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🎧 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.

Happy March. We’ve got another massive First Cheque interview for you, a big upcoming event, and bonus episodes to build fortitude.

🔮 Meet Trang Nguyen 🔮

Investor & Co-Founder of Transpose Platform based in SF, CA USA

In the latest episode of the First Cheque podcast, Trang Nguyen from Transpose Platform shares insights from being a prolific investor and incubating startups, funds, accelerator programs, and studios since 2015.

So far, they’ve helped create at least +15 programs, +1,000 startups and have made direct early-stage investments into 9 unicorns.

Some people say investing in startups is like using a crystal ball - but what if the crystal ball Trang uses is really a robust, data-driven platform approach?

Trang has had an exceptional professional journey to date - including pivotal roles as an operator in a startup funded by Stanford Endowment and Founders Fund as well as being a LP at a $9B hospital.

Now supporting the startup industry with clear structure for growth at Transpose, Trang has access to insights from a community of +36,000 LPs and other startup programs that help build hundreds of startups every year.

One of the leading minds in investing, Trang also spoke last year at the Web Summit in Qatar on the pros and cons of IPOs.

This episode goes deep into the rationale of investing in startups and programs - as well as what investors really need to think about.

Listen to co-hosts Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures interview Trang Nguyen about finding and supporting the best startups on the First Cheque podcast.

📅 First Cheque at SOUTHSTART 📅

SOUTHSTART is on this week in Adelaide. If you’re attending, consider joining:

• Cheryl Mack on WED 6 Mar in the Deal Room alongside Samar McHeileh from Scale Investors, Dan Krasnostein from SquarePeg, and Ben Armstong from Archangel Ventures discussing: Terraforming the Investment Landscape 

• Jessy Wu from AfterWork Ventures (First Cheque EP2) on WED 6 MAR in Town Square with Rachael Neumann from Flying Fox Ventures and Simon Thomsen from Startup Daily discussing: What doesn’t hurt you, makes you weaker: Why the power structures we benefit from may also hurt us. 

💡 Lessons from First Cheque Episodes 💡

• 🐦 Samantha Wong from Blackbird in New Zealand discusses spotting opportunities and intentionally building the ambitious AUS & NZ ecosystem through their +100 startups, +150 founders and +6,800 operators. Samantha’s interview

• 📚 On-Ramps, Communities & Maximising Learning Episode with co-hosts Cheryl Mack and Maxine Minter outline the first steps for new angels - first investments considerations, the importance of communities, recommended books, and educational courses.  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, key founder traits, standout industries, and perspectives leading into 2024. Reflection episode

• 🦄 Elaine Stead from M8 Ventures in Adelaide has made +100 personal investments (including 2 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 🎙️

Want an episode from the archives?

Listen to the interview with Cheryl Mack on the podcast:

The History of the Australian Startup Ecosytem

First Cheque is supported by our wonderful sponsors:

Turo & Scendar

Want to hear something specific about startups from us?

Let us know your feedback via DayOne.fm LinkedIn