🗓Tuesday 2 December
🕘5:30pm – 7:30pm
📍Cremorne Digital Hub, 80 Balmain Street, Cremorne
🔗Register Here: https://luma.com/h6qi7rln
This year, we're switching it up! Instead of the usual suspects, we're bringing you perspectives from the emerging voices in venture and funds reshaping the Australian VC landscape.
Hear from emerging voices in VCs: fund managers with unique investment theses and views on where the next unicorn start-up will emerge from. During the panel, we’ll reflect on the year that was and get their insights into what themes, opportunities, and challenges will shape the 2026 investing landscape.
Then, we will switch gears to a rapid bull or bear session with our panellists – no fence-sitting here!
Whether you're fundraising, venture-curious, or just want the inside scoop from those deploying capital, this is a must-attend event!
Our Speakers: More to be announced soon!
Thea Ngo - Investment Analyst, Archangel
Thea is a venture investor combining consulting and hands-on startup experience. Ex–PwC Strategy& New York and Southeast Asia venture builder, and creator of Founders In Motion.
Mitchell Hughes - Founder, Nextgen Ventures.
Mitchell is a Founding Partner of NextGen Ventures, Australia’s first student-focused venture capital fund, that empowers the next generation of ambitious founders before anyone else. At 24, Mitchell has co-founded NextGen from the ground up over the past two years, where they've now met over 1000+ student startups, raised $3m+ for their first fund, and made ten investments in the country's most ambitious young founders.
Emma Tibballs - Investment Analyst, Gandel Invest
Emma joined Gandel Invest in 2025 with a background in transaction services, ESG, and not-for-profits. She is passionate about making positive, sustainable change and is energised by meeting people and discussing ideas. Emma has a Bachelor of Commerce, having majored in Accounting and Behavioural Commerce (i.e. the Psychology of business), and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Some of the topics we’ll be discussing:
- The year that was in VC. What were the themes that shaped 2026 from a venture perspective?
- What’s changed from an investor perspective with the rise of AI?
- What did venture investors miss in 2025?
- Predictions and trends to watch in 2026.
- How founders can navigate this evolving landscape and what companies and segments are going to be hot — and which are not.