Give It A Nudge

Steve Grace
Give It A Nudge Podcast

Start-up Founders, Venture Captial, Private Equity, Accelerators - hear them all talk about their stories where they went wrong, what went right and what they learned! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    How MoneyCatcha is Disrupting Home Loans with Open Banking

    In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Ruth Hatherley, Founder & CEO of MoneyCatcha, a fintech company making waves by using open banking data to revolutionise the home loan process for consumers and brokers alike. Ruth shares the story of MoneyCatcha's evolution, starting from blockchain technology to leveraging open banking to democratise data and offer faster, more competitive home loan solutions. She dives into the impact of COVID-19 on the financial landscape, how the shift toward digital processes changed the game for brokers, and her passion for improving the customer experience in the home loan industry. Ruth also discusses the challenges of being a first-time founder, the resilience required to build a fintech startup, and her exciting plans for MoneyCatcha’s future, including expansion into other industries and markets. Timestamps: 00:57 - What MoneyCatcha does and Ruth's journey 03:30 - Shifting from blockchain to open banking 05:00 - The impact of COVID-19 on the home loan industry 07:45 - Helping brokers use data to provide better loan options 09:30 - Ruth’s personal journey from banking to fintech founder 12:00 - Open banking and its impact on consumers 15:00 - The future of MoneyCatcha: Expanding beyond banking 18:30 - Ruth's thoughts on resilience and growth as a founder Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more amazing conversations with startup founders, innovators, and industry leaders! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

    39 min
  2. 10 SEPT

    How Take2 Is Changing Lives After Prison: Cameron Smith's Mission

    In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace chats with Cameron Smith from Take2, a company that provides individuals who have had contact with the justice system a second chance at life through a three-year tech training and employment program.  Cameron explains how Take2 offers not just technical training but also essential life skills, aiming to break down barriers and create employment pathways for those who have faced significant challenges. Cameron shares his journey into founding Take2, his background in recruitment, and how witnessing the discrimination faced by people with convictions inspired him to launch the organisation. The conversation dives into the difficulties of getting prisons, funders, and employment partners on board, and the challenges of implementing the program in both New Zealand and now Australia. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Take2's mission: A second chance for those in the justice system 02:03 - Cameron's background and inspiration for starting Take2 03:30 - Overcoming initial challenges in launching the program 05:00 - The transformative power of employment for marginalised individuals 07:00 - Launching in Australia: Adapting the model for a new market 09:30 - Building employer partnerships and breaking down prejudices 11:15 - Success stories from Take2's graduates 13:00 - How to get involved and support Take2’s mission Don't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring stories from the world of startups, scaleups and high-growth companies!  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

    35 min
  3. 27 AUG

    How Alex Kerr is Transforming Education for Neurodiverse Students

    In this episode of Give It a Nudge, Steve chats with Alex Kerr (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-kerr-6599b7197/), the founder of Kumo Study (https://www.kumostudy.com/), a study management tool for students with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity. Steve and Alex discuss her journey from university to founding Kumo Study, the unique challenges she faced as a non-tech founder, and how she successfully bootstrapped the business. They also explore Kumo Study's innovative approach to digitising occupational therapy techniques to create an effective learning tool for neurodiverse students. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and setting the scene 00:18 - Meet Alex Kerr of Kumo Study 01:06 - Quick pitch on Kumo Study and its mission 02:21 - Alex’s background and journey to founding Kumo Study 03:13 - Realising the impact of ADHD on her own study habits 06:29 - Transition from university to startup life 09:18 - Importance of setting up the right study environment 12:30 - Features of Kumo Study: digitising occupational therapy techniques 15:00 - Addressing comorbidities: Dyslexia, Autism, and ADHD 20:21 - Bootstrapping and building Kumo Study 25:35 - Current state and future plans for Kumo Study This episode is perfect for anyone interested in how technology can support neurodiverse students in their academic journey, and how personal challenges can lead to innovative solutions. Stay ahead of the curve—subscribe to Give It A Nudge for the latest conversations from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

