Episode Summary:
Brad Parsons is CEO and founder of Movus, a company that provides monitoring tools for industrial equipment with the mission of preserving the earth’s resources by improving the efficiency and life of industrial assets. At the time of recording Movius is active in 16 countries, and has ambitions for further growth. In his conversation with guest host Will Tjo, Brad discusses how he has seen an increased emphasis on funding for startups with a focus on environmental sustainability, as well as his belief that Australia’s startup ecosystem suffers from a greater degree of risk aversion than other nations.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:10 Overview of the Podcast and Its Purpose
00:28 Introduction of Guest Host, Will Tjo
00:32 Meet Brad Parsons
00:43 Brad's Background and MOVUS
00:54 Overview of MOVUS and FitMachine
01:18 Brad's Entrepreneurial Journey
01:57 The Startup Ecosystem in Australia
02:13 MOVUS as a Social Enterprise
02:53 Improving Efficiency and Energy Consumption
03:04 Launching MOVUS in 2015
03:31 Joining Accelerators and Support Structures
04:08 Growth of the Startup Ecosystem
04:14 Maturity of Investment in Startups
05:00 Challenges Beyond Initial Startup Support
05:14 Comparing Australia’s Ecosystem to Israel
06:15 The Importance of Support for Entrepreneurs
06:32 Unique Aspects of Australia’s Startup Scene
07:28 Startup Theater vs. Real Business Success
08:10 Trajectory of Australia’s Startup Ecosystem
08:54 Impact-Focused Startups
09:49 Impact vs. Returns in Startups
10:42 Changes in Investor Attitudes
11:42 Effect of COVID on Local vs. Global Focus
12:16 Unpopular Opinions about the Ecosystem
13:29 The Role of Startups in Economic Growth
14:06 Support Mechanisms Beyond Funding
15:25 Challenges in Finding Local Expertise
16:41 The Pressure to Establish International Presence
17:40 Risk Aversion in Australian Businesses
18:58 Comfort and Innovation in Australia
19:14 Advice for New Entrepreneurs
19:39 Continuous Learning as Key to Success
20:22 Recommended Learning Sources
20:26 Future Plans for MOVUS
20:54 Closing Remarks and Connecting with Brad
