And also: they got to know each other from being a part of Season One of this podcast! 

Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

In this episode, Irene talks about running 100 free consultations in two months, raising $1.3 million, and what it means to give women the option to fund their dreams without giving away ownership of them. A story about seeing a gap, and having the courage to fill it.

Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

In this episode, Alvin talks about building a business on the principle of lived discomfort, and how discomfort could give us hints on how to pave new ways to possibilities and solutions.

Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

She had no local clients and no external funding, and she was finding it hard at first to get Australian clients. This is why her first project for Next XR was in Egypt. Then, a breakthrough: her first Australian client came through a mother's group. 

Today, NextXR has 50+ staff across four countries. In this episode, Sri talks about building a VR and AR training company from the ground up, why she never waited for investment to get started, and the hiring strategy that keeps her team tight. A story about resilience, creativity, and technology — and what happens when you combine all three.

Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

Nick La, for example, couldn't get a job when he returned to Melbourne from Hong Kong. Too qualified, they said. Not enough local experience. So to help others, he built Weploy — a recruitment platform that strips out names, ages, and genders so employers actually hire for talent. One of their first candidates was a woman who had been running a billion-dollar portfolio. She applied directly to a Melbourne company. They passed. She then went through Weploy and was placed immediately at the same company. The line manager at that company called Nick La within thirty minutes: "Where did you find her?" he asked, not realising he already had her from a previous application. 

In this episode, Nick talks about building from nothing, pitching across a stranger on a nine-hour flight, and what he's learned now as he backs other founders.

Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

Michelle Chen ended up in Melbourne because a bus ticket was cheaper than a flight. But then she went to Games Week in Melbourne and decided to stay. Now she's the co-founder of Mental Jam, turning her PhD research into games, including Bobarista, a video game where you play a wombat barista helping Australian animals through their mental health challenges. It's warm, it's creative, and it's targeting early intervention: reaching young people before crisis hits. 

In this episode, Michelle talks about pivoting from research to startup, applying for hundreds of grants, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is just show up and do it scared.

Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

In this episode, host Jeanette Cheah and Diletta discuss the challenges of finding meaningful work after university, debunking the myth of hyper-confidence, and how reinvention is key to growth. From winning federal government contracts to shaping social impact initiatives, Diletta draws upon her Indonesian background and networks to help her win contracts, and proves that niching down and doing things your own way can lead to incredible opportunities.

Host Jeanette Cheah dives into Hung’s experience of cultural adaptation, the power of speaking the culture (not just the language), and how he overcame his own introverted nature to grow an international business network. They also discuss the unique challenges faced by Vietnamese entrepreneurs entering the Australian market and how strategic connections can be a game-changer.

Host Jeanette Cheah and Sangeeta explore the mindset shifts required for success, why startup and small business entrepreneurship are different, and how Melbourne’s diverse ecosystem fosters innovation. Sangeeta also explains how she leverages her Indian heritage and networks to help Australian business navigate the Indian market. They also discuss Press Play Ventures, an accelerator supporting women founders, and why India, UAE, and Africa are the next big markets for Australian startups.

Host Jeanette Cheah and Yifei explore the challenges and triumphs of building a network in a new country, the importance of hackathons and community, and how a side hustle as a cake delivery driver led to his first business opportunity. They also discuss AI Build's focus on research, development and deployment, the company's global ambitions, and the significance of the Distinguished Talent Visa. 

Born in Japan and living most of her life in Australia, Asami shares her journey from music therapist to accidental entrepreneur, the challenges of bridging cultural gaps in mental health care, and the perseverance it takes to build a mission-driven business. She also opens up about the pressures of entrepreneurship, navigating funding challenges, and the importance of stepping outside of her comfort zone—one coffee meeting at a time.