Stephen Thompson is a founding partner and managing director of Brandon Capital Partners, the largest life science healthcare fund in Australasia. Brandon Capital raised their first fund in 2007 with the mission of commercializing Australian medical research. Stephen and his co-founder noticed that Australia was home to loads of world-class medical research but didn't have the weight of local capital to bring projects through to market, so they stepped in in  to provide the funding and expertise to get ideas out of the lab and into the global market.
In this episode, Ian speaks with Stephen about...
Shifting from technical work in product development and immunology research to investing
The story of how Brandon Capital came to be
An overview of the Brandon Capital portfolio
The incubation model the firm uses to identify and commercialise research
The process of building a highly trained team

<div>Stephen Thompson is a founding partner and managing director of Brandon Capital Partners, the largest life science healthcare fund in Australasia. Brandon Capital raised their first fund in 2007 with the mission of commercializing Australian medical research. Stephen and his co-founder noticed that Australia was home to loads of world-class medical research but didn't have the weight of local capital to bring projects through to market, so they stepped in in to provide the funding and expertise to get ideas out of the lab and into the global market.</div><div> </div><div>In this episode, Ian speaks with Stephen about...</div><ul><li>Shifting from technical work in product development and immunology research to investing</li><li>The story of how Brandon Capital came to be</li><li>An overview of the Brandon Capital portfolio</li><li>The incubation model the firm uses to identify and commercialise research</li><li>The process of building a highly trained team</li></ul>

There is a lot of activity in the Australian startup ecosystem. Ideas, talent, and money are all flowing into this sector at an unprecedented rate. 

This weekly podcast brings in-depth interviews with the best people making the biggest difference.

It's brought to you by Ian Gardiner and Phaedon Stough, technology entrepreneurs helping to grow the startup sector in Australia and New Zealand. Ian and Phaedon co-founded Innovation Bay with a clear mission to help technology entrepreneurs succeed.

A weekly deep dive into Australia's tech and startup ecosystem. Brought to you by Innovation Bay

Open the Pod Bay Doors

The Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem is burgeoning, exciting and filled with some of the most fascinating minds on the planet, all driven by a passion to make a positive and lasting impact. Open The Pod Bay Doors invites some of the brightest minds in the industry for deep conversations and awe-inspiring insights from their captivating journeys. Lend us your ears to gain some fresh knowledge and broaden your insights. Brought to you weekly by Innovation Bay. 

The Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem is burgeoning, exciting and filled with some of the most fascinating minds on the planet, all driven by a passion to make a positive and lasting impact. Open The Pod Bay Doors invites some of the brightest minds in the industry for deep conversations and awe-inspiring insights from their captivating journeys. Lend us your ears to gain some fresh knowledge and broaden your insights. Brought to you weekly by Innovation Bay.

Stephen Thompson is a founding partner and managing director of Brandon Capital Partners, the largest life science healthcare fund in...

E89 - Stephen Thompson, Brandon Capital Partners

After a brief hiatus, Open the Pid Bay Door is back with an exciting new episode! Host Ian Gardiner sits down with Bryan Williams, Founder of Hockey Stick Advisory, to dive into the world of strategic partnerships and growth acceleration.

Hockey Stick Advisory provides market leading strategic partnerships advisory, operational and executional guidance with accountability for growth alongside prioritised partners. We empower ambitious companies to accelerate top line growth, whilst protecting scarce bottom line resources.



Highlights from their conversation include:
📊 Understanding Partnerships
🚀 The importance of Partnerships for Startups
🔍 Identifying Potential Partners
📈 Measuring Partnership Success
💡 Common Pitfalls in Partnerships
🌐 Building a Partnership Ecosystem
🛠️ Best Practices for Partnerships
📅 Community and Networking 


Quick Fire Round:
Book recommendation - "Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink. He's a former Navy seal, hardcore guy, but I think it's similar to the lines of Kim Scott's book Radical Candor. 
Podcast recommendation - "Rich Roll - when it's relevant and something I like, Stephen Bartlett's Diary of a CEO and there's a bunch of really good partnership ones in the US where I can sort of follow along and absorb best practices.
Favourite CEO - Yamini Rangan, CEO, Hubspot
News source - Capital Brief
Productivity tool - "I'm a big believer in power naps!"
Favourite app - Strava
TV show or movie recommendation "Well, the new Gladiator is coming out this weekend, so looking forward to that one"  
If you were asked to do a TED talk, what topic would you speak about? Going viral and what not to do

Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with actionable advice for growth-focused businesses!

