Give It A Nudge

Adam Scott | RMI | Give It A Nudge

Caitlin Judd Talks Mentorship, Female Leadership, and Building Brands

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve interviews Caitlin Judd, who takes us through her fascinating journey, starting with her roots in Melbourne, where she studied business and media at Monash University. She shares her transformative experience living in Miami, working across marketing, acting, and even selling high-end art, before returning to Melbourne to pursue a corporate marketing career. Feeling unfulfilled, Caitlin made a bold pivot into freelancing, supporting female entrepreneurs ...

How Tom Waterhouse Turned a Family Legacy into a Global Venture Fund

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Tom Waterhouse, a well-known name in Australian bookmaking and online betting. Tom opens up about his fascinating journey, from growing up in a family of bookmakers to launching his own online betting business, TomWaterhouse.com, in 2009. He shares how he went from being an on-course bookie to building a business that grew from 100 to a quarter of a million customers in just 18 months! After selling to William Hill in 2013, Tom became the CEO ...

Rafael Niesten on Revolutionising Property Management

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve welcomes Rafael Niesten, founder of Proptech Labs, a company revolutionising property management by handling essential back-end services like maintenance, inspections, and invoicing for residential properties. Rafael, a serial entrepreneur, shares his colorful journey, from running a mobile phone business and starting a youth radio station in Perth to tackling the challenges of the property tech space. Timestamps: 00:18 – Introduction to Rafael Niesten a...

Exploring Fintech and Mental Health with Ben Ford

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Ben Ford, a fintech expert who’s been shaping Australia’s fintech landscape for over a decade. Ben shares his journey from corporate roles to becoming a key player in fintech, proptech, and logistics, recounting his early days with industry pioneers like Afterpay and Acorns. Beyond business, Ben opens up about his latest project—the Vanessa Ford Foundation, a new initiative inspired by personal loss and focused on mental health support for...

Scott Berriman on Why He Left Corporate Life to Start TenantX

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Scott Berriman, founder of TenantX, a unique commercial property consultancy that’s all about representing tenants. Scott, who’s flying solo as a founder, dives into his transition from a long career in corporate real estate to building his own brand and business. Scott shares his journey from the early days working in retail leasing, through the highs and lows of corporate life, and what finally pushed him to go independent. He talks abou...

From Startup Founder to KPMG Futures: Chatting with Jessica Baird Walsh

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve welcomes back Jessica Baird Walsh, who has made big changes since her last appearance. Formerly the founder of Remote Social, Jessica now plays a key role in KPMG Futures, where she drives innovation, venture partnerships, and strategic collaborations with startups. Jessica shares insights on her new role, how KPMG is staying ahead in tech, and what it's like working with early-stage founders from the corporate side. She also dives into her personal life...

How Genevo Marine is Leading Australia’s Electric Boat Revolution

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace sits down with Damon Rahmate and Andrew Davey, the innovative minds behind Genevo Marine, as they prepare to launch Australia’s first luxury electric recreational boat. Steve, Damon, and Andrew dive into the creation of Genevo Marine, exploring how their backgrounds in boat building, electrical engineering, and renewable energy led them to develop a groundbreaking electric boat. Designed to offer a smoother, quieter, and eco-friendly alternative to...

How Foodini is Making Dining Safer for People with Dietary Needs

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace sits down with Timo Kugler, co-founder of Foodini, a cutting-edge platform designed to help people with dietary needs navigate the food world more easily. From gluten-free to vegan and everything in between, Foodini is simplifying dining for 33% of the global population with dietary restrictions. Timo shares the journey of launching Foodini, the growth of the app in Australia and the recent expansion into the U.S. market. He dives into how AI and a...

How Deeligence is Redefining Legal Processes with A.I.

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Elena Tsalanidis, Co-Founder of Deeligence, a cutting-edge legal tech startup that’s using AI to transform the traditionally tedious process of legal due diligence. Elena explains how Deeligence is cutting down the time lawyers spend on M&A due diligence, helping law firms improve accuracy and efficiency while reducing risk. Elena also shares her journey from being a corporate lawyer to becoming a tech founder, the challenges of building a...

