Episode Summary:
Annie Parker is a startup investor and advisor with 20+ years of experience in the digital startup, technology and consulting sectors. Currently, Annie is the Executive Director for Tech Central, a community for tech startups that is part of the Greater Sydney Commission, an organisation overseen by the NSW Government. Annie sees her role at Tech Central as helping to put Sydney on the global map as an innovation ecosystem. In her conversation with guest host Will Tjo, Annie discusses why she finds working with startup founders so inspiring, as well as her frustrations that the startup ecosystem in Australia and globally aren’t more inclusive of women and non-binary people, indigenous people, people with disabilities and other marginalised individuals.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:33 Meet Annie Parker
00:45 Annie's Background and Current Role
02:32 Transition to Startup Ecosystem
03:44 The Accidental Entrepreneur Journey
05:18 Finding Purpose in Entrepreneurship
06:21 Skills from Traditional Careers
07:23 Early Experiences in Startup Programs
09:08 Success Stories from Accelerator Programs
10:27 The Evolution of the Australian Startup Scene
12:40 Insights on Community Support
14:45 The Importance of Inclusivity in Startups
16:14 Need for Government Support in Clean Tech
18:20 The Impact of Policy Cycles on Startups
19:06 The Role of Storytelling in the Tech Community
20:00 Challenges for Women and Underrepresented Founders
23:12 Suggestions for Increasing Diversity
25:41 Importance of Engaging with Indigenous Communities
27:28 Final Thoughts and Advice for New Founders
28:06 Closing Remarks
