7 Questions

Wayne Gerard
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

7 Questions is a practical conversation series with the founders and investors building innovative Australian companies. Hosted by Wayne Gerard, each episode uses a simple structure, seven questions to explore the founder journey, how decisions are actually made, where unintended consequences show up, and what matters most when building a company for the long term. Thoughtful conversations grounded in real founder and investor experience. For: 1. Founders looking for insights they can apply 2. Investors spotting companies worth a closer look 3. Customers curious about the thinking behind innovative Australian companies A Prtnr (Partner Ventures) podcast. https://prtnr.au Connect with Wayne on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynegerard/ Follow Prtnr on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/partnerventures

  1. Ep16 The Autonomous Revolution: How MW Is Replacing Dangerous Work with AI & Drones

    Jun 1

    Ep16 The Autonomous Revolution: How MW Is Replacing Dangerous Work with AI & Drones

    The Autonomous Revolution: How MW Is Replacing Dangerous Work with AI & Drones In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with entrepreneur, academic, and innovation strategist Uri Sternberg, co-founder and CEO of MW Autonomous Systems. Uri shares his journey from Israel to Australia, combining more than 20 years of startup experience with a long academic career teaching innovation and entrepreneurship around the world. The conversation explores how MW Autonomous Systems is building fully autonomous drone solutions for industries like agriculture, infrastructure, maintenance, and security — and why understanding the customer’s real operational challenges matters far more than simply deploying technology. Rather than starting with technology and looking for somewhere to apply it, Uri and his team spend time understanding the operational realities customers face on the ground. From cattle farms to infrastructure inspections, he explains how asking better questions often uncovers a completely different problem than the one first presented — leading to far more valuable solutions. Wayne and Uri also dive into startup failure, founder resilience, deep tech in Australia, and the lessons that come from building things that haven’t been built before. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ Why the best founders focus on asking better questions, not having all the answers ☑️ How autonomous drone systems are transforming agriculture and infrastructure operations ☑️ Why customer discovery is critical when building deep tech products ☑️ How MW Autonomous Systems creates bespoke solutions without long enterprise timelines ☑️ Why full autonomy is about solving operational problems, not just flying drones ☑️ What founders can learn from failure and shutting down ventures ☑️ Why Australia has a growing opportunity in deep tech and autonomous systems ☑️ How Uri balances intense founder focus with protecting energy and creativity ☑️ Why innovation ecosystems need to support experimentation and failure It’s a thoughtful and practical conversation about deep tech, entrepreneurship, and building systems that solve real-world problems. If you’re interested in autonomous systems, AI, robotics, agriculture, infrastructure, or founder journeys, this episode is well worth a listen Follow and connect: 🌐 MW Autonomous Systems: mw-systems.com.au 🔗 MW Autonomous Systems: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mwsystems/ 🔗 Uri Sternberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sternberguri/

    55 min
  2. Ep15 The Brutal Truth About Defence Tech Investing | Steve Baxter

    May 25

    Ep15 The Brutal Truth About Defence Tech Investing | Steve Baxter

    Australia is entering a new era of defence and national security. Yet many of the technologies needed to protect sovereign capability struggle to get funded, commercialised, and deployed. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with one of Australia’s most recognisable entrepreneurs and investors, Steve Baxter, for a candid conversation about defence technology, sovereign capability, venture capital, and the realities of building globally competitive businesses from Australia. Steve reflects on the founder journey that began during the early days of the internet boom, the lessons learned from building and backing companies over decades, and the accidental launch of Beaten Zone Venture Partners — a defence-focused venture fund investing in Australian sovereign capability. He shares why Australia has underinvested in defence innovation, how the “chasm of death” prevents great technologies from reaching market, and why the US represents a massive opportunity for ambitious Australian founders. The conversation dives into the differences between the Australian and US defence ecosystems, why founders need to be physically present in-market, and how Beaten Zone is helping Australian defence startups access the world’s largest defence market. Wayne and Steve also explore the future of defence innovation, the role of private capital in national security, and the lessons Steve has learned building and raising a specialised venture fund in one of the world’s most strategically important sectors. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ Why Australia has underinvested in defence innovation ☑️ What the “chasm of death” means for defence startups ☑️ Why the US defence market is such a massive opportunity ☑️ Why founders need to be physically present in-market ☑️ How defence procurement differs between Australia and the US ☑️ The role private capital plays in national security innovation ☑️ Lessons from building and raising a specialised venture fund ☑️ What it takes to scale globally from Australia Follow and connect: 🌐 Beaten Zone Venture Partners: beatenzone.vc 🔗 Beaten Zone Venture Partners: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beaten-zone-venture-partners/ 🔗 Steve Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-baxter-021448/

