9 - 5 Startup

Cubic Innov8

Can you build a global tech company and still finish work at 5? 9-5 Startup explores how Australia’s startup culture combines work-life balance with global ambition. We speak with startup founders, investors, and industry experts to understand how innovation grows in a system that values both lifestyle and results. For international investors, students, and professionals — this podcast offers real insights into Australia’s growing tech economy.

  1. 6 DEC

    The Future of Engineering: WisyPlan, AI Agents & Digital Transformation with Christian Pallaria

    Today we’re joined by Christian Pallaria — digital transformation leader at AECOM and founder of WisyPlan, the AI platform giving project managers real-time, proactive insights. Christian has led major infrastructure programs across NSW and globally, won the Microsoft AI Hackathon in San Francisco, and has a unique blend of engineering depth and AI innovation. We’ll dive into his journey, how WisyPlan was built, and where AI is taking global infrastructure next. Christian Pallaria's Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-pallaria/

    46 min

  2. 1 OCT

    Supercharging Human-AI Teams Dominik Fretz on Building AI-Native Cultures

    Dominik Fretz is the founder of Harbour Edge Intelligence and a seasoned technologist with a background spanning software engineering, robotics, and enterprise systems. From building underwater robots to leading backend engineering at Milkrun and Credit Suisse, Dominik has spent 20+ years architecting complex systems across Europe, the US, and Australia. Today, he focuses on Human-AI Integration — helping companies evolve into AI-native powerhouses through his Human/AI Supercharger Protocol. Rather than simply bolting ChatGPT onto workflows, Dominik helps leaders rethink culture, systems, and strategy to unlock the true compounding value of AI. In this episode, we explore: - Why companies fail at AI adoption and how to avoid it. - What it takes to become AI-native, not AI-replaced. - Lessons from startups, corporates, and robotics that shape his approach. - Practical steps leaders can take today to future-proof their organizations. Whether you’re a founder, CTO, or team leader, Dominik’s perspective will reshape how you think about AI in your business.

    1h 7m

  3. 14 SEPT

    AI Meets Fashion: How Iris Phan is Reinventing Style with Dressi

    Fashion and AI are colliding—and Iris Phan is at the forefront. As the Founder & CEO of Dressi, an AI-powered personal stylist, Iris is reimagining how women get dressed by blending technology with empathy, confidence, and style. From her roots in Vietnam to building a fashion-tech startup in Sydney, Iris shares her journey of turning an idea into a product that empowers women daily. With a background in digital marketing across tech and content, she explains how storytelling, product testing, and community engagement shaped Dressi’s launch. In this conversation, we explore the realities of building in fashion-tech, navigating beta launches, and scaling a mission-driven startup. For founders, creators, and anyone curious about AI’s impact on lifestyle, this episode offers lessons in resilience, creativity, and connection. Iris Phan : https://www.linkedin.com/in/irisphan/

    1h 3m

  4. 10 SEPT

    Helping Australian Startups Scale: Frank Yoo on FANDA Consulting Group

    Frank Yoo is a partner at FANDA Consulting Group, where he supports early-stage ventures and investors in Australia’s tech ecosystem. With over 20 years of experience in sales, product, and cybersecurity leadership across APAC, Frank helps founders scale by combining the right mix of technology, go-to-market strategy, and access to capital. In this episode, we talk about what Australian startups need most to grow, how FANDA connects founders with investors, and the opportunities and challenges in scaling across APAC. Frank also shares lessons learned from decades in the industry — from leadership and product strategy to why Australia is uniquely positioned to lead in AI, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. If you’re a founder, investor, or curious about the future of Australia’s startup ecosystem, this conversation offers practical insights and inspiring stories.Frank Yoo : https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-yoo-919b252/

    1h 12m

  5. 6 SEPT

    FangLab Games — Building Worlds Beyond Finance with Warren Fang

    In this episode, we spotlight Warren Fang, founder of FangLab Games, whose journey took him from finance to indie game development. After years of success in investment research and risk analytics, Warren chose to pivot into building games — blending coding skills, physics research, and creative ambition. He shares how financial discipline helps him structure creative projects, the inspirations behind his game concepts, and the challenges of indie development. We also dive into his independent research on the “Information-Processing Universe” and how curiosity fuels his work across both science and gaming. If you’re a game developer, creative professional, or anyone contemplating a bold career pivot, this episode is a guide to balancing structure and imagination. Warren Fang : https://www.linkedin.com/in/warrenfang/

    33 min

  6. 4 SEPT

    Investing with Discipline, Advising with Vision with Warren Fang

    In this episode, we sit down with Warren Fang, an investment professional with over 7 years across Westpac, Macquarie, and Resolution Life. Experience in LP, Asset management, work with PE, VC From managing $120bn+ portfolios to developing Python-based risk models, Warren has built a career on precision, discipline, and governance. Now as a corporate advisor with UrbanChain Group, he brings that same analytical lens to AI and IoT startups. We explore Warren’s path into finance, his frameworks for evaluating growth and risk, and the lessons he draws from navigating diverse asset classes. Whether you’re an analyst, advisor, or founder looking to understand the mindset of disciplined investors, this episode delivers both insights and cautionary tales. Warren Fang : https://www.linkedin.com/in/warrenfang/

    35 min

  7. 31 AUG

    Meet Laura: Building the World’s Most Human-Like AI with Koby Paull

    Koby Paull is the founder of Laura.ai — your most emotionally intelligent, voice-first AI companion. Laura isn’t just another assistant; she listens, reflects, and feels like a presence in your life. From picking up emotional cues in your tone to remembering your patterns and moods, Laura is designed to feel human, not robotic. Before building Laura, Koby gained experience across IT, systems engineering, and cybersecurity — working on risk management, data protection, and secure systems for defense-linked organizations. That background in security and infrastructure gave him a unique foundation to design AI that is not only emotionally intelligent but also safe, resilient, and trustworthy. In this episode, Koby shares why emotional intelligence is the missing piece in AI, how Laura was designed to “feel real,” and what the future looks like when humans form genuine bonds with technology. Laura : https://www.meetlaura.ai/ Koby Paull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kobypaull/

    50 min

  8. 23 AUG

    From Brazil to Unicorn: Scaling Startups and Solving Big Tech Challenges with Rafael Magalhães

    Rafael Magalhães has spent over 15 years building and leading in tech — from hands-on coding to managing multi-team engineering groups. He played a key role in scaling a startup to over 500,000 users and achieving unicorn status, while also founding his own consulting firm, ProjectPix. In this episode, Rafael shares his journey from Brazil to Australia, the critical technical decisions behind scaling resilient systems, and how he led teams through rapid growth, acquisitions, and high-pressure challenges. He also dives into the future of mobile and AI, and what founders and developers must know to succeed in today’s fast-changing tech landscape. Whether you’re a startup founder, engineering leader, or developer aiming for impact, Rafael’s story offers a practical blueprint for building scalable technology — and sustainable teams. Rafael Magalhães : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-o-magalhaes/

    1h 17m
See All (13)

Trailer

About

Can you build a global tech company and still finish work at 5? 9-5 Startup explores how Australia’s startup culture combines work-life balance with global ambition. We speak with startup founders, investors, and industry experts to understand how innovation grows in a system that values both lifestyle and results. For international investors, students, and professionals — this podcast offers real insights into Australia’s growing tech economy.

Information

  • Creator
    Cubic Innov8
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cubic Innov8
  • Show Website
    9 - 5 Startup