Skip to main content
ASX 200--|Nikkei 225--|HANG SENG--|CSI300--|FTSE100--|DAX--|S&P 500--|NASDAQ--|GOLD--|SILVER--|COPPER--|WTI Oil--|AUD/JPY--|AUD/CNY--|AUD/GBP--|AUD/EUR--|AUD/USD--|AUD/BTC--|AUD/XRP--|AUD/ETH--|ASX 200--|Nikkei 225--|HANG SENG--|CSI300--|FTSE100--|DAX--|S&P 500--|NASDAQ--|GOLD--|SILVER--|COPPER--|WTI Oil--|AUD/JPY--|AUD/CNY--|AUD/GBP--|AUD/EUR--|AUD/USD--|AUD/BTC--|AUD/XRP--|AUD/ETH--|

Venture & Entrepreneurship Summit: Investing in the Queensland Founder

Venture and Entrepreneurship SummitGet tickets
Date

Monday 26 October 2026

Time

5:00pm – 7:00pm

5:00pm–5:30pm Networking
5:30pm–6:30pm Panel
6:30pm–7:00pm Light food

Location

Owen J. Wordsworth Conference Room

QUT Gardens Point, S-Block, 12th Floor

Audience

Open to all students and industry guests

Get tickets on Rubric
About the event

Investing in the Queensland Founder

Join the QUT Investments Network for an evening panel that walks the room through the full lifecycle of entrepreneurship in Queensland. At each stage, founders will share what the experience was actually like, while investors share what they look for, giving the audience a rare look at both sides of the same decisions.

The conversation spans a range of topics, from what makes a great founder, through to funding growth strategies and the mistakes that sink companies, right up to how and when a founder should exit. Framing everything is Queensland's unique positioning.

Whether you're deciding to build something, back something, or work within something, this is a chance to hear directly from people who've done it.

Themes for discussion

Launch

Scale

Exit

Proposed panel

Two founders, two investors

Founders share what each stage was actually like, while investors share what they look for. Speakers draw only on their own experience. Names will be confirmed closer to the event.

Seat 1

VC Partner

Backs companies at the earliest stages. Shares what they look for in a great founder, how they decide to fund growth, and the warning signs that make them walk away.

Seat 2

PE Partner

Invests in established, scaling businesses. Speaks to what makes a company ready for growth capital, the mistakes that erode value, and how buyers judge an exit.

Seat 3

Early-stage founder

Building a company in Queensland today. Shares what starting out and raising the first rounds was actually like, and what they wish they had known going in.

Seat 4

Late-stage founder

Has scaled a company through later stages. Reflects on funding growth, the mistakes that nearly sank the business, and how and when to think about an exit.

For panelists

Apply to be on the panel

Interested in speaking at the Venture & Entrepreneurship Summit? Submit your details and we will review as the panel is confirmed.