Investment Thesis with Kali Norman 
About Ian Gardiner
Ian Gardiner is co-founder of Innovation Bay, a community for founders and investors across the Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem, which he started with Phaedon Stough in 2003. He is also a partner at Jelix Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital fund that invests in Australian tech startups.
He has previously served as the Head of Startups at Amazon Web Services for Australia and New Zealand. His entrepreneurial career began with Viocorp, where he served as CEO and helped raise several rounds of equity finance, and he has also been involved with lastorders.com and NewsBase. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Oxford, is a member of YPO, and has been recognized with the Pearcy award for IT Entrepreneur of the Year.
On Day One he has set out his approach to investing on Investment Thesis with Kali Norman, and talked about building startup communities in The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem.
- Talks about
- Startup Lessons, Venture Capital, AI, Fundraising
In conversation.
4 episodes
Start hereIan Gardiner's Investment Thesis | Investment Thesis with Kali NormanHis most recent and fullest episode, setting out how he assesses startups after two decades as founder, operator and investor.
Investment Thesis with Kali Norman 
Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 2
With Jodie Fox, Alfred Lo, Hamish Hawthorn, Cameron Adams, Evan Thornley, John Allsopp, Malcolm Turnbull, Mick Liubinskas, Matt Barrie, Mark Pesce, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Simon Thomsen, Phil Morle, Silvia Pfeiffer, Dean McEvoy, Alan Noble, Niki Scevak, Alan Jones
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, 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, Emily Rich, Lars Rasmussen
The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series Ian Gardiner discusses his passion for nurturing startup communities
The path so far.
- Now
Co-Founder · Innovation Bay
- Earlier · Scale-up
Co-founder & CEO · Viocorp
Sources: startupdaily.net
Innovation Bay on Day One
Innovation Bay is a membership community for technology founders and investors in Australia and New Zealand.
2 people · 4 episodes
Across the network.
In the room with
Adam SpencerHost, Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem 
Jodie FoxCo-founder & former Chief Creative Officer, Shoes of Prey 
Alfred LoChief Commercial & Product Officer, Harvest B 
Hamish HawthornVP Corporate Development, Propeller Aero 
Cameron AdamsCo-founder & Chief Product Officer, Canva 
Evan ThornleyCo-Founder & CEO, LongView 
John AllsoppCo-Founder, Large Language Law 
Malcolm TurnbullFormer Prime Minister of Australia Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026
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