In this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Owen Rask sits down with Wenee Yap and Thomas Derricott, co-authors of the new book “Riding the Unicorn: The Startup Guide You’ll Want to Read” In a deeply insightful and inspiring conversation, they explore:
- What makes a company a “unicorn”
- Why Australia punches above its weight in the global startup scene
- The biggest myths about startups and side hustles
- The six-stage founder framework
- What startup success (and failure) really looks like
Whether you dream of launching a business, joining the startup ecosystem, or backing the next Aussie success story, this conversation is a must-listen.
If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts!
Topics Covered
- What is a Unicorn Startup?
- Why Australia is one of the most capital-efficient ecosystems
- How Australia compares to Silicon Valley
- The six-stage startup founder framework
- The differences between a startup, small business, and side hustle
- Lessons from launching a cat café (yes, really)
- The “Sulopolis Score” and problem-solving in startups
- Why storytelling matters for business growth
- Mistakes to avoid from failed startups (MilkRun, etc.)
- How successful founders think differently the second time around
- Common traits of Australia’s top founders
- The truth about market research and pivots
- How to get started in the startup ecosystem—without quitting your job
