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Lauren Capelin

VC Business Development Manager, AWS Startups

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Lauren Capelin

About Lauren Capelin

Lauren Capelin is VC business development manager for Australia and New Zealand at AWS Startups, part of Amazon Web Services. Her work spans generative AI, web3, fintech and early-stage investing, and in 2025 she joined the facilitators of the Wade Institute's VC Catalyst program for investors.

She was previously a Principal at Startmate, leading founder scouting and investment programs, and before that Partner of Platform and head of venture community at Reinventure, the Westpac-backed venture fund. She has served on the board of FinTech Australia and co-founded Collaborative Lab with Rachel Botsman, advising businesses and governments on collaborative consumption.

She was interviewed for Day One's documentary series The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem, talking about community, fintech and inclusion in Australian startups.

In conversation.

5 episodes

Start hereLauren Capelin and the importance of nurturing diversityHer full interview, covering Startmate's founder-community model, her sharing-economy and fintech work, and inclusion.

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, 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

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 4

Recorded as Startup Ecosystem Manager, AWS Startups

With Simon Thomsen, Tim Boyle, David Burt, Rachel Yang, Sarah Pearson, Bruce Tulloch, Cheryl Mack, Lucinda Hartley, Joshua Flannery, Megan Sebben, Alex Scandurra, Phil Ireland, Julie Trell, Peter Devine, Dean McEvoy, Craig Swann, Colette Grgic, Pete Horsley, Aaron Birkby, Annie Parker, Paul Bassat, Maxine Sherrin, Malcolm Turnbull, James Alexander, Melissa Widner, Hamish Hawthorn

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 5

Recorded as Ecosystem Manager, AWS Startups

With Mark Pesce, Steve Grace, Eloise Hall, Isobel Marshall, Darryl Lyons, Megan Sebben, Phil Ireland, Wayne Gerard, Sam Jockel, Samantha Finnegan, Arthur Sinodinos, Peter Devine, Tim Fung, Peter Tippett, Trevor Folsom, Dean McEvoy, Moira Were, Kate Jones, Daniel Flynn, Mick Liubinskas, Peter Bradd, Rachael Neumann, Chad Renando, Annie Parker, Aaron Birkby, Rachel Yang, Melissa Widner, Sarah Pearson, Colin Kinner, Bruce Tulloch, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner, Niki Scevak

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 6

Recorded as Startup Ecosystem Manager, AWS Startups

With Leslie Delaforce, Darryl Lyons, Megan Sebben, Wayne Gerard, Nicole O'Brien, Alex Carpenter, Evan Thornley, Baden U'Ren, Tim Fung, Trevor Folsom, Peter Davison, Craig Swann, Moira Were, Colette Grgic, Allan O'Connor, Rachael Neumann, Chad Renando, Annie Parker, Brendan Hill, Aaron Birkby, Malcolm Turnbull, Jodie Fox, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Yolanda Redrup, Andrew Nunn, Melissa Widner, Alfred Lo, Sarah Pearson, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Colin Kinner, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner, Niki Scevak

Go straight to the good bits.

Key moments from Lauren Capelin and the importance of nurturing diversity.

  1. 0:22Meet Lauren Capelin
  2. 0:29Overview of Startmate
  3. 0:58Core Value of Startmate: Founders Helping Founders
  4. 2:10Community Importance in Startmate
  5. 2:50Lauren's Background Before Startmate
  6. 3:10Early Days of the Startup Ecosystem in Australia
  7. 4:49Support Infrastructure in 2010
  8. 5:30Transition from Collaborative Consumption to Fintech
  9. 8:22Comparing Global Ecosystems to Australia
  10. 11:53Unique Competitive Advantages of the Australian Ecosystem

In their own words.

“It's a really lonely place to be at that early stage and you need as many believers around you as possible.”
Lauren Capelin — Lauren Capelin and the importance of nurturing diversityThe History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · 30 January 2022

The path so far.

  1. Now

    VC Business Development Manager, AWS Startups

  2. Earlier

    Principal · Startmate

  3. Earlier

    Partner / Head of Venture Community · Reinventure Fund

  4. Earlier · Startup

    Co-founder (with Rachel Botsman) · Collaborative Lab

Sources: aicd.com.au

Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Day One

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform provided by Amazon.

4 people · 9 episodes
Amazon Web Services (AWS)

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Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026

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