Give It A Nudge

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve finally sits down with Brendan Malone, Managing Director and Group CEO of Raiz Invest (ASX:RZI), after six years of trying to get him on the show!Brendan takes us through his fascinating career journey, transitioning from a traditional background in investment banking (RBS) in London and Asia to owning a pub in Newcastle, and finally leading one of Australia’s most successful FinTechs.They dive deep into the evolution of Raiz (formerly Acorns Australia), managing over $2 billion in funds, and the lessons learned from their expansion into (and withdrawal from) the Asian market. Brendan also discusses the power of "round-ups," the importance of financial literacy, and how Raiz is helping Aussies—and their kids—build wealth during tough economic times.In this episode, we cover:* Brendan’s shift from corporate banking to startup founder.* The "sustainable growth" philosophy vs. burning cash.* The mechanics of Raiz Rewards and reinvesting $10M+ back to users.* Lessons learned from listing on the ASX and expanding into Indonesia & Malaysia.* New features: From Bitcoin allocations to "Jars" for specific savings goals.* How user behavior changes during market volatility (Brexit vs. Trump vs. Now).Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Finally getting Brendan on the show02:00 – Brendan’s Background: From Newcastle to Investment Banking in London/Asia05:00 – The pivot: Owning a pub & discovering Acorns06:00 – Launching Acorns Grow in 201609:00 – The strategy of sustainable growth12:00 – Explaining the “Round-Up” technology14:00 – Adding Bitcoin & custom portfolios16:00 – Raiz Rewards: $10M reinvested into user accounts17:00 – Rebranding to Raiz & Listing on the ASX19:00 – The Asian Expansion: Challenges in Indonesia & Malaysia24:00 – Branding consistency & App design30:00 – The power of Dividends & Financial Literacy32:00 – Raiz Kids & Intergenerational wealth35:00 – Data insights: Raiz Jars & saving for haircuts46:00 – How Raiz educates users through market volatility49:00 – What’s next for Raiz?LINKSConnect with Brendan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanmalone/Raiz Invest Australia → https://raizinvest.com.au/Connect with Steve → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegrace/The Nudge Group → https://thenudgegroup.com/Give It A Nudge Podcast → https://www.youtube.com/@giveitanudge/The Trouble With People → https://thetroublewithpeople.substack.com/

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Yash Varma, a seasoned tech founder, investor at Empress Capital, and high-performance coach.While Yash has a massive background in tech (founding Spaarks, investing in Tesla and Moderna, and studying AI at Stanford), this conversation is not about code. It is about code for the human body. Steve and Yash dive deep into the concept of Longevity to debate why the "retire at 65" model is broken and why health is officially the new wealth.Yash opens up about the health scare that forced him to stop the "founder grind," the specific habits he uses to optimize his energy (including a live demonstration of a Tony Robbins style state change), and why eating food that "goes off" is actually the secret to living longer.If you are a founder, business leader, or just someone looking to add more life to your years, this is a must-watch.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro: Why we need a "grown-up" conversation about longevity01:18 Defining Longevity: It is about quality of life rather than just years03:55 Why retirement is an outdated concept05:00 State Management: Jumping off bridges with Tony Robbins07:06 LIVE DEMO: Yash teaches Steve the "Power Move" to change energy instantly12:00 The 3 Pillars of Performance: Work, Purpose, and Health16:30 "You can’t do anything if you’re dead": Prioritizing founder health19:00 The Wake-Up Call: Yash’s hospitalization story23:15 Parenting: Why kids do what you do, not what you say25:00 The widening gap between the healthy and unhealthy26:45 AI, Technology, and the "Glasshole" story36:55 The pros and cons of wearable health tech (Whoop, etc.)40:00 Yash’s Sleep Routine: Same time, dark room, and "sleepy tea"46:50 Blue Zones & The "Centenarian Olympics" (Getting up without hands)50:40 Yash’s advice: Move heavy things, eat fresh food, and connect with peopleQUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:"It's not about living more years, it's about the life in your years.""I prioritize my health over everyone else’s because if I want to give to my family and my business, I can’t do anything if I’m dead.""Health is wealth. You can have as much money as anyone in the world, but without your health, you're on a hollow vision of performance.""People do what you do, not what you say."ABOUT YASH:Yash Varma is a global citizen, tech founder, and high-performance coach. After founding and exiting the global software consultancy Spaarks (with offices in London, Glasgow, and Canberra), Yash shifted his focus to empowering other founders.He is currently a Principal at Empress Capital and an active Angel investor with early stakes in companies like Tesla and Moderna. Beyond business, Yash is a certified high-performance coach, a mentor with Energy Labs, and a dedicated philanthropist leading the Canberra Chapter of Room to Read. He lives by three words: Love, Joy, and Contribute.LINKS:Connect with Yash → https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashvarma/Connect with Steve → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegrace/The Nudge Group → https://thenudgegroup.com/Give It A Nudge Podcast → https://www.youtube.com/@giveitanudge/The Trouble With People → https://thetroublewithpeople.substack.com/

