Stone & Chalk

Stone & Chalk is the largest innovation community in Australia.

Our mission is to transform Australia into a sustainable technology driven economy. We are not-for-profit, purpose-driven and sustainable.

We support startups, scaleups, corporations and government, at every and any stage of their innovation journey.

We foster a community of founders, mentors, experts, corporates, partners, collaborators, and more to help entrepreneurs and businesses build, grow, and commercialise ideas, ensuring they have everything they need to adapt and thrive in an age of technological disruption.

We are the spark that powers emerging tech innovation.

To be part of the largest innovation community in Australia, visit https://www.stoneandchalk.com.au/.

Startup Success & Community Manager - Melbourne Hub

Stone & Chalk is Australasia's leading independent, not-for-profit innovation hub. They foster and accelerate the development of world-leading technology startups and provide a mature innovation ecosystem. Most prominent industry verticals are FinTech, MediTech and AgriTech.

I was approached in July 2019 to join the mentor-match program for their early and mid-stage startup cohort. This is a pro-bono position.

Startup Mentor

Kuboom10X - Resources for Tech Founders

Providing resources to help first-time tech founders start and build successful startups.

Hi, my name is Graham McCorkill.

Over the past four decades, I’ve been in business. From working in the family company to founding or co-founding 8 successful startups.

On this journey spanning multiple industries, I’ve experienced both huge success and sole destroying failure. I understand the challenges and uncertainty that come with starting from scratch, without any guarantee of success.

For the past 12 years, I have been working with first-time tech founders to help fast-track the path from idea to commercialisation. 

During this time, I've delved deep into design thinking, lean methodology, lean startup, and exponential growth strategy, among others. And had the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of successful founders, extracting their insights about what it takes.

I found that tech product success does not just rely on a great idea… Execution is key!

There are several fundamental steps at each stage of business growth that must be addressed to have any chance at commercial success.

Leveraging all this experience, I been able to personally guide over 30 first-time tech founders through the tricky early stages of the startup process.
 
Now, I've established Kuboom10X to create and publish articles, newsletters and resources focused on helping you build your tech idea from zero to traction and beyond, avoiding the mistakes made by most first-time founders. 

Find out more at the Kuboom website... (Link in the profile)

E: graham@kuboom.com.au
W: https://kuboom.com.au
M: 0417 955 913

Founder, Tech Startup Specialist 

RUNWAY BUY

RUNWAY BUY is a new state-of-the-art Mobile & Web Platform for Designer Fashion. We’re giving our users unrestricted access to international runway events, in-house shows, showrooms and designer brand boutiques streamed live. 

I am working with the Runway Buy Team to inject a combination of innovative thinking, market understanding and Strategy Execution. Specifically, my entrepreneurial and start-up expertise along with my understanding and experience in the successful implementation of mobile technology to solve real world problems is key to having this new platform up and running successfully. 

I have been been brought into the project by Marc Palmer (co-founder) to ensure the successful development of the initial commercial product and to manage the growth of the business to cash-flow positive and beyond. 

Our mission is to bring this unique online marketplace to ALL fashion designers worldwide. From large established brands to small emerging designers and everyone in between, RUNWAY BUY is creating a level playing field to more effectively market their collections.  

Our technology will allow customers to select items from the feed and buy new fashion collections direct from the runway or video release in real time. It’s the first TRUE See-Now-Buy-Now system. 

RUNWAY BUY is bringing Fashion Designers and customers closer together in a way not previously available… This now means:

- Established Designers, Emerging Designers,  ethical brands and more can monetise their collections immediately, direct from a runway, showroom or boutique event

- Emerging Designers have open access to new international markets

- Designers and Retail Buyers can easily connect anywhere in the world  

- Fashionistas worldwide, can shop the runway, showrooms, boutiques and new designer collections like never before with early access to new fashion, exclusive deals and special fashion notifications.

RUNWAY BUY is scheduled for initial release mid 2019. 

https://runwaybuy.com

Member Board of Advisors - Technology / Business Innovation & Development

Buzinga App Development

Buzinga was an award-winning app development and innovation consultancy, helping startups and SMEs commercialise ideas and implement mobile-first strategies.

