Co-founder of AirTree Ventures has been an Australian role model & trailblazer in the digital technology space for over 3 decades. But after early business career success working for Bill Gates at Microsoft, a seismic personal event made Daniel Petre decide there was more that he needed to do to become, in his view, a better person and a good dad to his daughters. So he set out on a slightly less travelled path. He kept up the business success – as one of Australia’s premier venture capital investors in promising startups -- but along the journey he also managed to become a strong philanthropist, and even a best-selling author on, of all subjects, fatherhood!

Co-founder of AirTree Ventures has been an Australian role model &amp; trailblazer in the digital technology space for over 3 decades. But after early business career success working for Bill Gates at Microsoft, a seismic personal event made Daniel Petre decide there was more that he needed to do to become, in his view, a better person and a good dad to his daughters. So he set out on a slightly less travelled path. He kept up the business success &ndash; as one of Australia&rsquo;s premier venture capital investors in promising startups -- but along the journey he also managed to become a strong philanthropist, and even a best-selling author on, of all subjects, fatherhood!

Candid interviews with successful Self-starters. On Build It. They'll Come, you'll hear from some amazing Australian entrepreneurs who bet big to build great businesses. Journalist Helen Dalley interviews business innovators and visionaries on how they turned their lightbulb idea into a viable, sustainable enterprise. 

This podcast is about the human face behind taking a simple idea and turning it into a business or movement. It's the beating heart behind what it takes to build an empire, from concept to execution, and how they actually achieve it. Fuelled by blind faith and hard slog, how they transform their dream idea into concrete reality.

Journalist Helen Dalley interviews business innovators and visionaries on how they turned their lightbulb idea into a viable, sustainable enterprise.

Build It. They'll Come.

Venture capitalist Daniel Petre on how he turned digital startups into financial bonanzas for traditional media titans Kerry & James Packer, but also how family tragedy transformed his life into much more than just business success.

In this episode of Build It, They'll Come, host Helen Dalley sits down with artist, sculptor, and gallerist Christopher Hodges, founder of Utopia Art Sydney.

Hodges shares the story of opening his gallery in 1988 with a vision to showcase contemporary Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists side by side on an equal footing. He reflects on his pivotal role in introducing Central Australian desert art, including Papunya Tula and the Utopia community, to major east coast collectors and global institutions like the Tate.

He discusses his deep professional collaboration with the legendary Emily Kame Kngwarreye and the importance of ethical gallery practices, Hodges offers a candid look at the passion, persistence, and business savvy required to shape Australian art history. 

In this episode of Build It, They'll Come, host Helen Dalley sits down with artist, sculptor, and gallerist Christopher Hodges, founder of Utopia Art Sydney.
Hodges shares the story of opening his gallery in 1988 with a vision to showcase contemporary Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists side by side on an equal footing. He reflects on his pivotal role in introducing Central Australian desert art, including Papunya Tula and the Utopia community, to major east coast collectors and global institutions like the Tate.
He discusses his deep professional collaboration with the legendary Emily Kame Kngwarreye and the importance of ethical gallery practices, Hodges offers a candid look at the passion, persistence, and business savvy required to shape Australian art history.&nbsp;

How Christopher Hodges Put Contemporary Indigenous Art on the Map

Over many decades, Moree NSW-based farmer Dick Estens built not just one, but two formidable agribusiness empires. Starting out with just $200,000 in net assets, Dick leased land, share farmed and then managed to scale up a massive cotton farming operation.  

Then when many might think about retiring, at age 59, Dick took on a monumental challenge and pivoted into the citrus industry, buying into a struggling Brisbane-based brand—Grove Juice— before he had even planted a single orange tree. When much of Australia’s citrus sector was in dire trouble, Dick Estens persevered and built a vertically integrated business model that controls every facet from orchard development to supermarket shelves.

Grove Juice now produces 40 million litres of orange, apple and even mandarin juice a year, employing around 250 people.

In this episode, Dick reflects on exactly what’s required to navigate long investment cycles, severe droughts, complex risk management and his core philosophy of empowering people.

Over many decades, Moree NSW-based farmer Dick Estens built not just one, but two formidable agribusiness empires. Starting out with just $200,000 in net assets, Dick leased land, share farmed and then managed to scale up a massive cotton farming operation. &nbsp;
Then when many might think about retiring, at age 59, Dick took on a monumental challenge and pivoted into the citrus industry, buying into a struggling Brisbane-based brand&mdash;Grove Juice&mdash; before he had even planted a single orange tree. When much of Australia&rsquo;s citrus sector was in dire trouble, Dick Estens persevered and built a vertically integrated business model that controls every facet from orchard development to supermarket shelves.
Grove Juice now produces 40 million litres of orange, apple and even mandarin juice a year, employing around 250 people.
In this episode, Dick reflects on exactly what&rsquo;s required to navigate long investment cycles, severe droughts, complex risk management and his core philosophy of empowering people.

Grove Juice –  empire-building farmer Dick Estens thrives on challenges, buying a struggling orange juice brand at the age of 59, as the Aussie citrus sector was in its death throes

Gabrielle Requena, the founder of Wrinkles Schminkles, shares her entrepreneurial journey, detailing how she built a successful skincare brand from a simple idea. Starting with a Bachelor and Master of E-commerce, Gabrielle gained valuable experience at Deloitte Consulting and eBay, which laid the groundwork for her future venture.

Frustrated by the lack of effective solutions for chest wrinkles caused by side sleeping, Gabrielle developed 100% medical-grade silicone patches. These patches work by compressing the skin and stimulating blood flow and collagen, offering both instantaneous and cumulative results.

Initially a side project, Wrinkles Schminkles grew into a global business with nearly $20 million in annual revenue, primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce in Australia, the US, and the UK. Gabrielle discusses the challenges and triumphs of scaling the business, including navigating the competitive beauty market.

Gabrielle Requena, the founder of Wrinkles Schminkles, shares her entrepreneurial journey, detailing how she&nbsp;built a successful skincare brand from a simple idea. Starting with a Bachelor and Master of E-commerce,&nbsp;Gabrielle gained valuable experience at Deloitte Consulting and eBay, which laid the groundwork for her future&nbsp;venture.
Frustrated by the lack of effective solutions for chest wrinkles caused by side sleeping, Gabrielle developed&nbsp;100% medical-grade silicone patches. These patches work by compressing the skin and stimulating blood flow&nbsp;and collagen, offering both instantaneous and cumulative results.
Initially a side project, Wrinkles Schminkles grew into a global business with nearly $20 million in annual&nbsp;revenue, primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce in Australia, the US, and the UK. Gabrielle&nbsp;discusses the challenges and triumphs of scaling the business, including navigating the competitive beauty&nbsp;market.

Venture capitalist Daniel Petre on how he turned digital startups into financial bonanzas for traditional media titans Kerry & James Packer, but also how family tragedy transformed his life into much more than just business success.

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