Beyond the Buzzwords: In a world of AI sameness, is Purpose your business edge?
Description
When AI can replicate a brand voice, a content strategy, and a mission statement in seconds, can your values and change-the-world attitude be what makes you stand out and attract more customers? And how do you stick to those values and remain successful in difficult times?
This month we're having a different kind of conversation about purpose — one that skips the manifesto and gets into the messy reality: when to embed it, when it costs you, and when it can actually save you.
And we're going to get clear on how to make having admirable values good business sense, because purpose that can't sustain itself commercially doesn't sustain much else either. The most interesting question isn't whether to lead with your values — it's how to do it in a way that actually works for your business, not just your brand story.
This month we bring together two purpose-led speakers with very different approaches to creating impact.
James Humpherson, Global GM of Humantix, the 100% for Purpose ticketing platform. And Paul Moutzouris, Founder and CEO of Ingenuity Design Group, a leading developer of technology products.
Facilitated by Kae Porter, Founder of hospitality tech platform, Amicii, who has her own hard-won perspective on what happens when purpose and commercial reality collide, we'll explore what it means to lead with your values as a genuine business strategy in a market where everything and everyone is starting to look the same.
This isn't a session about B Corp certification or impact reports. It's about whether what you actually believe in can become your most defensible edge.
And yes — we're walking the talk and have switched to Humanitix this month so we can have even more impact!
🗣️ Register to Pitch at the event: www.innerwest.tech/pitch
Lineup
James Humpherson - Global General Manager, Humanitix
James Humpherson is the Global General Manager of Humanitix, the 100% for Purpose ticketing platform backed by Google and Atlassian. As the organisation’s first employee and US GTM lead, James has guided Humanitix from a grassroots startup to a major tech competitor across North America, APAC, and the UK. While the platform’s mission to fund highly effective charities drives its global awareness, James has scaled the company by proving that social impact is never an excuse for commercial compromise. Under his leadership, Humanitix sells over 25 million tickets a year and has transformed over $20 million in booking fees into social impact in the process. Humanitix flips the script: by showing that for a mission-driven business, excellence isn't just a goal, it’s the only way to maximize the impact of giving.
Paul Moutzouris - Chairman & CEO, Ingenuity Design Group
Paul is the Chairman and CEO of Ingenuity Design Group, a leading international product design consultancy with development facilities in Australia and the USA. With 25+ years in product design and commercialisation, Paul has helped create hundreds of innovative electronic products in a wide range of industries and applications including med tech, mining tech, IoT, automotive, industrial and consumer electronics.
Facilitator: Kae Porter - Founder/CEO, Amicii
Kae is the founder and CEO of hospitality tech startup, Amicii - helping restaurants, bars and bistros host small group dining experiences that connect people in person. It's like group bookings for people who haven't met yet! She's had a long career in PR, comms and community events, including ten years as the founder and CEO of a B Corp certified PR & comms agency, specialising in working with purpose-led organisations. She also spent two years as a B Consultant, guiding multiple organisations through the B Corp certification process. With community as her core value, she is constantly seeking ways to deliver measurable outcomes that move the needle on social connection.
Agenda
- 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Arrive and have a beer
- 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Drink more beer, have some pizza and make new friends
- 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Expert Panel
- 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Drink more beer and talk to people about your startup
FAQs
- 🐾 Are kids and dogs welcome?
Absolutely! Both are very welcome at IWST events. The more the merrier.
- 🎤 Do I need to register to pitch?
Register to Pitch at the event: www.innerwest.tech/pitch Pitch spots are in huge demand so pre-register to secure yours. If there's space on the night we'd love to hear from you too — and either way, pitchers get a spotlight in our newsletter!
- 📰 What's the newsletter spotlight?
Every pitcher gets a feature in the IWST newsletter, which goes out to our wider community of founders, investors and Inner West locals. Great exposure.
- 💸 What's your refund policy?
Full refund if you cancel 7+ days before the event.
- 🚗 Getting there / parking
We're at Red Mill Rum, 176 Mullens St, Rozelle. Street parking out the front on Mullens St. By bus, the 441 and 442 stop on Robert St right outside - easy.
- 🌏 What is IWST?
Inner West Startups & Tech is a community building real startup opportunity in the Inner West - monthly events, a coworking space, advice on selling into local government, a $20k hackathon (coming soon) and more. Come for the event, stay for the community.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
