New release: ‘Founder’, behind Australia’s most successful startups

Ever wondered what it takes to turn a small idea into something extraordinary? Explore the unique stories of four Australian startups in the newly released docuseries Founder, which delves into the minds of the people behind Canva, Brighte, Finder, and our very own SafetyCulture. 

From today, Founder is available to stream on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play. The docuseries explores how four entrepreneurs’ blend of naivety, purpose, and unrelenting grit ultimately beat out the looming fear of failure. It’s a glimpse into the lives of successful startup founders, and their families, and the sacrifices they made on the journey to achieving global tech success. 

SafetyCulture

“I can either be part of the problem, or part of the solution.”

– Luke Anear, Founder and CEO, SafetyCulture

An overnight success is what these companies look like from the outside, but our founder Luke Anear had 18 different jobs before he started SafetyCulture. The family sacrifices and personal toll are heavy. In this episode, Luke gives a raw reflection on the lonely, all-consuming journey of a tech founder and what it means to push yourself and everyone you love to breaking point. From a humble garage in North Queensland, SafetyCulture has become the world’s most-used workplace operations platform for frontline workers.

Canva

“If it scares, excites, and humbles me, then that’s a goal worth tracking.”

– Melanie Perkins, Co-Founder and CEO, Canva

Melanie Perkins is the greatest female visionary in the world. Together with her partner Cliff Obrecht, these twenty-somethings from Perth try to take on some of the biggest companies in the world. This episode shows the unlikely pairing of a perfectionist in Melanie and the boy-next-door style of Cliff coming together to create the world’s most used design platform. Now with 130 million users worldwide, Canva makes graphic design accessible to everyone, everywhere. But growth comes with a hefty price tag. Mel and her co-founders open up about being knocked back by dozens of investors to being the darling of the tech world. 

Finder

“I built a comparison business and drove it into the ground – until I started to hire great people.”

– Fred Schebesta, Founder, Finder

From tearing apart gadgets as a child to building websites and fencing with Google, Finder co-founder, Fred Schebesta, is an absolute maverick. His eccentric approach to business has always danced the line between creative genius and daring recklessness. His willingness to blow things up is what makes him an incredible founder – but it hasn’t been without consequences. Fred opens up about his challenges and the identity struggle that comes with being the leader of Australia’s largest financial comparison site. Can he work out his place in the company – and the world?

Brighte

“To create something from nothing, and then nurturing it – you have to have skin in the game.”

– Katherine McConnell, Founder and CEO, Brighte

Would you quit your job and risk your mortgage on a gut instinct? Katherine McConnell, doesn’t fit the mold of your typical tech founder. But that’s exactly what makes her brilliant. At a time when renewable energy was still a niche market, she saw an untapped opportunity. Going head-to-head with the juggernaut that is the fossil fuel industry, Katherine shares her story of creating a platform for sustainable upgrades, proving it’s not too late in life to save the planet. Here’s how she started Brighte and her honest take on if following your gut instinct is actually worth the risk.

Founder is available to rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play. 

Want to learn more about Founder?

• Check out the Founder official website
• Watch the Founder trailer
• Watch our other documentary The New Hustle

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