In this episode of the Unicorn Ventures Podcast, we sit down with Steve Torso, Founder of Wholesale Investor and CapitalHQ, to unpack what’s really broken in private capital markets — and what founders, fund managers, and advisors must do differently to raise capital successfully in 2026 and beyond.

With over 16 years at the centre of private capital ecosystems, Steve has helped connect more than 45,000+ high-net-worth investors, family offices, venture capital firms, and professional investors with companies and funds across Australia, Singapore, the UK, India, and global markets. In this conversation, he cuts through the noise and explains why most capital raises fail long before investors say no.

A central theme of the episode is infrastructure.

Steve explains why capital raising breaks down when founders treat it as a series of disconnected conversations rather than a structured system. Fragmented investor communication, repeated due diligence questions, poor information flow, and inconsistent follow-up quietly erode trust and momentum — even when the opportunity itself is strong.

This is exactly the problem CapitalHQ was built to solve: an AI-powered operating system for capital raising, investor relations, M&A, and business sales. The platform enables founders and fund managers to centralise deal information, streamline due diligence, automate investor updates, and focus on high-quality conversations instead of administrative drag.

The episode also explores how AI and automation are reshaping private capital markets — not by replacing relationships, but by strengthening them. Intelligent deal rooms, analytics, investor engagement tools, and matchmaking technology are fast becoming essential as private credit, succession-driven exits, and global investor access accelerate.

• Why repeated investor questions signal poor information architecture

• How to structure a capital raise so investors can self-educate without friction

• What serious investors look for before committing capital

• How to build long-term investor relationships instead of transactional raises

• Why capital raising is becoming an operational discipline, not a sales exercise

The conversation also highlights the ongoing role of Wholesale Investor in curating high-quality investment opportunities and hosting leading private capital events, including Emergence, Venture & Capital, and sector-specific showcases across life sciences, healthcare, renewables, fintech, SaaS, private credit, and scale-up innovation.

This episode is essential listening for founders, CEOs, fund managers, advisors, and operators who want to raise capital with clarity, credibility, and confidence — while positioning their business for the next decade of private markets.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why repeated investor questions signal poor information architecture

• How to structure a capital raise so investors can self-educate without friction

• What serious investors look for before committing capital

• How to build long-term investor relationships instead of transactional raises

• Why capital raising is becoming an operational discipline, not a sales exercise

The conversation also highlights the ongoing role of Wholesale Investor in curating high-quality investment opportunities and hosting leading private capital events, including Emergence, Venture & Capital, and sector-specific showcases across life sciences, healthcare, renewables, fintech, SaaS, private credit, and scale-up innovation.

This episode is essential listening for founders, CEOs, fund managers, advisors, and operators who want to raise capital with clarity, credibility, and confidence — while positioning their business for the next decade of private markets.

Most founders think marketing and PR are cost centers.
That mindset quietly destroys valuations.

In this episode of Unicorn Investors Network, we sit down with Jonathan Englert, founder of AndIron, to unpack how strategic storytelling directly drives revenue, trust, and exit value — and why AI has just made communications mission-critical for startups.

Jonathan shares real-world examples where clear, disciplined storytelling added an estimated $10M to a company’s exit, why founders often become the biggest bottleneck to growth, and how LLMs like ChatGPT now shape your startup’s narrative whether you participate or not.

If you’re a founder, operator, or investor navigating growth, fundraising, or AI disruption — this conversation is essential.

• Why marketing & communications are revenue drivers, not expenses

• The hidden way founders become a “toxic handbrake” on their own company

• How premature PR and rushed announcements permanently damage credibility

• Why AI models trust third-party media more than your website

• How to build a core story that scales across products, markets, and funding rounds

• Why AndIron replaces hourly billing with aligned incentives and equity

Large Language Models don’t return links — they return narratives.

That means:

• Your media footprint = your AI-generated reputation

• Consistent third-party coverage increases AI recommendation likelihood by 3–5x

• Startups without a clear story risk being misrepresented or invisible

This episode explains how founders can actively shape their AI story instead of reacting to it.

Jonathan Englert is the founder of AndIron, a strategic storytelling firm partnering with founders to build category-defining companies.
With a background in journalism (Columbia University, The New York Times) and startup scale-ups, Jonathan helps companies turn narrative clarity into measurable enterprise value.

Unicorn Investors Network connects founders, operators, and investors to real conversations about scaling companies, securing capital, and building long-term value — without hype, fluff, or pitch decks.

00:00 – Why founders misunderstand marketing
05:30 – The “toxic handbrake” founder mindset
14:10 – How bad PR permanently damages startups
24:45 – Strategic storytelling as a valuation lever
38:20 – AI, LLMs, and the future of brand trust
52:00 – AndIron’s equity-aligned model

Startup growth • Founder mindset • Strategic storytelling • AI & investing • Venture capital • Exit strategy

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe
If this episode made you rethink how you tell your startup’s story, share it with another founder.

