Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem Launch Event Bonus Episode
With Malcolm Turnbull, Michelle Deaker, Larry Marshall, Marina Wu, Cheryl Mack, Preethi Mohan, Alan Jones, Simon Thomsen
About Niki Scevak
Niki Scevak is a co-founder and partner of Blackbird Ventures, working from its Sydney office.
Before Blackbird he founded Startmate, the accelerator he set up in 2010 after moving back to Sydney. Earlier he started two software companies, including Homethinking, a website that helped home sellers choose a real estate agent using records of past sales and reviews from previous sellers. Before that he was an analyst at Jupiter Research, and he lived in New York before turning to investing.
On The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem interview series, he explained why he is optimistic about Australia's future, and he joined the panel at the documentary's launch, recorded at Fishburners during Spark Festival in October 2022.
- Talks about
- Startup Lessons, Venture Capital
In conversation.
6 episodes
Start hereNiki Scevak is optimistic about Australia’s futureHis dedicated interview, tracing his long background in the ecosystem and why he is optimistic about Australia's future.
Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem 
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, Ian Gardiner, Mick Liubinskas, Matt Barrie, Mark Pesce, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Simon Thomsen, Phil Morle, Silvia Pfeiffer, Dean McEvoy, Alan Noble, 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, 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, Emily Rich, Lars Rasmussen
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, Melissa Widner, Sarah Pearson, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, Bruce Tulloch, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner
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, Melissa Widner, Alfred Lo, Sarah Pearson, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner
The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series Niki Scevak is optimistic about Australia’s future
Go straight to the good bits.
Key moments from Niki Scevak is optimistic about Australia’s future.
- 0:21Meet Niki Scevak
- 0:25Overview of Blackbird
- 0:52Relationship-First Investing Philosophy
- 1:10History of the Startup Ecosystem in Australia
- 1:37Pre-2009 Ecosystem Insights
- 2:12Successful Companies Before 2009
- 3:19Shift in Ambition and Community Building
- 4:18Niki's Early Entrepreneurial Journey
- 5:06The Bookmark Box Startup
- 6:11Change in Founders' Perspectives
In their own words.
“The best startups need no help, and the best startups will succeed anyway, and so you're inserting this artificial handicap onto the decision.”
“As soon as someone says someone's a safe pair of hands, you're almost guaranteed that that person is not going to be a safe pair of hands.”
The path so far.
- Now
Partner · Blackbird Ventures
- From 2010
Co-founder · Startmate
- From 2003 · Startup
Founder · Homethinking
Sources: blackbird.vc, venturebeat.com
Blackbird Ventures on Day One
Blackbird Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in Australian and New Zealand start-ups from their earliest stages and keeps backing them as they grow.
4 people · 9 episodes
Across the network.
Also at Blackbird Ventures
In the room with
Adam SpencerHost, Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem 
Malcolm TurnbullFormer Prime Minister of Australia Michelle DeakerFounding & Managing Partner, OneVentures Larry MarshallLead Independent Director, Fortescue 
Marina WuFounder, Quiet Mode 
Cheryl MackCo-Founder & CEO, Ventari 
Preethi MohanFounder, NiceTo 
Alan JonesCo-Founder & Managing Partner, M8 Ventures Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026
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