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Melissa Widner

CEO at Lighter Capital

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Melissa Widner

About Melissa Widner

Melissa Widner is chief executive of Lighter Capital, which provides revenue-based financing to technology startups. She joined its board in 2018 as the representative of NAB Ventures, the venture capital arm of National Australia Bank, and became CEO in September 2020.

She was at NAB Ventures from 2016 to 2020. Earlier, in the United States, she was a general partner at Seattle-based SeaPoint Ventures, founder and chief executive of enterprise software company 7Software, which was acquired by Concur Technologies and later became part of SAP, and chief executive of Northwest Industrial Supply.

She co-founded and chairs Heads Over Heels, a Sydney-based organisation that supports women who run high-growth companies. On The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem interview series, she discussed the progress Australian startups have made.

In conversation.

5 episodes

Start hereMelissa Widner discusses the huge progress of startupsHer dedicated interview, on how far Australian startups have come, recorded soon after Lighter Capital's 2020 launch in Australia.

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, 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

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, Hamish Hawthorn, Lauren Capelin

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 5

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, Sarah Pearson, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, 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

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, Alfred Lo, Sarah Pearson, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner, Niki Scevak

Go straight to the good bits.

Key moments from Melissa Widner discusses the huge progress of startups.

  1. 0:29Meet Melissa Widner
  2. 0:44Understanding Revenue-Based Financing for SaaS Companies
  3. 2:00Melissa's Journey to Lighter Capital
  4. 3:26The Australian Startup Ecosystem in 2009
  5. 5:05Momentum Building in the Ecosystem
  6. 8:06The Role of Atlassian in Venture Capital Recognition
  7. 10:12Government's Role in Supporting Startups
  8. 11:04The Importance of Employee Stock Options
  9. 12:36Current Gaps in the Ecosystem
  10. 13:53Overview of Lighter Capital

In their own words.

“Pick your investors wisely, pick your investors, not your valuation.”
Melissa Widner — Melissa Widner discusses the huge progress of startupsThe History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · 22 February 2022

The path so far.

  1. Now

    CEO · Lighter Capital

  2. 2016–2020

    Managing Director · NAB Ventures

  3. Earlier

    General Partner · SeaPoint Ventures

  4. Earlier · Startup

    Founder & CEO · 7Software

  5. Earlier

    CEO · Northwest Industrial Supply

  6. From 2010

    Co-founder & Chairperson · Heads Over Heels

Sources: kitcaster.com

Lighter Capital on Day One

Lighter Capital provides non-dilutive financing to revenue-generating technology start-ups, particularly recurring-revenue software businesses, as an alternative…

1 person · 5 episodes
Lighter Capital

Across the network.

Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026

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