Episode Summary:
Andrea Gardiner is the founder of Jelix, an investment firm which focuses on early stage technology startups in Australia and New Zealand. In her conversation with Adam, she shares her conviction that disruptive, scalable technology startups are critical for the future economic prosperity of Australia, and highlights the supportive and collaborative of Australia’s startup ecosystem as a key advantage.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:24 Meet Andrea Gardiner
00:31 Overview of Gilex Ventures
00:53 Approach to Raising Funds
02:01 Number of Meetings for Funding
02:57 Managing a Large Number of Investors
04:31 Enjoying the Job as a Venture Capitalist
06:03 Learning Curve and Community Support
08:05 Mentorship in the Startup Ecosystem
09:08 Early Involvement in the Australian Startup Scene
10:09 Creation of Innovation Bay
11:25 First Investment Experience
12:09 Starting Gilex Ventures
13:47 Importance of Due Diligence
15:30 Integrity in Venture Capital
16:58 Balancing Integrity with Team Size
19:47 Gaps in the Australian Startup Ecosystem
20:58 Changes Post-COVID
23:32 Deal Flow and Collaboration
25:02 Changes in the Startup Ecosystem Over 20 Years
27:32 Advice for New Founders
31:05 Message for Politicians and Stakeholders
32:27 Closing Remarks
