Produced by W2D1 Media. Work with us →
Taryn Pieterse

Taryn Pieterse

Partner at Rampersand

Investor

Taryn Pieterse is a Partner at Rampersand, a dedicated early‑stage venture fund backing ANZ founders building B2B software and AI‑driven technology companies. She leads and supports investments across the portfolio, with experience on rounds for companies including Hatch and other high‑growth startups.

Taryn joined Rampersand in 2020 after a decade in investing and investment banking, including roles at Goldman Sachs in Sydney and London and at Light Warrior Group in Melbourne. She holds dual degrees in Commerce (Finance) and Science (Mathematics), and is known for working closely with founders on capital raising, strategy and long‑term growth.

Watch the episode Jump to key moments

In their own words

From Taryn Pieterse of Rampersand — How a VC backs early-stage founders · Investment Thesis
You can build the best product in the world, but if you don't have a go-to-market strategy, you can't be a unicorn because no one's going to buy your product.
▶ Taryn Pieterse of Rampersand — How a VC backs early-stage founders

Career

  1. Now Partner · Rampersand
  2. Earlier Venture capital investment manager · Family office of Radek Sali
  3. Earlier Analyst, Investment Banking Division · Goldman Sachs

Sources: startupplaybook.co

Key moments

Jump straight to the part of Taryn Pieterse of Rampersand — How a VC backs early-stage founders you want.

  1. 0:00 Why Australian founders still win
  2. 2:02 From Goldman Sachs to Rampersand
  3. 3:33 Building a thesis inside the portfolio
  4. 6:26 Cheque sizes: $250K to $2M, leading rounds
  5. 7:15 Founder vs product, stage by stage
  6. 8:42 The founder framework: grit, execution, optimism
  7. 10:21 Second-time founders and what an MVP proves
  8. 13:00 Solo founders vs co-founding teams
  9. 15:14 Sector-agnostic — and why not medtech
  10. 17:00 How AI is rewriting defensibility

Heard on

▶
Investment Thesis · 12 June 2026 Taryn Pieterse of Rampersand — How a VC backs early-stage founders

Rampersand on Day One

Rampersand Rampersand is a seed‑focused venture capital firm backing early‑stage technology founders in Australia and New Zealand with “abnormal potential”. 1 person · 1 episode →

Connections

Spot something wrong? Suggest a correction Updated 25 September 2026

Produced by W2D1 Media

Want a show of your own?

W2D1 Media — the team behind the Day One Network, which helped build Blackbird Ventures' Wild Hearts — builds and produces podcasts for funds, founders and operators. If you want a show built around your brand, let's talk.

Start a show →
—