The Month in Review: June
As June has come to a close, we reflect on the month's accomplishments and set our sights on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in July.
Venture Capital forum
In June, our Managing Partner - Anthony Curtin attended the Australian Investment Council - Venture Capital forum in Sydney.
Key notes/highlights/takeaways from Anthony:
It was a privilege to hear from Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte on Investment NSW outlook and work to build innovation and advance Australian in Robotics and Al. Also interesting that Australia is already world class particularly in outside automation. Something we need to communicate more locally and globally.
Enjoyed the discussion with Eden Lawrence, Jessica Archibald and Dr David Atkins on the opportunities and solutions secondary markets offer. It’s more 'acceptable to sell in a secondary market and the stigma has lifted'. Important msg for all investors who are looking for liquidity.
Great panel with Tom Humphrey, Dr Michelle Deaker and Simone Lander on the challenges and also opportunities in VC. One big take away was advice for founders from Tom Humphrey on encouraging founders of Blackbird's Portfolio Companies to focusing on sales revenue not just bottom line. Sounds simple but as many founders and investors say ‘revenue fixes a lot of challenges.
The VC panel was complimented nicely with the LP panel of Rishi Dua, Kathryn Young, CFA, Kelvin Mak and Melissa McBurnie. Although we are in a different market, it’s still business as usual for these investors. Very excited to see the focus of institutional investors not backing away from VC.
My flight got cancelled so I could only catch marching to ‘Net Zero’ panel which consisted of Katerina Kimmorley, Malcolm Thornton, Carl Prins, Deniz Harut and Dominic Anderson. Liked the tough love to Australia from this panel. Interesting insight - for Australia to reach net zero, there is a $1.2 trillion investment opportunity up to 2050. But we need to move fast. If we do, that investment opportunity can grow to $1.9 trillion.
Again a great event. Love seeing the ecosystem mature and work towards levelling up globally.
Coatue’s 2023 EMW Conference
The East Meets West (EMW) Conference hosted by Coatue has concluded with great success. Tech leaders and visionaries from all over the world attended the event for two days of networking and future-forward discussions. This year's conference was the largest yet, with over 180 attendees.
Defamation Claims
Reputational damage caused by false or malicious statements can have serious consequences of both personal and financial significance. Similarly, being accused of making defamatory statements can be equally concerning. At Merton Lawyers we are well-versed in the complexities of defamation law. Whether your dispute can be resolved by skilled negotiations or requires expert courtroom advocacy, our litigation team will strive for the result that’s right for you. To discuss how we can assist you, please contact our litigation team on 03 9645 9500 to arrange for an initial consultation.
Queensland plans $164m investment to strengthen critical minerals sector
Australia's Queensland Government is taking significant steps to bolster the production of critical minerals by investing A$245m as part of its Critical Minerals Strategy. This substantial financial commitment is aimed at not only boosting critical minerals production but also attracting valuable investments to the region while simultaneously reducing the burden on mining exploration leases. To facilitate this, A$55m will be allocated to reduce rent charges on both new and existing exploration minerals permits to zero for a period of five years. This forward-thinking approach demonstrates the Queensland Government's dedication to fostering the growth of the critical minerals sector and positioning itself as a leading destination for mineral exploration and investment.
Western Australia will open a new investment and trade hub in Austin in 2024
A new investment and trade office will open in Austin early next year as Western Australia's only American hub.
What we’re listening to
In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast, Joe Rogan speaks with Rick Rubin - a renowned record producer who co-founded Def Jam Recordings and heads American Recordings. He has worked with Kanye West, Black Sabbath, and Johnny Cash, leaving a lasting impact on the music industry.
What we’re reading
Establishing a family office typically requires a considerable amount of wealth. Although there is no set net worth to establish a family office, it is generally believed that the minimum threshold is a net worth of $50 million. Family offices aim to offer personalised and comprehensive financial services to individuals and families with high net worth.
Upcoming*
U.S. Market Entry for Australian Businesses: Lessons Learned from a New York-Based Aussie Founder
Expanding your successful tech enterprise to the U.S. market can pay off in significant ROI — but only if you know how to avoid the hidden pitfalls of international expansion. Learn from the firsthand experience of fellow Aussie Andrew English, as he shares lessons learned from his own firm’s U.S. roll out.
Date: Jul 11, 2023 08:00 AM AEST
