New investor enters the market focusing on sovereign lethal technology

I am proud to announce a new area of focus for my family’s investments - BeatenZone Ventures. We will be investing more in entrepreneurs building the next round of local technology that will assist in maintaining Australia’s role in the region and our autonomy as a nation. It seems a day has not gone by where the drum beat of conflict does not get louder, we need to prepare and if the recent experience of innovations used in meeting Russian aggression on the Ukrainian steppe is any measure we need to be on the front of this wave, not lolly gaging around on the back of it.

?As well as a continuing capital allocation to and maintaining executive chairmanship of TEN13 I look forward to working with the new generation of entrepreneurs solving problems for Australia’s, and our allies’, war fighters. By specifically wanting to invest into sovereign lethal and near lethal opportunities not only am I looking for some great deals but to also help expand this industry here.

?Just as software advances led to the tech startup revolution of the last 15 years seeing amazing billion dollar companies formed in Australia I want to bring a fast paced, dynamic attitude of “move fast and break things”, experiment through doing and invention that leads to world beating systems being created and produced here in Australia. By investing in early stage teams we want to enable them to dare to change what systems are procured and used by our fighting services. By bringing a venture capital mindset I want to see the founders we start with now go on to success and then recycle back in to become the next investors and backers of this sector.

?I am also keen to reset the narrative in a way that highlights the work done by these companies and entrepreneurs and sees them as people to lionise, not demonise.?Nobody wants to see the products the companies we back ever used in anger and the way to prevent that is to ensure the best weapons and related systems are in the hands of the modern Australian digger be they a soldier, sailor or airman. Wars are prevented, and if they need be won, by well trained and well equipment people.

?There are so many parallels to when I started River City Labs 10 years ago, in Queensland at least. Then the sector was nascent, it was inhabited by people too used to doing things the approved way, waiting for that one government/corporate contract to come through. Now there is thriving industry between us and our allies that see many opportunities to demonstrate to other militaries around the world that have more flexible acquisition processes. Systems can be proven elsewhere.?

?Back then startups seemed to live hand to mouth on government handouts before revenue was realised. Thankfully that has changed for the entrepreneurs in the fast paced software, network and online sectors – we need to start this process for defence related industry as well.?Whilst there is Federal government defence support programs you really need to go and ask a founder trying to access these what they think of them – off the record – because none would jeopardise their chances by commenting on the record. This support may have been good for its time but now is the time for rapid development of novel locally produced systems that will allow us to retain mastery of the battlespace and build Australian technical capability.

To help out I have been graciously joined by a great advisory panel from technical experts, defence operators, investment professionals and industry executives, I thank them for coming on this journey with me. We want to help change things and Beaten Zone is the way we plan to start.?