The funding landscape has rapidly changed in 2020, so let's take a deeper dive into the world of funding and investment opportunities – from venture capital to bootstrapping, residencies to research commercialisation and more.

What investment opportunities are available in the near future for emerging technology enabled solutions? How are investments sourced and qualified?

You're invited to join a free panel discussion that highlights some tangible and current ways that a business or project can attain funding, whilst safeguarding your ventures financial sustainability.

What sectors and industries are being heavily invested in? What networks make these investment opportunities accessible? What art is there to the pitch?

Feat.

- Laxmi Pun - Accelerator Manager, Melbourne Accelerator Program

- Leonore Ryan - Entrepreneur in Residence, Translating Research at Melbourne

- Nathan Sowell - Manager of Impact Investing, Social Ventures Australia

- (Moderator) Garry Williams - Creative Producer: Innovation, Melbourne Connect

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Laxmi Pun - Accelerator Manager, Melbourne Accelerator Program

Laxmi is the Accelerator Manager at the Melbourne Accelerator Program and works closely with startups, mentor and investor communities to drive startup success. Laxmi is passionate about supporting student Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Impact and runs a not for profit- Illume Foundation to support International students in Australia.

Her career spans from being a founder, program designer, and investment consultant through her roles at Startupbootcamp, The Talent Institute Australia, and Villgro India.

Leonore Ryan - Entrepreneur in Residence at Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM)

Leonore has over 15 years’ experience in taking research based technologies to market, from both the research organisation and startup perspective. Organisations Leonore has worked for include CSIRO, Starfish Ventures and Monash University.

In 2016 Leonore co-founded Cardihab, a digital health startup based on research from CSIRO, taking a technology from within CSIRO through to creating an incorporated company with traction in the marketplace, a sales pipeline, and securing a $1.35m capital raising with a consortium of investors (including VC and a strategic investor).

In 2018 Leonore founded idea2opportunity to bring this hands on experience in commercialisation, venture capital and startups to research organisations, research teams and tech startups. Idea2opportunity works with clients including The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Monash University on projects such as development and delivery of pre-accelerator programs, masterclasses and coaching.

Leonore is a Director of Western BACE Ltd, and Entrepreneur in Residence at Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM).

Nathan Sowell - Manager of Impact Investing, Social Ventures Australia

Nathan works in the Upscaler, where he helps social enterprises step-change their impact through business transformation support. They partner with social enterprises to help them win and deliver significant social procurement contracts. Their goal is to help social enterprises grow and create more employment opportunities for job seekers experiencing structural disadvantage.

Nathan was previously Portfolio Manager for the SVA Diversified Impact Fund. The Fund invests in organisations that make a meaningful social impact on the lives of people in Australia and provides flexible capital (equity and loans) and hands-on support to both for-profit and non-profit organisations.

Prior to SVA, Nathan worked at KPMG in the United States and Australia across the Deal Advisory and Business Innovation teams.

Nathan holds a Master in Accounting from the University of Texas.

About the Melbourne Connect Online Event Series

These events are designed to delve into a range of topics on innovation, and connect a diverse mix of thought leaders in leading industry, government, university, and the innovation ecosystem to encourage collaboration.

Melbourne Connect is creating a connected innovation ecosystem by co-locating industry, research, talent and entrepreneurs, establishing Melbourne as a global innovation destination.

Melbourne Connect opens in 2021. Find out more: melbconnect.com.au