    57 min
  3. Ep14 Solving Healthcare’s Recovery Gap with Ali Stokes

    May 19

    Ep14 Solving Healthcare’s Recovery Gap with Ali Stokes

    Many patients leave hospital after surgery with little more than a few photocopied instructions. Yet recovery is where some of the biggest challenges begin. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with Ali Stokes, founder and CEO of Beyond the Clinic, to explore how healthcare can move beyond fragmented recovery experiences and toward continuous, patient-centred care. After years working as a registered nurse and across corporate healthcare, Ali saw firsthand how disconnected patients often feel once they leave the clinical setting. Support is limited, engagement drops, and too many people are left trying to manage complex recovery journeys on their own. Ali is working to change that. Through Beyond the Clinic, she is building a digital health platform designed to combine technology with human support. Rather than relying solely on apps and automation, her team has embraced a hybrid care model that keeps real people involved throughout the recovery process. This is where the opportunity lies. By combining virtual care, health coaching, and accessible technology, Beyond the Clinic is helping patients feel more supported, more informed, and more confident managing their health. This conversation explores the future of digital healthcare, the importance of human connection in patient engagement, and the realities of building a healthcare startup in a highly complex system. As healthcare systems face increasing pressure, the need for scalable, human - centred care has never been greater. Ali’s vision challenges the idea that technology should replace people - instead, showing how the right combination of digital tools and human support can create better outcomes for everyone. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ Why most digital health platforms struggle with patient engagement ☑️ How hybrid care models improve recovery outcomes ☑️ The importance of human support in healthcare technology ☑️ How Beyond the Clinic is transforming patient self-management ☑️ Why partnerships matter in healthcare innovation ☑️ The realities of building a digital health startup ☑️ How technology can make healthcare more accessible and personalised Follow and connect: 🌐 Beyond the Clinic: https://beyondtheclinic.io/ 🔗 Ali Stokes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-stokes-66a464193/ 🔗 Beyond the Clinic: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-clinic-btc/

    39 min
  4. Ep13 From Zimbabwe to Queensland: Stew Glynn's Venture Journey

    May 12

    Ep13 From Zimbabwe to Queensland: Stew Glynn's Venture Journey

    Growing up in Zimbabwe during extreme economic instability taught Stew Glynn one thing early: entrepreneurship is often born from necessity. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with Stew Glynn, Managing Partner & Co-founder of at TEN13, to explore the realities of startup investing, leadership, AI, and building resilient businesses in uncertain environments. Stew shares his journey from Zimbabwe to Australia’s startup ecosystem, reflecting on how adversity shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and approach to investing. He unpacks the evolution of venture capital, the importance of transparency in founder relationships, and why hard conversations are often the most important ones. The conversation also dives into the future of AI and health tech, and how emerging technologies are reshaping industries, investment strategies, and the future of entrepreneurship itself. This is where the opportunity lies. As AI accelerates change across every industry, founders and investors who can adapt quickly, stay resilient, and focus on solving meaningful problems will have the greatest advantage. Stew also shares lessons from building and scaling TEN13, coaching founders through difficult decisions, and maintaining energy and balance while operating in high-pressure startup environments. This conversation explores the realities of venture investing, the mindset required to build enduring companies, and why the next generation of innovation will be driven by adaptability, resilience, and bold thinking. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ How environment shapes entrepreneurial mindset and risk tolerance ☑️ The difference between necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship ☑️ Why transparency and radical candor matter in venture capital ☑️ How AI is reshaping industries, startups, and investing ☑️ The importance of focus and limiting scope in early-stage companies ☑️ Strategies for building high-performing teams and sustainable cultures ☑️ Emerging trends in AI, MedTech, and health tech investing ☑️ Lessons from building, scaling, exiting, and investing in technology companies ☑️ How founders can maintain resilience and energy through uncertainty Follow and connect: 🌐 TEN13: https://www.ten13.vc/ 🔗 TEN13: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ten13/ 🔗 Stew Glynn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewglynn/