How Scimita Ventures is Powering the Future of Innovation

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Thomas Telfer, Chief Operating Officer of Scimita Ventures, to explore how his company is driving innovation across industries, with a strong focus on science, engineering, and sustainability. Thomas shares his journey from studying pharmacology to leading a startup that helps companies turn early-stage tech ideas into tangible products. They dive into Scimita’s pioneering work in battery recycling and the circular economy, the transition ...

Michael Batko on Scaling Startmate and Shaping Startup Futures

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Michael Batko, CEO of Startmate, to dive into how he’s building one of the most successful startup accelerators in Australia. Michael shares the story of his journey from consulting to startups, the growth of Startmate, and his vision for the future. They discuss how Startmate is supporting founders, investors, and job seekers while scaling a vibrant startup community. Michael also gives a sneak peek into his productivity-focused side hust...

How Zapme is Solving Global Travel Hassles with One App

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Scott King, co-founder of Zapme, an innovative global communications platform that simplifies international travel by providing seamless connectivity. Scott dives into the story of how Zapme was born out of the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic while working overseas, sparking the idea for a service that offers global numbers, data, and messaging—all in one app. Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Alice ...

How MoneyCatcha is Disrupting Home Loans with Open Banking

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Ruth Hatherley, Founder & CEO of MoneyCatcha, a fintech company making waves by using open banking data to revolutionise the home loan process for consumers and brokers alike. Ruth shares the story of MoneyCatcha's evolution, starting from blockchain technology to leveraging open banking to democratise data and offer faster, more competitive home loan solutions. She dives into the impact of COVID-19 on the financial landscape, how the ...

How Take2 Is Changing Lives After Prison: Cameron Smith's Mission

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace chats with Cameron Smith from Take2, a company that provides individuals who have had contact with the justice system a second chance at life through a three-year tech training and employment program. Cameron explains how Take2 offers not just technical training but also essential life skills, aiming to break down barriers and create employment pathways for those who have faced significant challenges. Cameron shares his journey into founding Take2,...

Seoul Tonic: Bootstrapping a Wellness Revolution

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Sophie Hood, founder of Seoul Tonic, to explore her journey of creating a unique health tonic inspired by South Korean traditions. Sophie shares her story from starting in consulting and finance to diving into the world of consumer health products. She discusses her fascination with Korean skincare, which led her to discover traditional ingredients that help with alcohol metabolism and liver detoxification. Timestamps: 01:17 - Quick pitch ...

How Alex Kerr is Transforming Education for Neurodiverse Students

In this episode of Give It a Nudge, Steve chats with Alex Kerr (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-kerr-6599b7197/), the founder of Kumo Study (https://www.kumostudy.com/), a study management tool for students with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity. Steve and Alex discuss her journey from university to founding Kumo Study, the unique challenges she faced as a non-tech founder, and how she successfully bootstrapped the business. They also explore Kumo Study's innovative approach to digitising ...

Get Cool Brands: Gabriela Scharf Talks Sustainability

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Gabriela Scharf, Founder of Get Cool Brands. Gabriela's fascinating career journey takes centre stage as she shares her experiences moving from Brazil to Australia, working with major brands like Red Bull and WeWork, and eventually finding her passion in purpose-driven initiatives. Gabriela recounts the challenges of starting anew in Australia, initially working in hospitality before landing marketing roles. Her time at WeWork during COVID sha...

Revolutionising Creativity Jessie Hughes Talks Leonardo.Ai and Canva

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace chats with Jessie Hughes, Senior Creative Technologist at Leonardo.Ai, just days after their acquisition by Canva. Steve and Jessie discuss the groundbreaking features of Leonardo.Ai, a generative AI-powered content creation suite designed to democratize creativity by making high-quality content creation accessible to everyone. Jessie shares insights into the company’s rapid growth, innovative tools like real-time canvas doodling and high-resolutio...

How PostLock is Changing the Homeownership Game

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Stephen Zilioli, the Founder & CEO of PostLock (https://www.postlock.com.au/), a revolutionary new savings product designed to help aspiring homeowners keep up with runaway property prices. Steve and Stephen discuss the journey from a stable banking career to founding PostLock, the difficulties of navigating government regulations, and the unique approach PostLock takes in partnering with governments to provide secure, inflation-adjusted r...

Dickie Currer: The Hype Man of Aussie Tech & Innovation

In this very exciting episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Dickie, known as "the hype man" for the Australian tech and innovation ecosystem. Dickie talks about his unique career path, starting from law school and the Territorial Army, moving on to become a Moroccan country specialist in the travel industry, and finally diving into the Australian startup world. He shares his colourful experiences and the impactful roles he's had, highlighting his passion for promoting Australian innov...

