Just raised? This is the part nobody puts in the announcement post. A founder and the VC who backed him unpack what happens next. Same moments, opposite sides of the table.

Everyone tells you how to raise. Almost nobody tells you what happens after the money lands.

This is a live recording of What I Wish I Knew On Day One, KC Ventures' vodcast hosted by Luke Rix, about what actually happens to a founder after the wire hits. Not the pitch deck version. The real one.

For Spark, we're putting two chairs on stage.

Daniel Lord-Doyle of Mary Technology goes first and talks honestly about his raise, including the messy middle. Then Oliver Darwin of OIF Ventures takes the same questions from the other side of the table.

Same moments. Two very different perspectives.

Bring the question you actually want answered.

The last fifteen minutes we will have questions from the room. No panel scripts, no need to make it sound clever. Just a small room of founders, with the chance to ask the questions that don't always get asked on stage.

Who it's for

Founders who have just raised, are raising now, or are about to.

If you've taken capital and the next twelve months look less obvious than you expected, this is the room.

Free to attend. Seats are capped, with a waitlist. Light refreshments from 3:30pm.

This is a recording, not a livestream, so there will be cameras in the room. Nothing goes out unedited.

With thanks to Song Kitchen and Spark Festival

We're recording at Song Kitchen, the restaurant and bar downstairs at Song Hotel Sydney on Wentworth Avenue. Song is Australia's first profit-for-purpose hotel. It operates under YWCA Australia, and the profits go back into YWCA's work supporting women across housing, services and leadership.

This session is part of Spark Festival 2026. Thanks to the Spark team for putting it in the program.

Just Raised. Now What? | What I Wish I Knew LIVE

Choose your tickets

Both sessions ticket

Session one only: founder ticket

Session two only: the investor ticket