    1h 13m
  5. Ep12 Clarissa Yates on Predicting Postpartum Depression Early

    May 5

    Ep12 Clarissa Yates on Predicting Postpartum Depression Early

    Postpartum depression affects millions of mothers. Yet most cases are only identified after symptoms appear. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with Clarissa Yates, CEO and co-founder of Ketim Technologies, to explore how mental health care can shift from reactive to predictive. Imagine a future where understanding your mental health is as straightforward as a blood test. Clarissa is working to make that future a reality. Drawing from her background in neuroscience, she shares her journey into health tech and the motivation behind her work. She breaks down the gaps in how postpartum depression is currently diagnosed and treated, and why existing approaches have not meaningfully evolved in decades. Today, through Ketim Technologies, she is building a proactive and data-driven approach to maternal mental health. By combining biological markers with psychosocial insights, her team aims to predict the risk of postpartum depression before symptoms appear. This is where the opportunity lies. By moving beyond self-reported assessments and toward measurable biological signals, Ketim Technologies .is working to reshape how mental health is understood and treated. This conversation explores the science behind that shift, the challenges of translating research into clinical practice, and the broader vision for more predictive and personalized mental health care. For clinicians, it offers a new way to think about early intervention. For founders, it highlights the complexity of building in health tech. For anyone interested in mental health, it shows how innovation can improve outcomes at scale. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ Why current approaches to postpartum depression fall short ☑️ How biomarkers can help predict mental health risks ☑️ The role of biological and psychosocial data in diagnosis ☑️ What it takes to translate research into clinical practice ☑️ Why early intervention changes outcomes ☑️ The challenges of building a health tech startup ☑️ How innovation can reduce stigma around mental health Follow and connect: 🌐 Ketim website: ketim.com.au 🔗 Clarissa Yates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissayates/ 🔗 Ketim Technologies: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ketimtherapeutics/

    52 min
  6. Ep11 Feeding 70 Million People: Mark Gustowski on Backing the Future of Food and AgTech

    Apr 28

    Ep11 Feeding 70 Million People: Mark Gustowski on Backing the Future of Food and AgTech

    Less than 2% of venture capital goes into food and agriculture. Yet it underpins everything. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with Mark Gustowski, Managing Partner of Mandalay Venture Partners, to unpack why food and agtech remain one of the most overlooked opportunities in venture capital today. Mark’s journey spans government, startups, and venture capital. Along the way, he experienced both success and failure firsthand, including building and shutting down a company in just 18 months. That experience shaped how he now backs founders. Today, through Mandalay, he is focused on supporting startups in food and agriculture. Sectors that are critical to the global economy but continue to be underfunded. This is where the opportunity lies. Mandalay takes a hands-on, founder-first approach. It is not just about capital. It is about working closely with founders, helping them navigate challenges, and increasing the chances of long-term success. This conversation is a grounded look at venture capital from the inside. Where value is created, where gaps still exist, and why backing the right founders in the right sectors can drive outsized impact. For investors, it is a reminder that opportunity often sits where others are not looking. For founders, it is a clear signal that the right partner matters just as much as the capital. In this episode, you will learn: ☑️ How Mark transitioned from government to startups to venture capital ☑️ What early failure taught him about building companies ☑️ Why food and agtech are underfunded ☑️ How Mandalay Venture Partners identified and filled that gap ☑️ Why hands-on investor support improves outcomes ☑️ What Mark looks for when backing founders ☑️ Why underserved markets can present the biggest opportunities Follow and connect: 🌐 Mandalay Venture Partners: https://www.mandalay.vc/ 🔗 Mark Gustowski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgustowski/ 🔗 Mandalay Venture Partners: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mandalay-ventures/

