🎧 New First Cheque Episode 🎧 

First Cheque exists to take you behind closed doors on some of the most interesting and informative early-stage investing conversations in Australia, and around the world.

This week, we’ve got a massive interview for you, and a collection of events featuring the First Cheque co-hosts.

🌳 Meet Craig Blair 🌳

Co-Founder & Partner at Airtree based in Sydney, Australia

In the latest episode of the First Cheque podcast, Craig Blair from Airtree Ventures shares insights from seeing startups pitch in Australia since 2002.

Airtree invests in some of the most iconic Aussie startups and Craig has led investments in Canva, Petcircle, Go1, Employment Hero, Brighte, Different, Drone Deploy, and Archistar.

Being an OG investor in the ecosystem, Craig has the gained benefit of perspective after supporting and seeing startups pitch for a few decades. Craig shares the change in pitch deck volume and trends he’s witnessed over time.

Listen to co-hosts Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures interview Craig Blair about navigating risk and choosing startups on the First Cheque podcast.

📅 Latest Events for Investors in Aus 📅

AWS is hosting an online event on WED 21 Feb with Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter on: What Founders Should Look for in Their First Investor. They’re joined by Matt Browne from Black Nova Venture Capital and will deep dive into how founders can choose a good investor worthy enough to join their cap table. Register here

SOUTHSTART is on Mar 5-7 in Adelaide, SA. Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter are featured within the festival Deal Room on WED 6 Mar to discuss: After the First Cheque: Where to next? Another SOUTHSTART festival voice is the First Cheque podcast's first interviewee in EP2 - Jessy Wu from AfterWork Ventures who's joining Rachael Neumann from Flying Fox Ventures and Simon Thomsen from Startup Daily to discuss: What doesn’t hurt you, makes you weaker: Why the power structures we benefit from may also hurt us. Festival schedule here

💡 Lessons from First Cheque Episodes 💡

• 📚 On-Ramps, Communities & Maximising Learning Episode with co-hosts Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter goes through the very first steps for new angels - what to consider when making your first investments, how important communities are, books to read, and educational courses on offer.  On-ramps episode

• 🛠️ Anabel Lippincott Paksoy from 43 invests in pre-seed and pre-product startups based out of the Bay Area discusses community and evaluating early-stage founders by their ‘why’. Anabel’s interview

• 📝 2023 Reflection Episode with co-hosts Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter reviewing trends and challenges from 2023. Learn more about the investing environment for startups, key early-stage founder traits, standout investment industries, and different perspectives leading into 2024. Reflection episode

• 🦄 Elaine Stead from M8 Ventures in Adelaide has made +100 personal investments (including two unicorns) discusses bravery and risk when supporting startups. Elaine’s interview

• 🚀 Rayn Ong from Archangel Ventures in Sydney is one of the best connected investors with +100 personal investments and more through Archangel with +$10M invested into +40 Australian companies with +90 founders and across +60 rounds. Rayn’s interview

• 🌱 Judy Anderson-Firth from Euphemia in Melbourne invests with a focus on Fintech, ClimateTech, and women-led startups supporting +40 companies and +20 funds with their ~$70M portfolio. Judy’s interview

• 🐑 Daniel Gavel from Black Sheep Capital in Brisbane aims to invest with a ‘everyone wins’ approach. Running multiple strategies, Dan runs a fund, a syndicate and personally invests in startups. Daniel’s interview

• ⚡ Jessy Wu from AfterWork Ventures in Sydney invests in startups with +$100M revenue ambition. With $20 million in funds under management, they’ve invested in +50 companies. Jessy’s interview

• ✅ Your Warm Intro with co-hosts Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter covers the importance of understanding risk, the distinction between betting and investing, and the need for better decision-making processes. Warm Intro episode

🎙️ More DayOne.fm Podcasts 🎙️

First Cheque is supported by our wonderful sponsors,

Turo & Scendar.

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