I co-founded Buzinga in 2012. The Buzinga Team focused on designing intuitive ways to transform basic human interaction with the modern world using technology, including: smartphones, tablets, wearables, smart TVs, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and IOT. 

We produced some of Australia’s most popular apps including SteelDrive for BlueScope, That Sugar App for Madman Entertainment and Foodswitch for The George Institute of Global Health and Bupa. 

We launched more than 150 mobile apps... 4 have been #1 on the App Store.

Our company was recognised by BRW as a Top 100 Australian Fast Starter in 2015, by JobAdvisor as among the Top 10 Coolest Companies in 2014, 2015 & 2016. 

We also won Anthill’s Coolest Company Award for Mobile Business in 2015, and several other accolades for products and company culture. We employed 26 staff in Australia across UI/UX, user engagement, consulting, engineering and mobile-first strategy. 

By designing and building high impact, positive mobile experiences that make people’s lives better, Buzinga’s clients often gain key outcomes such as: increased revenue & efficiencies, better engagement with external & internal users, better data and competitive advantage.

My responsibilities included Business Development, Growth Strategy, Innovation and Operations. Key achievements included:
 
 - Average of 89% year-on-year revenue growth since 2012
 - Over 300 clients in 5 years
 - Over 150 Mobile/Web App Projects completed with 4 #1 Apps on the App Store
 - Over 10 industry awards for Fast Growth, Culture and User Experience Design

Mid 2017, I negotiated the sale of the Buzinga team to Butterfly. Butterfly were web-focused and wanted to add mobile know-how to their team. I stayed with Butterfly until mid-November 2017 to oversee much of the Buzinga transition.

Co-Founder & Director - Business Development, Innovation and Operations

Miiy Pty Ltd - miiySearch

The miiy Group was 51% owned by Sofcom Ltd and specialises in next generation digital marketing including; websites, QR Codes, coupon & ticketing systems, SEO, online shopping, mobile stores, mobile/local search optimisation and more. 

My role was to establish and manage the development process of the miiySearch product. 

Responsibilities/Achievements:
 - Developed new One-Stop Registration Service for Mobile Search.
 - Developed initial design & content for miiySearch website.
 - Developed all sales & marketing collateral both electronic & physical.
 - Developed staged client registration process.
 - Developed sales and re-seller sales processes & scripts.
 - Established re-seller and email marketing strategy.
 - Engaged & trained face to face & call centre B2B re-seller teams for product validation

All aspects of the One-Stop Registration Service were fully functional and generating revenue when I finished.

miiySearch Product Owner (Contract)

SISS Business Systems Ltd

SISS Business Systems is a non-listed public company, established in 1999. It developed the web based Uglii Systems. Uglii stands for 'Unique geographic listing for industry' and incorporates a new business, product & services search engine that features a spacial search & unique and powerful marketplace platform.

My role was to manage the implementation of the support resources for Global, National & Affiliate Partners and input into the functionality and User Interface of the primary Uglii System modules. 

Responsibilities/Achievements:
 - Support for Global & National Re-seller Partners.
 - In-house marketing expertise to Partner Network & SISS divisions.
 - Support content for Partner Website including How-Tos & FAQs.
 - Developed electronic & physical sales & marketing collateral for Partner/SISS use.
 - Reviewed all new systems for usability, experience & retention.
 - UAT for system features - Recommended interface and screen-flow improvements
 - Created all help & how-to pages for new and existing systems

Global Manager - Partner Support / Advisor - User Interface Design & Marketing

SISS developed the web based Uglii Systems. To market the Systems, SISS was establishing up to 10 independent or wholly owned organisations as Global Partners, each of which was tasked with establishing their own network of National Re-Seller Partners internationally for their economic zone. Bizmio was the first wholly owned Global Partner. My role was to establish this subsidiary from scratch for SISS. 

Responsibilities/Achievements:
 - Established offices, business systems, business plan, budget, staff requirements.
 - Designed & managed development of company website including all content.
 - Created electronic & physical marketing collateral - videos, revenue calculators, brochures, etc.
 - Established support & training systems for National Partner / Re-Seller network.

When seconded to Melbourne to take up a position with the parent company, Bizmio had an established network of over 25 National Re-Seller Partners covering Australia, NZ, Chile and territories in USA, Europe and Asia which had begun to generate revenue.