After a brief hiatus, Open the Pid Bay Door is back with an exciting new episode! Host Ian Gardiner sits down with Bryan Williams, Founder of Hockey Stick Advisory, to dive into the world of strategic partnerships and growth acceleration.
Hockey Stick Advisory provides market leading strategic partnerships advisory, operational and executional guidance with accountability for growth alongside prioritised partners. We empower ambitious companies to accelerate top line growth, whilst protecting scarce bottom line resources.
 
Highlights from their conversation include:
<ul>
<li>📊 Understanding Partnerships</li>
<li>🚀 The importance of Partnerships for Startups</li>
<li>🔍 Identifying Potential Partners</li>
<li>📈 Measuring Partnership Success</li>
<li>💡 Common Pitfalls in Partnerships</li>
<li>🌐 Building a Partnership Ecosystem</li>
<li>🛠️ Best Practices for Partnerships</li>
<li>📅 Community and Networking </li>
</ul>
 Quick Fire Round:
<ul>
<li>Book recommendation - "Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink. He's a former Navy seal, hardcore guy, but I think it's similar to the lines of Kim Scott's book Radical Candor. </li>
<li>Podcast recommendation - "Rich Roll - when it's relevant and something I like, Stephen Bartlett's Diary of a CEO and there's a bunch of really good partnership ones in the US where I can sort of follow along and absorb best practices.</li>
<li>Favourite CEO - Yamini Rangan, CEO, Hubspot</li>
<li>News source - Capital Brief</li>
<li>Productivity tool - "I'm a big believer in power naps!"</li>
<li>Favourite app - Strava</li>
<li>TV show or movie recommendation "Well, the new Gladiator is coming out this weekend, so looking forward to that one"  </li>
<li>If you were asked to do a TED talk, what topic would you speak about? Going viral and what not to do</li>
</ul>
Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with actionable advice for growth-focused businesses!

EP 185 Bryan Williams, Founder, Hockey Stick Advisory

In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Taryn Pieterse, Partner at Rampersand VC. Rampersand is a pioneering Australian venture capital firm, known for being one of the first funds in Australia and its early investment in founders with abnormal potential. With a focus on being a founder-first investor, they stay closely aligned with their portfolio companies. Currently, they are deploying their fourth fund of $50 million. Taryn and Ian discuss Rampersand's background, investment focus, fund economics, and the importance of alignment with founders.

Highlights from their conversation include:
Rampersand's origins and investment strategy
Their fund economics
Rampersand’s interest in AI-driven startups
The future of AI in both business and daily life
How Rampersand fosters community and provides concierge services to founders
The current exit landscape and emerging opportunities
The differences between venture capital firms and family offices



Quickfire round. 
Book –  "The Psychology of Money"
Podcast – "Defining Gravity" by Helen Sunitz
News source – Overnight Success Newsletter
App – Apple watch
Productivity tool – Robo vacuum cleaner - I have a dog and this saves me spending hours vacuuming everyday 
Tech CEO – Mark Benioff of Salesforce - a great example of start up to scale up and beyond
TV show – "The Mole" on Netflix
If you were asked to do a TED talk, what topic would you speak about? The art of power napping - I love power naps!

In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Taryn Pieterse, Partner at Rampersand VC. Rampersand is a pioneering Australian venture capital firm, known for being one of the first funds in Australia and its early investment in founders with abnormal potential. With a focus on being a founder-first investor, they stay closely aligned with their portfolio companies. Currently, they are deploying their fourth fund of $50 million. Taryn and Ian discuss Rampersand's background, investment focus, fund economics, and the importance of alignment with founders.
Highlights from their conversation include:
<ul>
<li>Rampersand's origins and investment strategy</li>
<li>Their fund economics</li>
<li>Rampersand’s interest in AI-driven startups</li>
<li>The future of AI in both business and daily life</li>
<li>How Rampersand fosters community and provides concierge services to founders</li>
<li>The current exit landscape and emerging opportunities</li>
<li>The differences between venture capital firms and family offices</li>
</ul>
 