In this episode, Steve Grace sits down with Kevin Lu, founder of Atrium, to unpack the "reverse journey" of leaving a prestigious career in Venture Capital to enter the trenches as a founder. Kevin reveals why he walked away from investing in some of Australia's most successful tech companies to solve a problem that haunted him for years, which was the absolute chaos of managing professional relationships.Kevin breaks down the "Founder Hierarchy" used by top VCs to spot unicorns (and why having a "chip on your shoulder" is the ultimate competitive advantage), the 100-year-old secret from Rockefeller’s Rolodex that inspired his new AI startup, and why he believes constraints rather than massive funding rounds are the true drivers of innovation.Timestamps:0:00 – The “Reverse Journey”: Investor to Founder1:47 – Escaping the “Lawyer Trap” into Tech6:11 – Corporate VC (Reinventure) vs. Pure Play (AirTree)10:07 – The 2021 Funding Craze: “It was nuts”14:10 – The Founder Hierarchy: Why you need a chip on your shoulder22:42 – REVEAL: What is Atrium?25:18 – Rockefeller’s 120,000-card secret30:17 – The joy of co-founding with a sibling33:17 – Why constraints create value (Bootstrapping vs. VC)37:47 – US vs. Australia: Risk appetite and hiring bias40:47 – Where have all the young founders gone?Links: Connect with Kevin → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-lu-514420112/Connect with Steve → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegrace/The Nudge Group → https://thenudgegroup.com/Give It A Nudge Podcast → https://www.youtube.com/@giveitanudge/The Trouble With People → https://thetroublewithpeople.substack.com/

In this episode, Steve Grace sits down with Mick Liubinskas — founder of Climate Salad — to unpack how a simple newsletter turned into an industry body representing over 800 companies, and why Australia is world-class at inventing technology but historically terrible at commercialising it.Mick breaks down the massive difference between scaling software and industrial hardware, why the real funding gap isn't at the start but in the messy middle, and why he predicts a massive economic tipping point for climate tech in 2027 driven by policy and profit, not just goodwill.They also dive into:- Why Australian corporations refuse to be the "first customer" for local tech- The "Valley of Death" for funding physical infrastructure- Real examples of deep tech: Jet engines running on sewage and infinite thermal batteries- The generational shift from "doing less bad" to "nature first"- How Wright’s Law is driving down the cost of batteries and solar- Why capitalist business models are the fastest way to solve climate problemsTimestamps:0:00 From newsletter to industry body 1:20 The accidental founding of Climate Salad 5:33 Australia’s commercialization crisis 6:37 Why hardware is harder than software 12:14 Capitalism vs. Climate Change 15:53 The investment "Valley of Death"17:54 Jet engines running on sewage 19:33 The Generational Divide: Nature First 26:19 The 2027 Tipping Point Prediction 35:43 Antarctica and the fragility of nature Links:Climate Salad → https://www.climatesalad.com/ Connect with Mick → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mliubinskas/The Nudge Group → https://thenudgegroup.com/Give It A Nudge Podcast → https://www.youtube.com/@giveitanudge/Steve on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegrace/The Trouble With People → https://thetroublewithpeople.substack.com/