CEO - Bizmio Services Pty Ltd 

Kendco - Urban Furniture

While running Urban Chilli Stores, I established a factory in Central Java in conjunction with an Indonesian associate to manufacture furniture designed by me for Urban Chilli. This allowed Urban Chilli to offer a point of difference in design, better quality control, a price advantage and the ability to offer a custom design service for domestic and commercial clients. 

This factory reached a monthly capacity of 4 x 40' HC containers delivered after 3 years. In addition to supplying our own company (Urban Chilli Furniture), we were able to supply many container loads of furniture to other customers (Australian and international) on a wholesale basis.

Co-Founder / Furniture Designer (Concurrent)

Prime Renovation

In September 2008, after being asked to fill the position of CEO for Bizmio commencing in July 2009, I established Prime Renovation for 9 months until the start of the Bizmio Role. Prime focused on small domestic renovations of up to $100,000. 

Responsibilities/Achievements:
 - Initial marketing of business’s expertise. (5/6 projects came via word-of-mouth recommendations)
 - Design & specification of all renovation work
 - Detailed quote preparation
 - Engaged and briefed all sub-contractors
 - Project managed all renovations
 - Some between trades work

Prime successfully completed 4 small projects under $25K and 2 projects of around $100K in this period.

General Manager / Project Manager

Urban Chilli Furniture

Urban Chilli – Furniture & Homewares was very successful in Perth marketing a range of imported and locally sourced product. Primarily retail, it also serviced many interior design & commercial clients. 

Established by my wife & I in late 1999 (originally named Serendipity), the first store was 120 sq mtr. 3 further stores of between 500 to 800 sq mtr each were established. In September 2001 we sold the small store to enable expansion of the furniture component of the business. 

Responsibilities/Achievements:
 - Managed sales, sales training & corporate sales / Set and monitored KPIs.
 - Developed all advertising & marketing including TV, press, magazine, advertorial, online and signage.
 - Managed company operations, store management, business strategy and planning.
 - Established computerised stock control, POS & accounting systems.
 - Developed store designs, décor & layout. Project managed all store fit-outs.
 - Designed the Urban Chilli range of solid wood furniture & managed quality control.
 - Managed all international & domestic furniture buying, furniture importing and stock control.
 - Consulted with clients for Interior Design / Styling & custom furniture design – Domestic & Commercial.
 - Managed and controlled the capital and operational budget and expenditure with P&L responsibility.

Achieved YoY growth of over 105% for first 4 years & above budget growth to 2007. Sold the business in early 2008 and remained as consultant to October that year.

Managing Director / Business Development

Graham McCorkill & Associates / Prime Property - Construction & Renovations

Various Roles

Founder & Tech Startup Specialist / Startup Success & Community Manager @ Stone & Chalk 🚀

Are you in the early stages of creating an innovative new mobile app, web app, SaaS platform, or any other tech product?

I HELP FOUNDERS LIKE YOU, ACCELERATE THE JOURNEY FROM IDEA TO SUCCESSFUL RELEASE AND BEYOND. 

So, why would you seek help?

When you’re creating a tech product startup, there are many unique challenges that can derail the whole venture, even before it gets off the ground.

The fact is… 91% of all first-time tech founders fail.

Here's the good news… These mistakes are easily avoided and you can 10X your chance of success if you have a proven ‘roadmap’ to guide you.

My goal is to help you defy the odds and become one of the star founders who turn their startup dream into reality.


Let me share a little of my experience.

Over the past four decades, I've been in business. From working in the family company to founding or co-founding over 8 successful startups… Conventional and tech based.

In 2012, I co-founded Buzinga Apps, a small app development company based in Melbourne.

We grew Buzinga to one of the fastest-growing development agencies in Australia, until late 2017 when we sold.

During this period, sadly I witnessed numerous clients fail to achieve commercial success… Many, for reasons I thought were totally avoidable (in retrospect).

This sparked my obsession with success systems for tech startups.

I delved deep into design thinking, lean methodology, lean startup, and exponential growth strategy, among others. And had the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of successful founders, gaining their insights about what it takes.

There are several fundamental steps at each stage of tech business growth that must be completed to have any chance at commercial success.

In the past five years I have coached five tech startups to successful outcomes and impacted more than 120 with advice, guides and training.

