Growth Game

Growth Game is a Tractor Ventures production visiting multiple cities as part of a 2023 AU/NZ tour.

There’s not just one way to fund a technology company.

Founders have more options for funding than ever – that much is clear.

• Are you looking to fundraise now?
• Are you looking to fundraise soon?
• Are you looking to retain as much equity as possible and go slow?
• Are you wanting to right now, head to the moon?

The Growth Game tour features founders, investors, brand-builders and operators appearing in an unfiltered, straight to the point commentary on the tech investment trends right now, with questions flying back and forth between audience and speakers.

You’ll get a clearer idea of your options for short and long term growth, what current funding is out there (and from whom), and you’ll piece together a few of those building blocks in your head, ready for the next funding decisions for growth.

Speaker 1: Jodie Imam – Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Tractor Ventures

Jodie is passionate about helping businesses start and grow. Currently she is the CoFounder and Co-CEO at Tractor Ventures.

Prior to this Jodie was at SBE Australia where she led the team in accelerating some of Australia’s most innovative female leaders. Jodie set up the Innovation Bay community in Melbourne, is an advisor to multiple startups and a mentor at Startmate.

Previously, she cofounded two-sided marketplace, Occasional Butler, which was acquired by rival Airtasker and depo8 coworking. At the Wade Institute she was a mentor, lecturer and Director of Startups.

Jodie on Twitter: @JodieImam

www.tractorventures.com

Speaker 2: Samantha Wong – General Partner, Blackbird

Sam is a Partner at Blackbird. Originally from Australia, she now heads up the office in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), where she raised its inaugural $60M New Zealand fund in 2020 and is continuing Blackbird’s Kiwi adventure! Sam has broad investment interest including digital healthcare, robotics and IoT and B2B software. Sam sits on the boards of Halter, FirstAML, Foundry Lab, Partly, Harrison AI and Workyard.

Sam is passionate about diversity in technology and venture capital and spear-headed the release of the Model Code of Conduct for the Startup Community as well as a venture capital internship program for women. Prior to joining Blackbird she was a legaltech startup founder, an e-commerce product and strategy manager, and practiced in corporate and litigation teams at Minter Ellison before career-pivoting into startups in 2010.

She is a proud mother of an energetic toddler and on weekends can often be found at a local park running after a scooter or coming down a playground slide. She loves exploring the beautiful Aotearoa whenua with her family as well as yoga when her schedule allows.

Samantha on Twitter: @holasammy

www.blackbird.vc

Speaker 3: Ruth Green-Cole – Co-Founder & General Manager, Developers Institute

Ruth Green-Cole is a multifaceted professional with experience in education, technology, and the arts. Co-founder of Developers Institute, she is currently the General Manager of Operations and also served as its Academic Director.

With an educational background including a Master of Arts in Art History, a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Auckland, Ruth previously held the position of Director at the Whangārei Art Museum and worked as an Art History Tutor at Victoria University of Wellington.

Co-Founder of Parasol, and until recently, serving as its secretary for five years, Ruth is also a member of the Institute of Directors, supporting, representing and setting standards for directors across New Zealand.

Ruth on Twitter: @RuthGreenCole1

www.developers.ac.nz

Speaker 4: Jean Xin – Chief Operating Officer, Melodics

Jean Xin is the COO at Melodics, the first new form of musical learning for the modern world. There, she oversees internal operations and execution.

Previously, she was the Sr. Director of Strategy and Operations at Mythic, a leading Analog AI semiconductor startup. She was the first business focused hire at Mythic and oversaw organizational scaling, managing Mythic’s corporate functions. Previously, Jean was a Principal at the Venture Capital firm Data Collective. There, Jean focused on applying artificial intelligence to novel and high-impact problems in the real, physical world. Prior to joining DCVC, Jean worked at McKinsey & Company, where she advised executive teams on company-defining decisions, including data and technology strategy and M&A.

Jean holds an S.B. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Management Science from MIT, where she focused on computational cognitive science and finance, respectively.

Jean on Twitter: @jeanxin

www.melodics.com