Startup leaders unite in Melbourne, Australia to drive growth and innovation
Since 2020, our Australian portfolio and market presence has grown significantly. We've had both the privilege of supporting numerous outstanding startups and the opportunity to get to know the incredible teams behind them. We are delighted to host an event that goes beyond just financial support.
The Third Annual Australian Summit
Against the stunning backdrop of downtown Melbourne, founders, CEOs, and startup leaders from the Lighter Capital client portfolio gathered for an entire day inside the sleek Macquarie Bank offices. This intimate and dynamic event brought together like-minded leaders to share personal stories, exchange advice, and openly discuss their challenges and triumphs. We’re honored to hear from attendees who found the Summit to be an invaluable experience—one that will leave a lasting impact on their journey.
“As a founder, opportunities to lift your head up and get away from the day to day are hard to come by, as is the chance to be in a room with 20 other founders and spend the day learning from them in a safe, non-judgemental environment. The Lighter Capital Summit is one of those opportunities and I look forward to it every year.” — Oliver Garside, Co-Founder & Director of Rounded
2024 AUS Summit Recap
This year’s Summit included content-rich sessions, networking opportunities, and bonding time for our Australian clients. Read on for highlights from the day.
Economic and SaaS Market Outlook
Discussion led by Paul Tontodonati (Founder & Director) and Thomas Petrakos (Founder & Director) of Platform Advisory Partners.
Health and Performance Expert
Olly Bridge, principal and co-owner of Essentio Health, presented on the essentials of health and wellness (diet, excercise, sleep, and mental health), and how this builds on the success of a growth-stage company.
Founder-Led Sales to Team Sales
Using his direct experience, Gavin Tye, founder of Sales Market Fit, shared how startups can seamlessly move from founder-led sales to active team sales, avoiding the many pitfalls and hurdles along the way.
Group Discussion on Fundraising
Moderated by Ian Gardiner, Partner at Jelix Ventures, and Melissa Widner, CEO at Lighter Capital.
The group discussed the fundraising in the current market as well as the courses towards a successful raise.
Thank you to our Host Sponsor, Macquarie Bank!
Macquarie
We extend our gratitude to our Host Sponsor, Macquarie Bank, for hosting this remarkable gathering for our portfolio in Melbourne.
Macquarie is a global financial services group operating in 33 markets in asset management, retail and business banking, wealth management, leasing and asset financing, market access, commodity trading, renewables development, specialist advisory, capital raising and principal investment. The diversity of our operations, combined with a strong capital position and robust risk management framework, has contributed to their 53-year record of unbroken profitability. Learn more at www.macquarie.com/us/en.html.
Invest Victoria
Thank you to our partners at Invest Victoria for joining us at the Australian Summit. We are proud to be appointed by the Victorian Government to deliver the Victorian Venture Growth Fund (VGF). Read more about this $30M fund to invest in Australian Tech Startups.
“The Victorian Government is supporting alternative financing options for high-growth companies in Melbourne and Victoria. The State Government of Victoria views startups as being significant contributors to economic growth and offers practical alternative funding programs to support them.
The government has allocated resources to venture capital and equity-attraction funds and collaborates with industry partners to enhance funding options. This approach aims to foster an environment where startups can prosper, innovate, and make substantial economic contributions to the state.”
Interested in attending a future Lighter Summit?
The Lighter Summit is an annual gathering exclusive to the Lighter Capital Client Community and our partners. Learn more about non-dilutive startup financing from Lighter Capital and apply today to get funding plus the benefits you'd expect from VCs.