If you're a first-time tech founder and could use some help... simply follow me here on LinkedIn.

AND, subscribe to my '10X Founders Edge' newsletter.

Head to my website for more information and resources:  kuboom.com.au

--------

In 2024, I’ve taken on a new challenge. I’ve joined the passionate team at Stone and Chalk’s Melbourne Hub as ‘Startup Success and Community Manager’.

Stone and Chalk are the largest innovation community in Australia.

If you're the founder of an Emerging Tech Startup and are experiencing some initial traction, be sure to reach out to me…

Let’s explore how we can help you accelerate success and connect you with mentors, customers, investors and other founders in our community.

Graham McCorkill

I CAN’T BELIEVE 2025 IS ALMOST DONE… 

BUT... before we ride off into the sunset, we’re throwing one last, giant, boots-and-all celebration for the entire Victorian Startup Community!

🎉 The Community Collective X Stone & Chalk End-of-Year Party – WILD WEST STYLE! 🪕

This is our biggest party of the year... and trust me, it’s going to be a cracker!

Think:
 🍔  Yummy snacks
 🥂  Sparkling beverages
 🧠  Big ideas
 🐎  Even bigger personalities

All year long we’ve backed bold founders, sparked wild conversations and created spaces where ideas take off. Now it’s time to round up your crew, raise a glass and celebrate the people and achievements that made 2025 legendary. 🍻 

🗓️  Thursday November 27th from 5:30pm
📍  Stone & Chalk Melbourne – 121 King Street
💜  Drinks, bites & big ideas included

🎟️  Grab your spot here: https://lnkd.in/gTnKDvau

Expect conversations that spark new possibilities—and a night that sends 2025 off with a bang.

Hope to see you there 🤠

Melissa Despotellis Imtiaz Aziz Paz Pisarski 🏵 Ines Schuber Janenie Mohgan Alex Shiell Pavi Iyer ✨ Samantha "Venia" Logan Natalie Badawy 💻 Blake Francis Eike Zeller Annie Le Cavalier Liz van Zyl Desmond John Robert Gallup Peter Gatt Megan Luttrell 🤝 Josh Lipscombe 🌈 Elle Phillips Sherin Breuer ⚡️⚡️Dave McManus⚡️⚡️ Callum Holt Dr Sam Donegan Xavier Andueza

Tech Startup Specialist / Head of Ecosystem @ Stone & Chalk Melbourne 🚀

The Community Collective and Stone & Chalk End of year party

ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT... DON'T MISS OUT!

The Community Collective X Stone & Chalk End-of-Year Party – WILD WEST STYLE! 🪕

This is our biggest party of the year... 

Think:
 🍔 Yummy snacks
 🥂 Sparkling beverages
 🧠 Big ideas
 🐎 Even bigger personalities

If you haven't already, round up your posse, grab your tickets and let's raise a glass and celebrate with the people that made 2025 legendary. 🍻 

🗓️ TONIGHT (Nov 27th) from 5pm
📍 Stone & Chalk Melbourne – 121 King Street
💜 Drinks, bites & big ideas included

🎟️ Grab your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gTnKDvau

Expect conversations that spark new possibilities—and a night that sends 2025 off with a bang... AND LOTS OF PHOTOS!

Hope to see you there 🤠

Melissa Despotellis Imtiaz Aziz Paz Pisarski Ines Schuber Alex Shiell Pavi Iyer Eike Zeller Liz van Zyl Desmond John Robert Gallup Megan Luttrell Sherin Breuer Callum Holt Dr Sam Donegan Xavier Andueza Kate Pollard Dane McFarlane Olivia Grandjean-Thomsen Paulette Parker Lucinda Batey

Chief Commercial Officer @ Andromeda Robotics

📣Hiring -> Marketing & Content Manager 💡🚀🎨  
(Humanoid Robotics)

At Andromeda we're doing something amazing. We're changing peoples lives for the better by developing empathetic humanoid robotics for complex care settings.

Our mission is a simple but incredible one, to replace a Billion hours of loneliness with companionship for those who need it the most.

We're searching for a passionate 'Marketing & Content Manager' to join our growing team. If you or someone you know would like to apply we'd love to hear from you, click here to learn more: 👉  https://lnkd.in/gtbaWSEP

Most "strategy" is bullsh*t.

