impact global health. 🟠 The biotech field is rapidly evolving. Keeping up with the latest scientific developments, industry trends and regulatory changes is essential to maintain a competitive edge in biotech investing. Listen to the full podcast via the link in our comments 👇

Ever wondered how someone goes from being a specialist at a major teaching hospital to diving into the world of biotech venture capital? 🩺 OneVentures Paul Kelly shares his story of making the leap in the mid-90s - when mentorship and support were scarce, and there was no roadmap to follow. 💼 His advice for those looking to make a similar transition? 👔 ➡️ Seek mentorship,  ➡️ build a support network, and if possible,  ➡️ keep a foot in both worlds while navigating the shift. Listen to the latest First Cheque podcast with Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter to learn more about Paul Kelly’s career across healthcare, digital health, biotech and investing. 🎧 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Turo

What is biotech really about? It’s not just lab coats and test tubes. 👀 It’s investing in new therapies, diagnostics, and the future of human health. 💚 Biotechnology goes beyond labs -  it’s where biology meets technology to create life-changing therapies and diagnostics. 🚀 Want to learn more about the future of healthcare? Get a quick intro to the world of biotech with Paul and hear about how ground-breaking discoveries at the intersection of science and health are improving lives every day. ✔️ Listen to the First Cheque podcast with Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter to learn more about biotech investing in Paul. 🎧 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Turo

Australia makes up just 3% of the global pharmaceutical market - so what about the other 97%? 🌏 When it comes to digital health, going global is key. 🚀 In our latest episode, OneVentures Founding Partner & Director Paul Kelly dives into the world of biotech and digital health, explains why Aussie startups need to think BIG, and breaks down why tackling the massive US market is essential for Aussie startups. ✅ Tune in to learn more with Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures about angel and venture capital investing within biotech and digital health. 🎧 Thanks to our sponsors for helping to make this episode of First Cheque possible. Vanta, Turo