The Startup Retro with Will Richards & Gemma Clancy 
About Elli Hanson
Elli Hanson is a partner at Side Stage Ventures, an Australian seed-stage venture firm, where she sources and leads investments alongside the general partners. She joined the firm as a principal in 2024 and was promoted to partner in 2026, when Side Stage announced an A$40 million first close for its second fund, which targets A$50 million and invests in pre-seed and seed rounds across sectors.
She was previously a founder in New York, and earlier was global director of design strategy at the advertising agency Ogilvy.
On The Startup Retro in 2024, she spoke with Will Richards and Gemma Clancy about Side Stage's investment in Leonardo AI after Canva agreed to acquire the company.
- Talks about
- AI, Fundraising, Venture Capital
In conversation.
1 episode
The Startup Retro with Will Richards & Gemma Clancy Go straight to the good bits.
Key moments from Canva's AI buy, SAVCF report & BFF grant axed.
The path so far.
- Now
Partner · Side Stage Ventures
- Earlier · Startup
Co-founder · Flaus
- Earlier
Global Director of Design Strategy · Ogilvy Worldwide
Sources: dayone.fm
Side Stage Ventures on Day One
Side Stage Ventures is a Sydney venture capital firm that invests $500,000 to $1.5 million in pre-seed and seed rounds, mainly backing Australian founders, with no fixed…
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