Complicated.
Dense.
Timid.

And fundamentally incapable of doing the job it's meant to do: inspiring bold action that creates incredible results.

Great strategy is simple.

It's clear.
It's brave.
It's mischievous.

You can explain it to anyone, and they won't only "get it"; they'll be energised by it.

Follow me if you want to learn how to do strategy this way.

Here's how:

_________

1. Work with me

Each year, I work with 10 clients, and do a number of speaking engagements.

This is for brands who are ready to cut through complexity, and make waves in their market with confidence and clarity.

I’m with you every step.

If this might be you, drop me a DM or check out www.basicarts.org/work-with-alex/ 

_______

2. Get a new strategy technique every week

...by joining 25,000+ others  in the best strategic thinking community on the internet, The Hidden Path. You'll also get two free tools to sharpen and tidy your thinking. Just go here:

www.basicarts.org/template

_______

3. Master the basics for the price of a cocktail

...by reading my book, No Bullsh*t Strategy. It'll teach you everything you need to know in one 138 page hit.

Just search for it on Amazon, or wherever you like to buy books.

______

4. Subscribe to my YouTube for weekly masterclasses

You'll find it here: youtube.com/alexmhsmith

______

5. If you're a small business or strategy pro...

...then you can get my entire approach, ready to roll, in the Strategy Shortcut System. Use it on your own business, use it on your clients - either way it's the fastest and funnest way of getting competitive advantage on the planet.

www.strategyshortcutsystem.com

_________

Never forget, business should be an adventure.

And strategy?  It’s the map.

Let's set out.

Alex

Alex M H Smith

Are there more important strategy skills than these?

Sure. But that's the boring stuff.

Here, I wanted to create a list of less obvious things. The skills people don't tend to talk about, but which I think are pretty damn useful.

Here's a brief explanation of each.

1. Writing well

Writing is thinking that you can share. And this is pretty much the whole of what strategy is - thinking then sharing it - so honestly, you can't do without this.

2. Feeling comfortable generalising

Strategy is about zoomed-out, big-picture perspectives. And that means painting with a broad brush. Some people don't feel comfortable doing this, and so strategy isn't for them.

3. Being a teensy bit negative

If you're doing strategy, you're trying to improve something. Which must begin with noticing what's wrong with it. You can't be a cheerleader for something, and change its path.

4. An eye for aesthetics

Partially this is about pattern-spotting (a core strategy skill). But it's also about influence. If you want to persuade people, then make it pretty.

5. A sense of humour

Yes, it helps with rapport - but more importantly humour comes from observation and lateral thinking. I don't really see how you can be a good strategist without being kinda funny.

6. Being a PowerPoint master

Oh man do I love PowerPoint (or Keynote in my case). And you've got to. Knowing the art of pleasing rhythmic presentations is huge, since this is how you're probably going to sell your idea.

7. Kindness and warmth

People won't listen to you if they don't like you.

8. Radical simplification

My favourite strategy question to ask is "give me this gist". Being able to simplify to the gist shows understanding, and drives clarity.

9. Curiosity

You need to just be generally interested in random "stuff", and gather it in the library of your mind - since you never know when the most obscure thing might come in handy.

10. An authoritarian streak

Hey, you don't have to like it, but eventually you're going to need to tell people what to do. Many great thinkers have been undone by not having the confidence to do this.

11. A distaste for perfectionism

A great strategy is always a bit of a punt, that might not stand up to minute scrutiny. So sometimes it's best to just trust your gut, and see how it goes.

12. A touch of cynicism

You are trying to work with how the world is - not how you wish it would be. So you need to be a realist about human nature, and the darker side of the world.

13. The ability to touch-type

This means you can write as quick as you can think. Insanely underrated.

14. Understanding branding

Most strategy is not branding - but a bit of it is, and it's the less "rational" part. You can't truly understand market dynamics without it.

15. Storytelling

A strategy, in the end, is a story. And it will work to the extent people are captured by it.

___

Got any more? Put em in the comments.

Refine all these skills, for free, here: https://lnkd.in/eJSPsGUf

No Bullsh*t Strategy | Helping the world’s most iconic brands make smarter, braver decisions | Author | Advisor | Speaker

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