🌟 The Soul of SouthStart
On May 5-7, I was invited to Adelaide for SouthStart—my fourth year in a row—and once again, it proved why it's such a special event. Great events blend art and science, and SouthStart nails it. Here's why:
✨ It’s got soul – Hard to define but easy to feel. It’s about good people, meaningful connections, bold ideas, and space to explore. Many events have great content, but SouthStart brings depth and authenticity.
🏞️ Adelaide makes it unique – The city has its own startup ecosystem, yet many attendees come from interstate. I had long conversations with Sydney folks I usually only see for brief moments.
🔄 The perfect balance – SouthStart gets the mix right: relevant content, space for serendipitous discovery, and unstructured time to connect and reflect. Unlike conferences that overload every second, SouthStart allows breathing room.
Kudos to Danielle and Craig for their incredible effort in keeping this event fresh and impactful!
🌍 Climate Tech & Clean Energy Summit: From Idea to Impact
📅 A Look Back
Four years ago, I attended SouthStart with a vague notion of climate tech. My goal? Speak to as many people as possible and figure out how to engage. Conversations with pioneers like Kristin, Lisa, Mike Zimmerman, Lucinda, Elaine, and Sarah left me with more questions than answers—but also a first sketch of the Climate Tech Landscape Map. One year later, that sketch became this widely viewed resource:
🔗 Climate Technology Landscape Map
🌟 The Big Push
A key moment came when Lisa Federenko asked:
“So, you’ve chatted to all these people, what are you going to do about it?”
With no clear plan but a strong mission, I set a bold goal:
✅ Speak to 100 Australian climate tech companies within a year.
That mission, fueled by support from my wife Karen (who co-founded Climate Salad), energy from Charlotte Connell, and leaps of faith from Olivia Utharntharm, snowballed into something much bigger:
📅 SouthStart 2022: Climate Salad had 138 registered climate tech companies. 📅 SouthStart 2025: We now have 700 companies, 1,200 members, and a community of 10,000 supporters!
🌱 SouthStart 2025: Climate Tech & Clean Energy Highlights
The SouthStart team dedicated an entire day to Climate Tech & Clean Energy, packed with insights from industry leaders. I had the privilege of working with Allys Todd on a full-day program.
💡 Key Moments:
- Megan Sebben (CSIRO) – Strong programs turning research into scalable businesses.
- Martin Haese (Premier’s Climate Change Council SA) – SA’s world-class clean energy leadership & a bold COP statement.
- Mic Black (Rainstick) – The challenge of launching a global ag-tech business in Australia.
- Ben Owen (RAA) – Tackling nuclear power discussions with class.
- Ella McKinley (Culture Amp) – Passion for impactful climate projects.
Afterwards, all summits merged at a stunning vineyard for more great conversations with Leesa, Julie Trell, and others.
🎤 Late-Night Insights & Debates
Following some bus karaoke with Cheryl Mack and crew, a group of us opted for a quiet dinner of amazing Indian food—including Bronwen Clune, Dan Van Bloom (Capital Brief), Simon Thomsen (Startup Daily), and Phil Morle (Main Sequence).
🌐 Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- Australia’s startup ecosystem has grown 10x in 20 years, but still faces structural barriers that could take another 20 to overcome.
- Software still dominates because the “build in Australia, sell overseas” playbook works.
- Hardware startups lack a proven playbook, though emerging companies show promise.
- The small Australian market pressures players (founders, investors, corporates) to prioritize survival over ecosystem building.
- Corporate & government hesitancy to buy Australian tech before global validation stifles long-term growth.
- Venture capital remains the default funding route, even though it fits only 10-20% of startups.
🌟 Wrapping Up: The SouthStart Magic
For me—and for climate tech—SouthStart 2025 delivered:
✔ Great people
✔ Engaging structure
✔ New discoveries
✔ Deep, meaningful discussions
I’m already booking my ticket for SouthStart 2026—see you there!
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