Inner West Startups + Tech: A Shark's Outlook on 2026
Grab a beer and hear Naomi Simson OAM’s take on the year ahead for founders.
Naomi Simson is one of the Inner West’s original startup success stories - and one of Australia’s most respected voices on entrepreneurship. After a corporate career with Apple, KPMG and IBM, she founded RedBalloon in 2001 and built it into a much-loved Australian brand. She later co-founded Big Red Group, now the largest experience platform across Australia and New Zealand.
You might also know her as the original “Red Shark” from Shark Tank Australia - clear-eyed, operator-minded, and to the point.
Fireside chat: What’s on my mind for business owners in 2026.
We’ll take questions from the floor, hear from local founders pitching their startups, then enjoy Sydney Brewery Rozelle beers, pizza, and a proper IWST mingle.
Business • Startups: 🎟️ Tickets & info: www.innerwest.tech
⚡ Inner West Startups + Tech: A Shark's Outlook on 2026
📍 Sydney Brewery Rozelle 📅 6 pm, Thursday 19th March 2026.
🔥 Fireside chat, 💬Q+A, 🚀 Local pitches, 🍹 drinks, 🐶 dog-friendly.
Grab a beer and hear Naomi Simson OAM’s take on the year ahead for founders.
Naomi Simson is one of the Inner West’s original startup success stories - and one of Australia’s most respected voices on entrepreneurship. After a corporate career with Apple, KPMG and IBM, she founded RedBalloon in 2001 and built it into a much-loved Australian brand. She later co-founded Big Red Group, now the largest experience platform across Australia and New Zealand.
You might also know her as the original “Red Shark” from Shark Tank Australia - clear-eyed, operator-minded, and to the point.
Fireside chat: What’s on my mind for business owners in 2026.
We’ll take questions from the floor, hear from local founders pitching their startups, then enjoy Sydney Brewery Rozelle beers, pizza, and a proper IWST mingle.
Business • Startups: 🎟️ Tickets & info: www.innerwest.tech
⚡ Inner West Startups + Tech: A Shark's Outlook on 2026
📍 Sydney Brewery Rozelle 📅 6 pm, Thursday 19th March 2026.
🔥 Fireside chat, 💬Q+A, 🚀 Local pitches, 🍹 drinks, 🐶 dog-friendly.
Good to know
Highlights
- 4 hours
- In person
Refund Policy
Location
Sydney Brewery Rozelle
26B Mansfield Street
Rozelle, NSW 2039
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
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Roll in + first beer
Grab a pint, say hi, settle in.
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Pizza + warm-up mingle
Meet a few legends, swap what you’re building.
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Fireside chat with Naomi Simson OAM
What’s on my mind for business owners in 2026 - practical lessons from the trenches