First Cheque with Cheryl Mack & Maxine Minter Navigating the Hype Cycles and Early-Stage Deep Tech Investing with Emily
Recorded as Investor
About Emily Rich
Emily Rich is Chief Operating Officer of Hola Health, an Australian telehealth provider that connects patients with registered doctors for video consultations, prescriptions, referrals and medical certificates. She co-founded the venture fund M8 Ventures and was a general partner there in 2024, when M8 led Hola's A$4.5 million pre-Series A round and she joined Hola's board.
Earlier she was director of Microsoft for Startups in Asia Pacific.
On Day One she has explained why founders should look for 'smart money' in The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem interview series, and discussed hype cycles and early-stage deep-tech investing with Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter on First Cheque.
- Talks about
- Fundraising, Venture Capital, Deep Tech & Science, Startup Lessons
In conversation.
3 episodes
Start hereNavigating the Hype Cycles and Early-Stage Deep Tech Investing with EmilyHer fullest and most recent conversation, on how she approaches deep-tech investing at the earliest stage; the 2022 interview covers 'smart money' more briefly.
First Cheque with Cheryl Mack & Maxine Minter 
Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 3
With Michael Batko, Wayne Gerard, Petr Adámek, Peter Devine, Rohit Bhargava, Terry Hilsberg, Peter Bradd, Zrinka Tokic, Rachael Neumann, Zoe Piper, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Murray Hurps, Rachel Yang, Yolanda Redrup, Peta Ellis, Sarah Pearson, Niki Scevak, Colin Kinner, Mark Pesce, Colette Grgic, Ian Gardiner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Melissa Widner, Cameron Adams, Georgie Turner, Baden U'Ren, Evan Thornley, Alan Noble, Kate Jones, Kate Cornick, James Alexander, Dharmica Mistry, Lars Rasmussen
The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series Emily Rich explains why taking “smart money” is often a better path
Recorded as Co-founder and partner, M8 Ventures
Go straight to the good bits.
Key moments from Navigating the Hype Cycles and Early-Stage Deep Tech Investing with Emily.
- 4:29Founders and working for others
- 6:12Emily on why she invests in pre-seed and seed stages
- 13:14Navigating hype cycles; the Metaverse example
- 18:14Thoughts on blockchain and crypto as hype cycles
- 22:26Understanding and identifying hype cycles in investing
- 29:28Changes in AI over the past decade; Emily's background in AI
- 32:31Public perception of AI and fear of job loss
- 37:39Tips for non-technical investors to understand AI
- 40:40Emily's Biggest Brave Moment—leaving a safe job to start angel investing
- 44:44Closing remarks and thank you
In their own words.
“Raise money that comes with knowledge attached to it, and comes with experience attached to it.”
The path so far.
- Now
Chief Operating Officer · Hola Health
- From 2024
General Partner · M8 Ventures
Sources: hola.health
Hola Health on Day One
Hola Health is a Perth-based telehealth service available across Australia, 24 hours a day.
1 person · 3 episodes
Across the network.
Backers of Hola Health heard on Day One
In the room with
Cheryl MackHost, First Cheque 
Maxine MinterHost, First Cheque 
Adam SpencerHost, Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem 
Michael BatkoCo-founder & CEO, Hourglass AI 
Wayne GerardFounder & CEO, Partner Ventures 
Petr AdámekCEO, Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) 
Peter DevineFormer CEO, Uniseed 
Rohit BhargavaFounder & Partner, Playbook Angel Network Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026
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