Transforming End-of-Life Care: Melissa Reader on Building Violet

In this episode of Give It a Nudge, Steve chats with Melissa Reader, the founder and CEO of Violet (https://www.violet.org.au/), a pioneering virtual care platform dedicated to supporting individuals and their families during the last stage of life. Steve and Melissa talk about her shift from consulting to starting Violet, the unique challenges she faced as a non-tech founder in a tech world, and how she successfully bootstrapped the business while keeping control. They also cover Violet’s innov...

Bardia Khalilifar's Transition from Corporate Leader to Startup Innovator

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve talks with Bardia Khalilifar, the Founder of Conicio Advisory. Bardia shares his journey from the corporate tech world to founding his own consulting firm. Initially working as a programmer and network engineer, he transitioned into sales and partnerships, holding executive roles over a 20-year career. His move from corporate life to entrepreneurship was driven by his desire to apply his skills in a more dynamic environment. Steve and Bardia discuss the ...

Redefining Riches: Neelan Sornalingam on Charting Financial Independence

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve is joined by Neelan Sornalingam, a financial advisor passionate about transforming how clients manage and think about their finances. During their talk, Neelan explains the importance of having clear, defined life and financial goals before getting into the nuts and bolts of financial planning. He believes that aligning financial strategies with personal dreams, whether those are as straightforward as saving for retirement or as unique as buying an islan...

Dispelling Auction Myths with Cooley Auctions' Damien Cooley

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Damien Cooley of Cooley Auctions. Damien shares his journey from starting out in real estate to becoming a well-known auctioneer, recognised by his signature orange tie. He discusses his unique approach to auctioneering, emphasising the role of energy, strategy, and marketing in his success. Damien also talks about the challenges and breakthroughs he has faced, including how he adapted his business to incorporate online auctions before the pan...

Inside Google Cloud's Startup Ecosystem with Mike Langford

In this long-awaited episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve finally has the chance to sit down with Mike Langford, Head of VC & Startup Ecosystem JAPAC at Google Cloud. Mike discusses his role at Google, overseeing the VC and startup ecosystem across Asia-Pacific. He shares his 12-year journey with the company, his passion for technology, and the strategic moves that led to his current position. Mike covers Google’s Digital Futures initiative, a $1 billion commitment to advancing Australia’s digi...

How A.I. is Changing the Luxury Fashion Game With Azura Fashion Group's Sam Wood

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Sam Wood, the CEO & Co-Founder of Azura Fashion Group, to discuss the innovative journey of his company. Sam shares the origin story of Azura Fashion Group, which started in 2019 with a mission to provide a better solution for luxury fashion brands to manage their off-season and postseason stock. The company helps brands like Dolce & Gabbana by moving their excess inventory into new markets rather than traditional outlet stores, th...

Richard Joffe on Disrupting Home Insurance with Honey Insurance

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve visits the Honey Insurance offices to talk with Richard Joffe, the Founder & CEO. Richard shares the story behind Honey Insurance, a digital home insurance company aiming to simplify and improve the insurance experience in Australia. He explains how his move from San Francisco to Australia highlighted the need for a more modern and customer-friendly insurance service. Richard discusses his background, from growing up in South Africa and Canada to his...

Headbox Australia's CEO Ali Lord on Transforming the Event Planning Landscape

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve reconnects with Ali Lord, CEO of Headbox Australia, two years after their first interview during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Ali talks about how Headbox navigated the challenges brought by the pandemic and the changes within the events industry. Starting with a small team during the pandemic, Headbox adapted by focusing on market expansion and improving their technology. This technology now helps corporate clients and venues manage events m...

A Deep Dive into Angel Investing with Aussie Angels’ Cheryl Mack

Join us on this episode of Give It A Nudge where host Steve chats with Cheryl Mack, CEO of Aussie Angels. Cheryl takes us through her journey from Toronto to becoming a key player in Australia’s startup scene. She shares her insights into the evolution of Aussie Angels, her experiences with angel investing, and the growing startup ecosystem in Australia. 🔗 Useful Links: Connect with Cheryl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylmack/ Check out Aussie Angels to explore investment opportu...