Pick My Brain with Alan Jones All people
Dexter Todd
About Dexter Todd
Dexter Todd is a Sydney-based founder who most recently ran Bardar, a nightlife app mapping over 350 Sydney bars, pubs and clubs in real time; he deferred his degree at the Australian National University in 2023 to build it after raising pre-seed funding from angels, VCs and family and friends. On Pick My Brain, he discussed pivoting Bardar around festival data. Todd has since moved on to Draper, a new venture with co-founders Oliver Bagin and Benny Abbatangelo, backed by Startmate, that helps solo founders validate ideas, build a brand and launch a product-based business.
In conversation.
1 episode
Pick My Brain with Alan Jones Go straight to the good bits.
Key moments from How Bardar Pivoted: Dexter Todd’s Festival Data Playbook.
- 0:00Dexter on festival frustrations and app clunkiness
- 2:01From ANU student startup to Bardar’s growth
- 3:37How Bardar pivoted to focus on festivals
- 8:23Landing a contract with South by Southwest via cold email
- 11:55Using foot traffic APIs to track venue capacity
- 14:24Post-event reports and insights for festivals
- 15:09Fundraising journey: $225K pre-seed and $200K extension
- 16:36Alan’s advice: converting seasonal deals into SaaS contracts
- 17:27Positioning Bardar as a data-driven SaaS enterprise
- 21:38The importance of annual contracts to build a sustainable business
In their own words.
“We're not like a B2B AI SaaS play. We kind of exist in a funny space.”
The path so far.
- Now
Co-Founder · Draper
- From 2023 · Startup
Co-founder · BARDAR
- Earlier · Startup
Team member · Talentsheet
Sources: draper.chat
Draper on Day One
Draper is a Sydney-built AI app that walks founders from idea validation through branding, website creation and first ad campaigns, aiming to let one person run a…
1 person · 1 episodeAcross the network.
Backers of Draper heard on Day One
In the room with
Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 25 September 2026
Be part of
the conversation.
Put your brand alongside the voices founders, investors and operators come to hear.
Explore sponsorshipProduced by W2D1 Media
Want a show of your own?
W2D1 Media — the team behind the Day One Network, which helped build Blackbird Ventures' Wild Hearts — builds and produces podcasts for funds, founders and operators. If you want a show built around your brand, let's talk.
