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Peta Ellis

General Manager at Beaten Zone Venture Partners · Former at EverydayEntrepreneur365

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Peta Ellis

About Peta Ellis

Peta Ellis is General Manager of Beaten Zone Venture Partners, the Brisbane venture fund founded by Steve Baxter that invests in early-stage Australian defence and space technology companies.

She has worked in Queensland's startup community for more than a decade. She was general manager of the Brisbane startup hub River City Labs for four years before becoming its CEO in 2016, and led it through the growth that ended in its acquisition by the Australian Computer Society and a 2018–19 expansion into New South Wales and Victoria. She later founded EverydayEntrepreneur365, which connects organisations with entrepreneurship speakers, mentors and workshop facilitators.

On The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem interview series, she recalled how Brisbane's startup scene formed, including Queensland's first Startup Weekend in 2012.

In conversation.

2 episodes

Start herePeta Ellis on the importance of innovationHer own interview: she traces how Brisbane's startup support grew, from Queensland's first Startup Weekend in 2012, and gives advice to new founders.

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, 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, Emily Rich, Lars Rasmussen

Go straight to the good bits.

Key moments from Peta Ellis on the importance of innovation.

  1. 0:29Meet Peta Ellis
  2. 1:01Peta's Background and Involvement in the Ecosystem
  3. 1:53Early Involvement in the Startup Scene
  4. 3:07Attraction to the Innovation Ecosystem
  5. 4:52The Support Infrastructure in Brisbane
  6. 6:43Key Catalysts for the Startup Ecosystem
  7. 8:26Learning from External Ecosystems
  8. 11:49Importance of Storytelling in Entrepreneurship
  9. 14:44Community Initiatives and Programs
  10. 16:27Areas for Improvement in the Ecosystem

In their own words.

“Not everyone's cut out to be the founder, but they could definitely play an instrumental role in another company or be a change maker within a large organization.”
Peta Ellis — Peta Ellis on the importance of innovationThe History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · 17 February 2022

Beaten Zone Venture Partners on Day One

Beaten Zone Venture Partners is a Brisbane venture capital fund that invests in early-stage Australian defence and space technology companies.

2 people · 3 episodes
Beaten Zone Venture Partners

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Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026

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