Episode Summary:
Wayne Gerard is co-founder of RedEye, a tech company which manages engineering information for large, complex asset owners such as councils, hospitals, power and water utilities and mining companies. Wayne is also Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur, a role in which he advises the state government on its startup and innovation strategy. In his conversation with guest host Will Tjo, Wayne discusses what he sees as the government’s role in the startup ecosystem, as well as his belief that attracting talent into the startup ecosystem is “mission critical”.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:19 Special Interview Series Introduction
00:34 Meet Wayne Gerard
01:14 Role as Chief Entrepreneur of Queensland
02:01 Wayne's Background and Journey to Entrepreneurship
03:03 Transition from Army to Boeing
04:54 Building RedEye
05:47 Entrepreneurial Mindset and Key Questions
08:05 Importance of Total Addressable Market
09:01 Evolution of the Startup Ecosystem in Australia
10:43 Catalysts for Growth in the Startup Ecosystem
13:07 Government Involvement in Startup Ecosystem
14:25 Surprises in the Ecosystem's Development
17:02 Role of Government in Supporting Startups
20:30 Distinction Between State and Federal Startup Ecosystems
23:13 Comparison with Global Ecosystems
24:51 Opportunities for Improvement in Australia
27:02 The Impact of Remote Work on Startup Culture
28:07 Importance of Talent Attraction
30:10 Engaging the Migrant Community in Startups
31:05 Key Advice for New Entrepreneurs
32:19 Closing Remarks
