The energy of the entrepreneurial spirit was palpable in the air at the "Aussies Scaling Up to the World Meetup" in Sydney, at Stone and Chalk in Haymarket on Tuesday 17 October 2023.
Notably, this was a featured gathering on the official SXSW Sydney program, drawing an overwhelming number of people to the point of being booked to its maximum capacity. And for those who couldn't make it A waitlist spoke volumes about the event's huge appeal.
Taking centre stage at Stone & Chalk, an assembly of stellar speakers unravelled their insights on scaling up and breaking frontiers, including:
- Scott Perry of Workforce BluePrint
- Imche Veiga from Stone & Chalk
- Wendy Perry of Switch Start Scale and Workforce BluePrint
- Benjamin Flink representing RAA
- Denham D'Silva from Deep Liquid
- Robyn Verrall of Bully's Meat
- Andrew Kay from Business SA
- Heather Croall of Adelaide Fringe
A quick shoutout to the Stone & Chalk team, including Blake Francis, Alex Gray, Imche Veiga, Dr. Tim Mahlberg, and Sie Michelle (MJ) Brodie, for helping to curate such an incredible evening. Their dedication to fostering the SA-NSW collaboration was evident, and the evening's success could be attributed as much to their efforts as to the speakers' expertise.
Scott Perry, our charismatic MC for the evening, perfectly set the tone with a profound acknowledgment of the country. As the evening unfolded, attendees were treated to a beautiful spread that celebrated the best of South Australian produce. Aimee Squire's "#Wanna Graze" grazing table showcased gems like Maggie Beer Products, FruChocs, Arnotts Biscuits Holdings Pty Limited, Barossa Fine Foods, Tuckers and obela mx. Complementing the culinary delights were premium wines from Château Tanunda, with Ian Sunderland sharing the brand's captivating story.
An AI bar from Deep Liquid, conceptualised by Denham D'Silva, became one of the evening's talking points. Attendees' interactions will contribute to developing innovative products for the SXSW 2024 event.
The event wasn't just about business expansion; it also emphasised the power of networking. From local entrepreneurs to international business representatives like Hugh Forrest from SXSW and Laura Leventhal from the American Australian Association, the diversity of attendees was impressive and the night was amplified with a live performance by the talented artist and musician, Tushar.
To sum it up, the event was more than just a gathering; it was a catalyst for fostering connections. As an attendee rightly pointed out, it was an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and carve out potential business relationships.
Kudos to all the organisers, including Blake Francis, Alex Gray, Imche Veiga, Dr. Tim Mahlberg Sie, and Michelle (MJ) Brodie. Special thanks to Colin Daniels, Simon Cahill, Destination NSW, and City of Sydney for making the week remarkable.
Check out the photos on Facebook.
Did you find this post interesting? Feel free to share it with your friends and colleagues. And remember, networking doesn't stop at events – it's an ongoing process. Keep connecting!