The Startup Network’s national expansion - with Vicki Stirling

Congratulations are in order for The Startup Network – both on their national expansion and rebranding from Startup Victoria, and for hosting last Friday’s fireside chat with Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI. 

Following the highly successful event, we spoke with Vicki Stirling, CEO of The Startup Network, to learn more about the drivers behind the expansion and what’s next for the ecosystem. 

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Q: Congrats on the national launch of The Startup Network! What were the main drivers behind the decision to expand and what benefits do you anticipate for startups in Australia?

A: Thank you! The decision to expand nationally and rebrand as The Startup Network stemmed from asking ourselves the fundamental question: Why do we put borders around founders? It doesn't make sense to limit people's ability to have incredible relationships and be more innovative by confining them to their respective states. By removing borders, we believe we can foster a more collaborative and interconnected startup ecosystem.

Our goal is to facilitate relationship building through our digital channels and connect founders across geographies and industries. We envision a member portal with national reach that allows founders from all over Australia to connect with each other. The dream began to come to life in January this year when our member portal went live. 

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Q: How have things changed since Startup Victoria's inception?

A: The core premise of Startup Vic, which is founders supporting founders and providing exposure to the right insights and events to foster growth, remains unchanged since its inception.

Since I joined as CEO 18 months ago, we’ve focused on scaling The Startup Network and connecting it with international ecosystems. This expansion allows for greater innovation and impact by increasing connections and collaborations between founders – and we’ve also introduced new events programs to support underrepresented founders and bridge accessibility gaps to community resources.

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Q: What's the vision for this next stage of The Startup Network?

A: Our immediate focus is on establishing a presence across the eastern seaboard. We aim to create a space where founders, regardless of background or location, can connect, share ideas, and move forward together. We’ve already witnessed great results with funding opportunities for founders who have pitched at our pitch nights – now, we want to give every state in Australia the opportunity to be involved in this vibrant community.

We also plan to expand programs like the Female Founders Circle and Growth Club to other states, providing support and resources to a wider range of entrepreneurs across the country.

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Q: On Friday, June 16, The Startup Network hosted a talk with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. How do events like this contribute to the growth and development of the startup ecosystem in Australia, particularly for impact-focused startups?

A: Events with esteemed speakers like Sam Altman bring tremendous benefits to the Australian startup ecosystem. They inspire and guide founders, encouraging them to think globally and tackle global challenges. By learning from innovators and understanding their approaches to impact-focused questions, startups can make significant strides in their own organisations. 

In the impact market, having access to global perspectives is essential. For example, climate change is a worldwide issue, and many of our climate products built here could have a significant impact on a global scale.

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Q: Can you share any success stories of startups that have benefited from Startup Victoria's programs or initiatives?

A: One inspiring success story is that of Swoop Aero and its founder, Eric Peck. Eric applied for and won an impact pitch night with Startup Victoria, which caught the attention of Giant Leap, who subsequently invested. It's incredible to witness how these partnerships lead to such great outcomes for founders.

Today, Eric's company employs over 80 people in Victoria and provides essential medical logistics services that have a massive impact on individuals and communities across the developing world. Eric now also actively gives back to the startup community, helping them with their own challenges. Success stories like this highlight the positive ripple effects that Startup Victoria's programs have. 

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Q: How has the response been to the expansion? Tell us about your recent launch event in Sydney.

A: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. The launch event in Sydney was a tremendous success, with individuals excited about breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive ecosystem. We are grateful for the warm reception and the belief people have shown in our mission.