UNSW Pioneering Investors Summit

Real defensibility comes from real innovation

Breakthroughs in science, engineering, and technology don’t just reshape industries- they build new ones. UNSW Pioneering Investors Summit is a half-day event exploring how investors can build conviction and confidence in backing frontier technologies.

👂🏻 Hear from top investors backing world-changing deep tech
🧠 Learn how to invest without needing a science degree
✅ Understand the macro trends and risks shaping the future

Immerse Yourself in Deep Tech 2025

The event was organised by UNSW Founders and proudly supported by UNSW, Investment NSW, Gilbert + Tobin, Google Cloud Australia.

1. Investing in Sovereign Capability: Risks We Can’t Afford

Explore how deep tech is shaping national security, energy resilience, and economic independence—and why investors can’t afford to sit this one out.

2. Deep Tech Economics: From Cost Centre to Capital Magnet

A practical workshop for early-stage investors on funding timelines, risk profiles, and how to back science-led startups with confidence.

3. The Deep Tech Investment Edge: What Generalists Miss

Learn how leading investors build conviction in frontier technologies—and where the biggest long-term wins will come from.

4. How to Think Like a Deep Tech Investor

Not a scientist? No problem. Discover how to evaluate breakthrough innovation, ask smarter diligence questions, and separate hype from real technical advantage.

Featured Speakers

Martijn Wilder

National Reconstruction Fund Corporation
Michael Harries

The Robotics Hub
Elaine Stead

Main Sequence Ventures
Rob Bristow

Breakthrough Victoria
Sarah Nolet

Tenacious Ventures
Anthony Liveris

Proto Axiom
Michael Tolo

Blackbird
David Burt

UNSW Founders
Kylie Frazer

Flying Fox Ventures
Chris Quirk

Deep Tech Angel

Event Agenda

Speaker: David Burt (UNSW Founders)
Speaker: Michael Harries (The Robotics Hub)
Facilitator: David Burt (UNSW Founders)
Speaker:
- Michael Harries (The Robotics Hub)
- Colin Grant (DVC Global UNSW)
Facilitator: David Burt (UNSW Founders)
Speakers:
- Martijn Wilder (National Reconstruction Fund)
- Rob Bristow (Breakthrough Victoria)
- Michael Harries (The Robotics Hub)
Facilitator: David Burt (UNSW Founders)
Speaker: Michael Tolo (Blackbird)
Facilitator: Elaine Stead (Main Sequence Ventures)
Speakers:
- Sarah Nolet (Tenacious Ventures)
- Chris Quirk (Deep Tech Angel)
Moderator: Kylie Frazer (Flying Fox Ventures)
Speakers:
- Anthony Liveris (Proto Axiom)
- Ben Lindsay (Investible)
Moderator: Kylie Frazer (Flying Fox Ventures)

Testimonials

Roy Cooke

“The UNSW Founders program is major driving force in building global deep tech capability in Australia and the Pioneering Investor Summit just one of the many examples of how they are do this. Roy Cooke, Managing Partner, Ganmain Partners”
Davi La Ferla

“The UNSW Pioneering Investors Summit was exceptional. The calibre of the speakers, the relevance of the topics and the quality of the conversations between the sessions elevated and extended my views on DeepTech. I walked away with a heightened commitment to the Australian startup ecosystem and an even deeper interest in DeepTech.”
Community Member

“This event allowed me to find my people - those interested in the hard-to-solve but critical challenges. The content was well-curated, the speaker line-up was stellar, and I left feeling more certain of the necessity and practicability of investing in frontier tech.”