In this episode, Steve Grace sits down with Paz Pisarski, co-founder of Community Collective, to unpack how a small 17-person meetup in Melbourne grew into a global community spanning 18 countries — without paid marketing, without hype, and without trying to be everything to everyone.Paz breaks down the Niche Cubed framework (profession + location + domain), how Who Not How changed how she makes decisions, and the simple community flywheel that turned early gatherings into an international movement.They also go deep into:Building with members, not for themFocus vs FOMO, and knowing what not to doScholarships and access pathways for community buildersWhy Nigeria unexpectedly became one of their strongest hubsHow music, ritual, and state-shifting practices shape her work and creativityTimestamps:0:00 Opening1:25 What Community Collective is3:08 The first meetup and early traction8:40 The 8-week cohort and 992-person waitlist10:55 Quitting full-time work to build community13:40 Who Community Collective trains and supports15:57 Paz’s background in music & sound19:44 Rituals, brainwaves, and performance29:02 Niche Cubed explained32:10 Focus, prioritisation, and saying “not yet”36:20 Growing to 18 countries40:48 Scholarships and global access43:50 Local leaders, city chapters, and sustainability46:42 Final advice: Start small. Do it with others.Links:Community Collective → https://www.communitycollective.com.au/Connect with Paz → https://www.linkedin.com/in/paz-pisarski/The Nudge Group → https://thenudgegroup.com/The Trouble With People → https://thetroublewithpeople.substack.com/Give It A Nudge Podcast → https://www.youtube.com/@giveitanudge/Steve on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegrace/

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve interviews Caitlin Judd, who takes us through her fascinating journey, starting with her roots in Melbourne, where she studied business and media at Monash University. She shares her transformative experience living in Miami, working across marketing, acting, and even selling high-end art, before returning to Melbourne to pursue a corporate marketing career.Feeling unfulfilled, Caitlin made a bold pivot into freelancing, supporting female entrepreneurs and leaders in the wellbeing sector. She discusses the importance of mentorship, coaching, and empowering women in business—particularly in the male-dominated investment world. Caitlin also dives into her podcasting journey with Lady Brains, which became a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, allowing her to build a community of like-minded individuals.Timestamps:00:18 – Meet Caitlin Judd and her journey from Melbourne to Miami01:07 – From corporate marketing to freelancing for women entrepreneurs02:26 – The power of mentorship and coaching women in leadership05:45 – How podcasting with Lady Brains became a tool for growth11:15 – Exploring angel investing and the gender funding gap16:55 – The importance of self-compassion and taking risks in business19:30 – Caitlin’s mission to create meaningful change for women27:00 – What’s next for Caitlin and her future goalsDon't forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more inspiring conversations with founders and industry leaders making an impact!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve welcomes Rafael Niesten, founder of Proptech Labs, a company revolutionising property management by handling essential back-end services like maintenance, inspections, and invoicing for residential properties. Rafael, a serial entrepreneur, shares his colorful journey, from running a mobile phone business and starting a youth radio station in Perth to tackling the challenges of the property tech space.Timestamps:00:18 – Introduction to Rafael Niesten and Proptech Labs01:07 – Overview of Proptech Labs and its back-end property services02:26 – Rafael’s early ventures: mobile phones and community radio05:45 – From Perth to Sydney: starting over and building new ventures11:15 – Managing a medical IT company through a data breach16:55 – Transition to Proptech Labs and the drive to innovate property management19:30 – Expanding internationally and navigating different markets27:00 – Reflections on resilience and the entrepreneurial journey31:10 – Rafael’s future plans to mentor and give backDon’t forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more fascinating conversations with founders and industry leaders who are making an impact!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Scott Berriman, founder of TenantX, a unique commercial property consultancy that’s all about representing tenants. Scott, who’s flying solo as a founder, dives into his transition from a long career in corporate real estate to building his own brand and business.Scott shares his journey from the early days working in retail leasing, through the highs and lows of corporate life, and what finally pushed him to go independent. He talks about how TenantX saves companies time and money by navigating lease negotiations, and he explains why having a dedicated tenant representative is crucial, even if many businesses don’t realise it. They also discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on the real estate market and how it led to many people reevaluating their careers.Timestamps: 00:18 – Introduction to Scott Berriman and TenantX00:45 – What TenantX does and the role of a tenant rep02:28 – Scott’s background: From retail leasing to office leasing05:12 – The transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship09:07 – Reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 and making life changes13:46 – Challenges and rewards of running a solo business16:34 – Strategies for business development and building a brand21:00 – Handling setbacks and staying motivated24:41 – Scott’s future plans and vision for TenantXDon’t forget to subscribe to Give It A Nudge for more fascinating conversations with founders and industry leaders who are making an impact!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/give-it-a-nudge--4623437/support.