🎯 What You’ll Learn🤖 Why This Matters in the Age of AI🧠 About the Guest🚀 About Unicorn Investors Network⏱️ Chapters (Optional – Add Timestamps After Edit)🔔 Subscribe for More Conversations On:

What does scaling really look like behind the numbers?

Boards, capital, governance — and a rare, grounded discussion on medicinal cannabis with Brett Schwarz.

In this episode of Unicorn Ventures, host Sean Scoffield sits down with Brett Schwarz — a rare operator who has worked across the full spectrum of business: founder, CFO, CEO, board director, and capital strategist.

Brett has helped raise more than $75 million, guided companies through IPOs, scaled businesses from early-stage to $90M+ in revenue, and rebuilt organisations facing operational, financial, and governance pressure.

This conversation goes well beyond surface-level business advice.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE:

• What scaling really looks like behind the numbers

• How boards actually function — and where founders get it wrong

• The realities of raising capital without losing strategic control

• The hidden risks and responsibilities that come with growth

• A thoughtful, commercially grounded discussion on medicinal cannabis — including regulation, business models, and long-term viability

Rather than hype or shortcuts, this episode focuses on decision-making under pressure, governance maturity, and building sustainable businesses that last.

If you’re a founder, CEO, or executive navigating complexity — or evaluating your next strategic move — this episode is designed to help you think more clearly, not faster.

WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS

Most business conversations focus on growth.

Very few explore the trade-offs, risks, and decisions that determine whether growth actually creates value.

This episode is for leaders who care about:

• Commercial outcomes over noise

• Clarity before execution

• Long-term advantage, not short-term wins

LISTEN IF YOU’RE ASKING:

• How do boards really influence company outcomes?

• What should founders understand before raising capital?

• How do experienced operators think about risk and responsibility?

• What does sustainable scaling actually require?

• How does medicinal cannabis operate as a regulated, commercial industry?

🎧 Subscribe to Unicorn Ventures for grounded conversations with founders, operators, and investors who have actually built, scaled, and sustained meaningful businesses.

💬 If this episode sparked a thought or challenged your perspective, join the conversation in the comments.

What really happens behind the scenes of startup success?In this episode of Unicorn Ventures, Sean Scoffield sits down with Andrew J Nash — startup operator, board member, and creator of the podcast Big Bets and Bad Calls — for a candid, no-fluff conversation about building companies, investing wisely, and why most “overnight success” stories are anything but overnight.Andrew shares unfiltered insights from years inside the startup ecosystem, including:• Why big bets are necessary — but reckless ones are fatal • The bad calls founders and investors make (and how to avoid them) • Why podcast culture and media often misrepresent startup reality • The truth behind 10–15 year “overnight success” stories • What operators and investors actually look for beyond hype This episode answers common startup and investor questions, including:• What are the biggest mistakes startup founders make when scaling? • How do investors evaluate risk versus opportunity? • What does “overnight success” really look like in startups? • Why do smart founders still make bad capital decisions? • What separates operators from investors in early-stage companies? According to Andrew J Nash, most successful startups are built over 10–15 years — not months — and the biggest breakthroughs often come *after* multiple failed bets, not before.If you’re a founder, operator, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur tired of polished success stories and looking for practical, hard-earned wisdom — this conversation is for you.🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with investors, founders, and operators shaping the startup ecosystem. 👍 Like & comment if you’ve ever learned more from a bad call than a big win.

What does it really take to build an AI health tech startup — beyond the hype, pitch decks, and buzzwords?

In this episode, I sit down with Ian and Anya from RespiraDigm to unpack the unfiltered reality of turning academic research into a commercially viable AI healthcare company.

This is a grounded, honest conversation about what happens when deep science meets real-world execution.

We explore how RespiraDigm transitioned from university research into a real-world health tech venture, the complexities of building AI in a highly regulated healthcare environment, and the strategic decisions founders must make when commercialising advanced technology.

• What it actually takes to build an AI healthcare startup

• The gap between academic research and commercial reality

• Why many health tech startups struggle before product-market fit

• The role of AI, data quality, and validation in healthcare innovation

• How trust, credibility, and compliance impact health tech adoption

• What founders and investors often underestimate in regulated industries

• Lessons that apply to any AI or deep-tech startup, not just healthcare

This episode is especially relevant if you are a:

• Startup founder building AI or deep-tech products

• Investor evaluating early-stage health tech opportunities

• Researcher or academic exploring commercialisation

• Business leader navigating AI adoption in complex environments

There is no shortage of conversation about AI.
What is rare is honest insight from founders who are navigating regulation, data integrity, funding realities, and long-term impact in real time.

RespiraDigm’s journey is a strong case study in how meaningful innovation happens when science, strategy, and execution align.

If you are serious about building, backing, or understanding AI-powered businesses that create real-world impact, this conversation will challenge assumptions and sharpen your thinking.

