Commerce Week 2025 - Inspiring Futures: What Makes an Idea Worth Backing?

Got a young entrepreneur at home with big ideas?
Ever wondered what it takes to help them turn those ideas into something real?

As part of Commerce Week 2025, Caulfield Grammar School invites students, parents, staff, and families to a special panel event exploring how passion, people, and purpose come together to create successful businesses.

Hear from a panel of inspiring founders and investors—made up of Caulfield Grammar alumni and current parents—as they share real-world stories about building businesses, backing big ideas, and navigating the early stages of entrepreneurship. Whether your child dreams of starting something new or you want to learn how to support and encourage their journey, this event will offer insights into what makes an idea worth pursuing.

Event Details:
📅 Monday 19 May 2025
🕡 6:30pm – Refreshments
🕖 7:00pm – 8:00pm – Panel Discussion and Q&A
📍 Cripps Auditorium, Caulfield Campus

Panellists include:

• Paul Naphtali – Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Rampersand, an early-stage venture capital firm backing ambitious Australian startups.

• Louise Lambeth – Caulfield Grammarian (2006), Executive General Manager, Corporate Development at CAR Group, with deep experience in business strategy, leadership, and transformation.

• Ray Boyapati – Co-Founder and CEO of MedEntry, a leading medical entry preparation program operating across Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK.

• Kie van Lieshout – Caulfield Grammarian (2020), Co-Founder of Lyrebird Health, an AI medical scribe designed to automate clinical notes and help doctors spend more time with patients.

• Dana McDonald – Caulfield Grammarian (2019), Founder of Speculr, a B2B virtual try-on platform helping retailers reduce returns and minimise wastage through AI-driven technology.

Who should attend:

• Students interested in business, innovation, and entrepreneurship

• Parents and guardians eager to support young entrepreneurs

• Staff members keen to encourage the next generation of changemakers

• Families curious about what it takes to build and back bold new ideas

Bring your aspiring entrepreneurs along to be inspired, ask questions, and discover what it really takes to turn a dream into something impactful.