The growing popularity of Venture Capital (VC) has enabled some remarkable and innovative businesses. The attractive returns of many VC funds have stoked further investor appetite for their aggressive growth strategies. Today some of the world’s most highly valued companies are neither listed nor profitable. Furthermore, in response to the... Show More
I recently wrote about Bailador portfolio company Rezdy, and how the business started as an idea Simon Lenoir had while working in a dive shop in New Caledonia. The story struck a chord with many readers. Successful companies are founded by very different people from very different backgrounds. In this... Show More
Rezdy is fast emerging as a dominant player in the Tours and Activities booking software market and has a clear strategy to create a world-leading global marketplace. Show More
We recently invited a group of Australia’s leading venture capital (VC) investors to provide their views on various technology themes and how they are likely to impact the world in which we live. Our panel included Daniel Petre AO, Co-Founder and Partner from AirTree Ventures, Niki Scevak, Managing Director and... Show More
There was a short-lived segment on radio in Australia a few years back called “defend the indefensible” where a young lawyer was told an “indefensible” topic on the spot and asked to mount a passionate defence of what would seem to be a lost cause. It made for some funny,... Show More
In Livewire's final podcast for 2017, Livewire's Co-Founder and Managing Director, Tom McKay, sits down with Niki Scevak, Partner and Co-founder of Blackbird Ventures, one of Australia's most successful VC firms. With a keen interest in public markets, and the teachings of Munger and Buffett, Niki provides a unique perspective... Show More
Investing in Australia has been relatively straight forward for the past thirty years - buy domestic banks and property - however, this investment strategy is in its twilight. The challenge for investors, and indeed for the Australian economy itself, is to invest for the future rather than the past. More... Show More
Last month I took part in a Draper Venture Network investor summit in Silicon Valley where fellow investors from around the world gathered to share observations and talk emerging trends for the year ahead. While the ongoing shift to online advertising shows no signs of slowing, thanks to the ever-increasing... Show More
High-growth, early-stage companies are set to accelerate Australia’s labour market, driving jobs growth and economic prosperity according to the Australian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (AVCAL). Venture capital is a type of private equity investment strategy that targets high-momentum, early-stage companies. With the popularity of crowdfunding platforms and the... Show More
Fred Wilson is the founder of New York-based Union Square Ventures, an early-stage venture firm that’s achieved a US$1B+ exit each year since 2011 – including Tumblr, Twitter, Lending Club, and Etsy. He also writes AVC, the most popular morning read among ‘elite VCs’ based on guests from The Twenty... Show More