Episode Summary:
Phil Ireland is Co-Founder and CEO of Hone Carbon, a mission-driven business with the objective of unlocking the potential for carbon storage in Australia’s agricultural environments. Prior to starting Hone Carbon in 2020, Phil’s work largely focused on climate change advocacy and policy. In his conversation with guest host Will Tjo, Phil discusses how he sees mission-driven companies as fitting into Australia’s startup ecosystem, as well as his belief that there are positive trends within Australia’s investment space towards investing in mission-driven companies.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:32 Meet Phil Ireland
01:24 Phil's Background and Mission
02:18 Transitioning from Non-Profit to Startups
03:48 First Impressions of the Startup Ecosystem
04:41 Finding Support in Newcastle's Startup Community
05:12 Discussion on Social Entrepreneurship
06:36 Gaps in the Australian Startup Ecosystem
07:53 Challenges with Government Grants
09:06 Issues in VC Funding for Social Enterprises
10:49 Measuring Impact in Australia
11:59 Strengths of the Australian Startup Community
13:28 Unpopular Opinions about the Ecosystem
14:46 Advice for New Entrepreneurs
15:21 Recent Developments in the Startup World
16:34 Final Thoughts on Grants and Funding
17:13 Shoutout to Heroes in the Startup Space
18:15 Phil's Future Focus and Closing Remarks