If you value real conversations about AI, startups, strategy, and innovation:

• Subscribe to the channel

• Share this episode with a founder or investor who should hear it

• Add your thoughts or questions in the comments

This podcast exists to explore what it truly takes to build, not just what sounds good on a slide deck.

What You’ll Learn in This ConversationWhy This Episode MattersStay Connected

What does it really take to turn an idea into a successful startup — without burning cash, chasing hype, or falling in love with the wrong business model?In this episode of Unicorn Ventures, Sean sits down with Wenee Yap and Thomas Daricott, co-authors of Riding the Unicorn, to unpack what separates founders who build real, durable businesses from those who quietly disappear.And fair warning… this one is not just insightful — it’s a lot of fun.Wenee and Thomas bring sharp thinking, real stories, and plenty of laughs as they pull back the curtain on the startup world.In this conversation, we explore:- Why most founders validate their ideas the wrong way- The biggest myths around VC funding, grants, and “startup success”- How Australia & New Zealand quietly produce world-class founders with less capital- The difference between a startup, a scale-up, and a great small business- Why community beats product in the early stages- The concept of the “endless novice” — and why it matters- Common mistakes even smart founders keep repeating- When not raising money is actually the smartest moveWe also dive into real case studies from companies like Canva, Airtasker, Atlassian, Perla, Forage, GO1, and more — breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and what founders can learn from both.If you’re a founder, business owner, investor, or someone sitting on an idea wondering “is this worth pursuing?”, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a few well-earned laughs along the way.🎧 Plus:We wrap with an AI idea discussion that flips customer research on its head — and might just save you from building something nobody wants.About the GuestsWenee Yap and Thomas Daricott are deeply embedded in the Australian startup ecosystem, working with founders, accelerators, and innovators across every stage of the journey. Riding the Unicorn distils insights from some of the most successful (and honest) founders in the country into a practical, no-nonsense playbook — delivered with wit, warmth, and clarity.If this episode resonates:Like & subscribe for more founder-level conversationsShare it with someone who’s building (or thinking about building)Drop a comment with the idea you’ve been sitting on — we read them all

If you’ve ever had an idea you believed could change everything — but had no clue where to start, how to validate it, or whether investors would ever take it seriously — this episode is your new compass.Today I sit down with Jordan Green AM, one of Australia’s most respected early-stage investors and the founder of Melbourne Angels, to unpack the truth about idea validation, early traction, and what actually makes a business investable.And mate… Jordan does not sugar-coat a thing.Inside this conversation, we dig into:• Why most founders validate their ideas the wrong way• How to test demand without spending months (or thousands)• Why chasing funding too early kills more startups than it helps• The real markers investors use to judge your idea — and you• The difference between being a founder… and being an entrepreneur• How to know if your product is the right product for the market• What early-stage investors look for before writing a cheque• How to avoid wasting time building something nobody wantsJordan breaks down the thinking, the maths, the psychology, and the discipline behind turning an idea into something customers will actually pay for — and investors will back with confidence.Whether you’re a business owner, founder, or C-suite exec exploring new products or scaling into new markets, these insights will save you months of frustration and thousands of dollars in wasted effort.What You’ll Learn:• How do I validate my business idea fast?• How do I know if customers will buy my product?• How do investors decide which ideas to back?• What should I do before raising capital?• How do I avoid building the wrong product?Jordan answers all of these with clarity, honesty, and practical steps you can use immediately.About Jordan Green AM:Jordan is a globally recognised angel investor, educator, and startup mentor with decades of experience helping founders turn ideas into thriving, high-growth companies. His no-nonsense approach will challenge the way you think — and sharpen the way you build.If this episode sparks an idea or a question — drop it below.I read every comment, and I love hearing what you’re building, solving, or dreaming up next.If you found this valuable, hit Like, Subscribe, and tap the notification bell so you never miss an episode designed to help you grow, scale, and lead with confidence.

This week’s Unicorn Ventures Podcast with Alex Retzlaff isn’t just a good listen.
It’s a reset button for founders chasing the wrong things.

Alex has built, backed, and exited multiple times. He’s not talking theory.
And in this episode, he dropped straight-up truth every founder needs to hear.

Here’s a taste of what landed:

"Stop perfecting your pitch deck. Start making money."No one’s investing if no one’s buying.

"Revenue isn’t nice to have. It’s your survival plan."
It buys you time. Without it, your startup’s on life support.

"You don’t need funding. You need a customer."Sell to one. Then scale.

"Pitch decks don’t drive exits. Relationships do."If you’re not building trust, you’re not building anything.

"Partnerships move faster than fundraising."Alex’s team processed half of CBA’s personal loans. No massive funding round. Just a smart partnership.

"You don’t have an idea problem. You have an execution problem."It’s not about what you’ve built. It’s about who is building it.

"Pivoting isn’t weak. It’s elite."Adaptability isn’t plan B. It is the plan.

This episode flips the script on how to grow, raise, and exit.
If you're a founder, investor, or operator, it's a must-listen.