Beyond VC: Stories from the Deep Tech Funding Trenches
Building breakthrough hardware is hard. Funding it can be even harder.
While venture capital often dominates conversations about startup funding, there are other paths! Many hardware founders are finding creative ways to fund development, validate demand, and grow sustainable businesses; through crowdfunding, angel investors, strategic partnerships, pre-orders, grants, or by cultivating a passionate community of early adopters.
Join us for a candid fireside chat with Joseph Guo (Minimis) and ShanShan Wang (Roam Technologies), with moderation by Vanouhi Nazarian (exited Founder and startup advisor), as we chat about the many ways hardware startups are finding the cash to keep building.
We'll explore the realities of funding hardware ventures beyond the traditional VC route.
Whether you're building your first prototype or preparing to scale manufacturing, this session will offer practical perspectives from founders who have been there.
Bring your questions, grab some lunch, and join the conversation.
Lineup
Joseph Guo, Co-Founder & CEO Minimis
Joseph is just an average bloke with a background in law, finance and tech (ASIC, Macquarie, IAG, Tyro), who decided to risk it all to solve a burning personal problem he has in running and cycling. He currently serves as Chief Professional Beggar at Minimis, a startup inventing standalone fitness tracking smart sports glasses. To fund the long and expensive journey, he has taken up second jobs, built a profitable software product, raised globally from Entrepreneur Ventures, Microsoft HoloLens & Tesla Leadership, pro athletes, family offices, crowdfunding and other angels. He is currently incubated by CSIRO Lindfield Collaboration Hub, previously by Founders Inc in San Francisco. Joseph also serves as a Scout for The Pitch Show (and Fund) and is always on the lookout for standout Aussie startups to send to the US to pitch in front of prominent hardware VCs and 600k subscribers. He is also (somehow) a lifetime member of Hustle Fund's Angel Squad and guest lectures Private Investment Law at Monash for the nostalgic vibes.
ShanShan Wang, Founder & CEO Roam Technologies
Shan is an award-winning industrial designer turned founder, building technology that is both commercially viable and deeply human-centred. She has taken products from concept to mass production at speed- earning international recognition including the James Dyson Award, NASA SpaceApps, and the Red Dot Design Award. She and her team are commercialising JUNO, a next-generation medical device pioneering a breakthrough in tankless oxygen delivery for active, everyday use in chronic conditions.
Vanouhi Nazarian (Moderator)
Vanouhi Nazarian is an Industry Growth Program Adviser, exited Founder and startup coach. She brings a mix of finance, investment, strategy, commercialisation and operational experience to every stage of a company, giving technical founders the tools to unpack and articulate the financial and social value their company creates for customers and investors. She has spent the last 7 years supporting early-stage deep tech companies, with a focus on climate tech, renewables and material sciences. She is our moderator for this fireside chat but she may be cajoled into sharing her hot take on the shifting sands of deep tech funding in Australia.
Tips for visiting CSIRO Lindfield
Location
CSIRO Lindfield is located at 36 Bradfield Rd, West Lindfield, 2070.
Parking
CSIRO Lindfield has plenty of free onsite parking. Follow the signs for Reception and Visitor Parking (follow the white line on the road). If the visitor parking is full, you are free to park in any staff parking areas, or you may be directed to park on the ring road. See map below.
Keep the map handy. You will need it if you park in one of the parking areas on the ring road. There is not a lot of signage for Reception once you go past it.
Public Transport
The nearest Train Station is Lindfield Station on the T1 North Shore line.
The 565 Bus leaves from the Pacific Highway across the road from Lindfield Station and takes 10 minutes to travel to CSIRO Lindfield. Unfortunately the 565 bus does not run frequently (but more often during peak periods) but a Taxi or Uber from Lindfield station is inexpensive. There is a bus stop next to the CSIRO front gates (on both sides of the road). We suggest checking the timetable on the Transport NSW website.
When you arrive at CSIRO Lindfield, follow the signs for Reception and ensure you check-in. Reception is a 5 min walk from the front gate (follow the WHITE line on the road).
If you have time and feel like a walk, it takes about 35-45 minutes from the train station.
Taxi or Uber
Make sure the Taxi or Uber driver follows the signs for Reception and Visitor Parking (follow the white line on the road). Often Uber will route you to the Loading Dock and follow the yellow line on the road. Make sure you direct them to follow the signs for Reception.
When you get there
Please enter through the foyer, turning right towards Reception. Check-in at Reception and a staff member will escort you to the event room (The Hive).
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