For the last decade the startup industry has been “envied, pilloried and lots of other things but it hasn’t been understood”.
It’s a lament that led to angel investor Alan Jones, also chief growth hacker at BlueChilli and investor at Startmate and Blackbird Ventures, to invest in the popular web series That Startup Show, which he believes has the potential to play a major role in making the startup industry more accessible to the wider population.
Jones participated in That Startup Show’s first round of investment as it negotiates with online media channels about possible distribution deals.
“I believe in the team’s ability as great storytellers, and that’s fundamentally what I’m backing,” Jones says.
“It’s not my first entertainment product investment, I’ve also invested in some documentaries and short films, but for me this combines two of my great passions: startups and great storytelling.
“Engaging with the broader entrepreneur community is vital if we’re to continue the momentum we now have in Australia’s startup industry.”
Joining Jones as an investor is Digital4Age, a startup accelerator run by entrepreneur and angel investor Jamie Pride.
“Digital4Age is excited to be involved with That Startup Show,” he says.
“We love the concept and the energy of the team, and it’s great to be playing a part in the startup community in Australia with a media platform that has a great deal of potential in the media space.”
That Startup Show co-founder Sally Gatenby says the funding will be used to complete the remaining four episodes in 2014, set to be filmed on the November 24, 25, 26 and 27, and to build out its platform of online and event content.
“There’s been a lot of interest internationally to replicate this overseas on a local level, and creating events around it too,” Gatenby says.
For tickets to That Startup Show, head over to its Eventbrite page.
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Kye began his career at a Fairfax daily on the North-West Coast of Tasmania. He has since taken his belongings, and keen interest in technology, to Melbourne. He has a bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science from the University of Tasmania and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from RMIT University.