    51 min
  7. Ep10 Rethinking Startup Finance What Founders Actually Need

    Apr 21

    Ep10 Rethinking Startup Finance What Founders Actually Need

    In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne sits down with Roman Galikov - former CFO at RedEye turned founder of Create Financial. Roman shares his journey from growing up in Russia to building a career in Australia, and how a “practical” decision to become an accountant turned into a passion for working alongside founders. What makes this conversation stand out is Roman’s perspective from inside the trenches. Having helped scale a global tech company, he now brings that lived experience to founders through Create Financial - a one-stop shop for tax, R&D incentives, CFO support, and commercial advice. The goal is simple: make life easier for founders by combining compliance with real, practical guidance. They also dig into one of the biggest misconceptions in startups - funding. Roman breaks down why founders often chase venture capital too early, and why revenue, grants, and even debt should come first. It’s a refreshing, grounded take on how to actually build a sustainable business. In this episode you'll learn: ☑️ How founders can rethink funding—and why customers should come first ☑️ Why venture capital isn’t always the best starting point ☑️ How grants and R&D incentives can unlock non-dilutive growth ☑️ What founders often get wrong about financial structure early on ☑️ Why speed of execution is a real competitive advantage ☑️ How hesitation and overthinking can quietly stall a startup ☑️ The value of working with advisors who’ve actually built companies ☑️ How staying organised (data rooms, clean records) accelerates growth Follow and connect: Create Financials: https://createfinancial.com.au/ Roman Galikov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romangalikov/ How I Built This with Guy Raz : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297 Follow Create Financial and Roman for insights on startup finance, funding strategies, and building scalable businesses.

    41 min
  8. Ep9 Scaling Beyond Borders: How Tribe Global Ventures Takes Aussie Founders Global

    Apr 14

    Ep9 Scaling Beyond Borders: How Tribe Global Ventures Takes Aussie Founders Global

    Scaling a startup beyond your home market is where things get real. In this episode of 7 Questions, Wayne Gerard sits down with Aaron Birkby and Don McKenzie, co-founders of Tribe Global Ventures, to unpack what it actually takes to build and back companies at a global level. Drawing from their journey as operators turned investors, Aaron and Don share a candid view of today’s startup landscape. Australia continues to produce exceptional founders, but access to capital, networks, and the right support remains a key gap when scaling into markets like the US and UK. This is where Tribe stands out. Their founder-first approach goes beyond capital. It is about backing people, building trust, and supporting founders through the realities of growth, not just the highlights. From founder behaviour to decision making under pressure, this conversation dives into what separates good companies from great ones. For investors, it is a reminder that conviction and partnership matter more than ever. For founders, it is a clear look at what it takes to scale and succeed globally. In this episode, you’ll learn: ☑️How Aaron and Don transitioned from operators to venture capitalists ☑️Why Australia produces high quality startups despite funding gaps ☑️he challenges founders face when scaling internationally ☑️Why capital alone is not enough and support and networks matter ☑️How founder behaviour impacts investment decisions ☑️What a true founder first investment approach looks like ☑️Why today’s market presents opportunities for bold investors Follow and connect: 🌐 Tribe Global Ventures: https://tribeglobal.vc/ 🔗 Aaron Birkby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronbirkby/ 🔗 Don McKenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domckenzie/ 📺 Tribe Youtube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@tribeglobalventures Follow Tribe Global Ventures, Aaron, and Don for insights on venture capital, startup growth, and scaling globally.

    42 min
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About

7 Questions is a practical conversation series with the founders and investors building innovative Australian companies. Hosted by Wayne Gerard, each episode uses a simple structure, seven questions to explore the founder journey, how decisions are actually made, where unintended consequences show up, and what matters most when building a company for the long term. Thoughtful conversations grounded in real founder and investor experience. For: 1. Founders looking for insights they can apply 2. Investors spotting companies worth a closer look 3. Customers curious about the thinking behind innovative Australian companies A Prtnr (Partner Ventures) podcast. https://prtnr.au Connect with Wayne on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynegerard/ Follow Prtnr on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/partnerventures

Information

  • Creator
    Wayne Gerard
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © (C) Prtnr 2026
  • Show Website
    7 Questions