Fireside Chat with Singtel Innov8 – presented by the Spark Investment Network & Herbert Smith Freehills

An exclusive opportunity to meet one of the world’s leading venture capital investors.

We are currently receiving Expressions of Interest for this event — priority entry is for startups who are investor-ready. Our team will confirm with you upon registration.

With over half a billion dollars under management, Singtel Innov8 is among the leading corporate VC funds in the world.

The Singapore-based fund is actively seeking to expand its global portfolio to Australia. 

Spark Festival is proud to host Singtel Innov8’s Senior Director of Investments, Selvam Moorthy, for an invitation-only networking evening with selected Australian-based founders.

As a whole, the Singtel Group is the largest telecommunications group in Asia, serving over 770 million mobile customers in 21 countries, including in Australia through its 100% ownership of Optus. Its market capitalisation sits at almost $50 billion globally.

This opportunity is generously hosted by Elizabeth Henderson, Partner and Co-Head of the Venture Capital practice at leading law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. 

Join our speakers for a fireside chat and networking drinks, together with like-minded entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders.

Guest Speaker: Selvam Moorthy — Singtel Innov8

Selvam is a Senior Director of Investments with Singtel Innov8, one of the world’s largest corporate VC funds, and is focused on investments in South-East Asia and Australia. Previously, Selvam led investments at specialist technology funds Tryb Capital and Formation 8, as well as EDIS, UBS, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Temasek Holdings. 

Selvam has executed numerous deals in Asia and the US across various sectors, including fintech, consumer, telecommunications, media, technology, financial institutions, healthcare and others. Selvam holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore and a Masters of Science in Applied Finance from Singapore Management University.

Host: Elizabeth Henderson — Herbert Smith Freehills

Elizabeth is a Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills and co-heads the firm’s Venture Capital practice in Australia. She advises on transactions over the full life cycle of business creation and expansion, including early stage and expansion capital raising, acquisitions for growth, M&A and other liquidity transactions. 

Elizabeth provides strategic advice and assistance to founders and their companies who are raising early stage or expansion capital and to investors in venture, growth and other private capital raisings. Elizabeth also leads strategy development and implementation in HSF’s Venture Capital practice nationally. She is regarded as one of the leading Venture Capital and start-up lawyers in Australia.

Moderator: Harry Godber — Spark Festival

Harry is Co-CEO of the Spark Festival and has spent a decade advising governments, boards and founders on shaping the Australian innovation ecosystem. Harry served in the Turnbull and Morrison Governments as an adviser on technology policy and financial regulation, where he oversaw the launch of the Australian Space Agency and the completion of the National Innovation and Science Agenda — as well as critical reforms to financial systems, IP, data, venture capital and space law. He exited government to help scale workplace benefits startup Flare; he helped lead its acquisition by KKR’s MYOB in one of Australia’s largest fintech transactions.

About Spark Festival 

Spark Festival has a mandate to coordinate and promote startup-focused events that spark engagement into and across the startup ecosystem. Established in 2016, it is Australia’s largest network of founders, investors, academics, policymakers and enthusiastic supporters of Australian innovation and entrepreneurship.

Spark Festival 2024 has been made possible by support from Minister Ed Husic’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the Australian Computer Society, Workato, Atlassian and Herbert Smith Freehills.