Quickfire round. 
<ul>
<li>Book –  "The Psychology of Money"</li>
<li>Podcast – "Defining Gravity" by Helen Sunitz</li>
<li>News source – Overnight Success Newsletter</li>
<li>App – Apple watch</li>
<li>Productivity tool – Robo vacuum cleaner - I have a dog and this saves me spending hours vacuuming everyday </li>
<li>Tech CEO – Mark Benioff of Salesforce - a great example of start up to scale up and beyond</li>
<li>TV show – "The Mole" on Netflix</li>
<li>If you were asked to do a TED talk, what topic would you speak about? The art of power napping - I love power naps!</li>
</ul>

E184 - Taryn Pieterse, Partner, Rampersand VC

Join our host Ian Gardiner as he chats to Nick Gainsley, Partner at One Ventures and Aurora Community Member, on episode 183 of Open the Pod Bay Doors.

Nick is Partner at OneVentures and leads the debt fund strategy, which was launched 5 years ago to address gaps in the Australian market. The fund offers non-dilutive alternative funding options through 3-4 year loans with interest and small equity options for growth stage companies post-Series A.

Nick explains the differences between debt and equity funding, market trends, and the fund's structure as GPLP. The conversation also delves into the use of debt funding to avoid down rounds or complement equity funding, as well as discussions on AI, productivity tools, and current events.

Highlights from Ian and Nick's conversation include


what a debt fund looks like and how it compares to a traditional GPLP Venture Fund


What do the mechanics of a debt fund deal look like
Why Nick prefers the term growth credit over venture debt
Nick's view on liquidity and exits in the next couple of years
The future of AI and how OneVenture apodt this in their day to day operations
potential downsides to a debt fund
Is poker simple gambling or is it a skill?



Quickfire round. 
Book – Just finished Outlive by Peter Atia
Podcast – All in with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
News source – Australian Financial Review
App – Spotify (shout out to Spotify Audibooks)
Productivity tool – A bit boring but I use OneNote
Tech CEO – You've got to be impressed with Satya Nadella from Microsoft
TV show – Colin from Accounts
If you were asked to do a TED talk, what topic would you speak about? I know random small snippets from lots of different things..

Join our host Ian Gardiner as he chats to Nick Gainsley, Partner at One Ventures and Aurora Community Member, on episode 183 of Open the Pod Bay Doors.
Nick is Partner at OneVentures and leads the debt fund strategy, which was launched 5 years ago to address gaps in the Australian market. The fund offers non-dilutive alternative funding options through 3-4 year loans with interest and small equity options for growth stage companies post-Series A.
Nick explains the differences between debt and equity funding, market trends, and the fund's structure as GPLP. The conversation also delves into the use of debt funding to avoid down rounds or complement equity funding, as well as discussions on AI, productivity tools, and current events.
Highlights from Ian and Nick's conversation include
<ul>
<li>
what a debt fund looks like and how it compares to a traditional GPLP Venture Fund
</li>
<li>
What do the mechanics of a debt fund deal look like
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Why Nick prefers the term growth credit over venture debt</li>
<li>Nick's view on liquidity and exits in the next couple of years</li>
<li>The future of AI and how OneVenture apodt this in their day to day operations</li>
<li>potential downsides to a debt fund</li>
<li>Is poker simple gambling or is it a skill?</li>
</ul>
 
Quickfire round. 
<ul>
<li>Book – Just finished Outlive by Peter Atia</li>
<li>Podcast – All in with Chamath, Jason, Sacks &amp; Friedberg</li>
<li>News source – Australian Financial Review</li>
<li>App – Spotify (shout out to Spotify Audibooks)</li>
<li>Productivity tool – A bit boring but I use OneNote</li>
<li>Tech CEO – You've got to be impressed with Satya Nadella from Microsoft</li>
<li>TV show – Colin from Accounts</li>
<li>If you were asked to do a TED talk, what topic would you speak about? I know random small snippets from lots of different things..</li>
</ul>

E89 - Stephen Thompson, Brandon Capital Partners

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