Episode Summary:
Tim Fung is founder of Airtasker, a local services marketplace connecting people and businesses who need work done with people wanting to work. He is also co-founder and Director of Tank Stream Labs, a tech startup co-working space in Sydney. In his conversation with Adam, Tim discusses how people work from co-working spaces for a sense of community, not just desk space, as well as why he believes Australia is a great market to test startup ideas locally before going global.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:31 Meet Tim Fung
00:52 Tim's Early Exposure to the Startup Ecosystem
02:25 The Role of Amaysim in Tim's Journey
04:16 The Origin Story of Airtasker
06:48 Tim's Interest in Fashion and Talent Management
08:30 Transferable Skills from Previous Experiences
10:14 Starting Airtasker in 2012
12:55 The Launch of Tank Stream Labs
15:29 Early Days of Airtasker
16:02 Focus on Job Postings
17:23 Differences Between Software and Marketplace Companies
18:52 The Meaning Behind Tank Stream Labs
19:52 Building Communities in the Startup Ecosystem
20:53 The Impact of the Internet on Community Building
22:17 The Growth of the Australian Startup Ecosystem
24:17 The Importance of Density in Ecosystems
25:08 Gaps and Opportunities for Improvement
27:07 Australia's Success in Marketplace Businesses
29:04 The Competitive Nature of Talent Acquisition
30:28 Advice for New Founders
33:18 Recognizing the Contributions of Smaller Companies
34:39 Message for Investors, Founders, and Policymakers
35:55 Closing Remarks