    31 min
  4. 20 AUG

    Get Cool Brands: Gabriela Scharf Talks Sustainability

    In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Gabriela Scharf, Founder of Get Cool Brands. Gabriela's fascinating career journey takes centre stage as she shares her experiences moving from Brazil to Australia, working with major brands like Red Bull and WeWork, and eventually finding her passion in purpose-driven initiatives. Gabriela recounts the challenges of starting anew in Australia, initially working in hospitality before landing marketing roles. Her time at WeWork during COVID shaped her views on the importance of flexibility and community, leading her to focus on building communities and promoting sustainable brands through Get Cool Brands. Gabriela also discusses her role as an ambassador for the Community Collective, a global network for community managers, and emphasises the value of human interaction and community in a post-COVID world. Timestamps: 00:18 - Introduction to Gabriela Scharf 01:22 - Moving from Brazil to Australia 03:00 - Early career struggles and transition 06:19 - Working at WeWork during COVID 08:14 - Importance of community and human interaction 11:46 - Founding Get Cool Brands 15:20 - Supporting sustainable brands 18:24 - Ambassador role at Community Collective 21:50 - Future plans and goals Subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring stories from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

    24 min
  5. 13 AUG

    Revolutionising Creativity Jessie Hughes Talks Leonardo.Ai and Canva

    In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve Grace chats with Jessie Hughes, Senior Creative Technologist at Leonardo.Ai, just days after their acquisition by Canva. Steve and Jessie discuss the groundbreaking features of Leonardo.Ai, a generative AI-powered content creation suite designed to democratize creativity by making high-quality content creation accessible to everyone.  Jessie shares insights into the company’s rapid growth, innovative tools like real-time canvas doodling and high-resolution upscaling, and the strategic benefits of the Canva acquisition while maintaining Leonardo.Ai's independence. They also explore Jessie’s unique career path, from her background in interaction design and VR filmmaking to her role in the AI industry, highlighting the importance of adaptability and the transformative potential of AI in various sectors.  The conversation touches on the future of AI, the balance between technological advancement and human creativity, and the collaborative efforts to ensure AI's positive impact on society. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:18 - Meet Jessie Hughes of Leonardo.Ai 00:36 - Canva's acquisition of Leonardo.Ai 03:30 - Overview of Leonardo.Ai's tools and features 08:23 - Democratizing creativity with AI 12:29 - Jessie's career journey and impact of AI 15:36 - Synergy between Leonardo.Ai and Canva 23:10 - Future of AI and creative industries 27:09 - Navigating rapid technological advancements Subscribe to Give It A Nudge for the latest conversations from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

    48 min
  6. 30 JUL

    Dickie Currer: The Hype Man of Aussie Tech & Innovation

    In this very exciting episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Dickie, known as "the hype man" for the Australian tech and innovation ecosystem. Dickie talks about his unique career path, starting from law school and the Territorial Army, moving on to become a Moroccan country specialist in the travel industry, and finally diving into the Australian startup world. He shares his colourful experiences and the impactful roles he's had, highlighting his passion for promoting Australian innovation. Steve and Dickie discuss his move from Melbourne to Sydney and his impact on the startup community through roles at Startup Victoria and his current project, Tech Australia Advocates. This initiative aims to connect the Australian tech ecosystem with global partners and create a more inclusive community. Dickie also talks about his dedication to creating meaningful content and fostering innovation. He reveals his long-term dream of becoming a travel writer, telling global innovation stories and linking them to Australia. Timestamps: 00:18 - Introduction to Dickie, the hype man 01:08 - Dickie's unique career journey 06:19 - Startup experiences in Australia 10:02 - Role at Startup Victoria and Tech Australia Advocates 18:43 - Moving from Melbourne to Sydney 22:00 - Dickie's dedication to content creation and innovation 26:45 - Balancing work-life and avoiding burnout 32:15 - Dickie's long-term dream of becoming a travel writer 36:30 - Importance of diversity and inclusion in tech 40:50 - Final thoughts and future outlook Subscribe to Give It A Nudge for the latest insights from top startups, scale-ups, and high-growth companies! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

    44 min

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Start-up Founders, Venture Captial, Private Equity, Accelerators - hear them all talk about their stories where they went wrong, what went right and what they learned! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

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