Emerging Voices Volume 3
Enhancing Australia’s First Nations Startup Ecosystem: The Role of Legislative Change, Innovation, and Investment
August 2024
Les Delaforce is an experienced First Nations leader and Non-Executive Director of First Nations X. Les has built a career in technology and innovation helping to grow the Indigenous startup sector. He is a former venture backed founder of Covocate, growing a team from Australia, Canada and Israel with clients from ASX listed companies to government and led the First Nations entrepreneurship unit at Minderoo Foundation.
Key Messages
↗ For First Nations startups to flourish in Australia, impediments to accessing early-stage capital should be addressed.
↗ Lowering the barriers to entry for international investors in Australia could expand the pool of capital for First Nations startups and high-growth companies alike.
↗ Doing so could drive forward new technological advancements and job opportunities across various industries.
