Our Team
Our Mission
Fuelled by the surge of student-led startups, we aim to empower and support the next wave of student entrepreneurs
Who we are
“Frustrated with the lack of support for student founders”
“Frustrated with the lack of support for student founders”
Australian universities are experiencing a significant yet unnoticed cultural shift, marked by a rapid increase in students spearheading innovative startups. This surge in entrepreneurial spirit is driving grassroots innovation within the educational ecosystem.
Only the students will know which friend is creating the next Immutable in stealth, which corner of the library the next Atlassian is being built, or which club the next Propeller Aero has been founded. And who will better empathise, understand, and serve student founders than students and a fund that is built purely for student founders?
As a result, NextGen Ventures was born. Australia’s first student-run venture capital fund.
Australian universities are experiencing a significant yet unnoticed cultural shift, marked by a rapid increase in students spearheading innovative startups. This surge in entrepreneurial spirit is driving grassroots innovation within the educational ecosystem.
Only the students will know which friend is creating the next Immutable in stealth, which corner of the library the next Atlassian is being built, or which club the next Propeller Aero has been founded. And who will better empathise, understand, and serve student founders than students and a fund that is built purely for student founders?
As a result, NextGen Ventures was born. Australia’s first student-run venture capital fund.
Our Values
We believe in owning our futures and shaping the world we want to live in.
We take radical ownership
Radical ownership means taking action, not waiting for others to build the life we envision. It’s about dictating outcomes, rejecting conformity, and actively doing the work that defines our legacy. As Steve Jobs once said, everything around us was made by people no smarter than us — we have the power to change life, mould it, and leave our mark. We embrace this mindset and take full responsibility for the impact we create.
We take radical ownership
Radical ownership means taking action, not waiting for others to build the life we envision. It’s about dictating outcomes, rejecting conformity, and actively doing the work that defines our legacy. As Steve Jobs once said, everything around us was made by people no smarter than us — we have the power to change life, mould it, and leave our mark. We embrace this mindset and take full responsibility for the impact we create.
We take radical ownership
Radical ownership means taking action, not waiting for others to build the life we envision. It’s about dictating outcomes, rejecting conformity, and actively doing the work that defines our legacy. As Steve Jobs once said, everything around us was made by people no smarter than us — we have the power to change life, mould it, and leave our mark. We embrace this mindset and take full responsibility for the impact we create.
We are growing a garden of tall poppies
At NextGen, we believe it is time to change the narrative in Australia that silences ambition among our youth – tall poppy syndrome. We’re building a tribe where exceptional people thrive and achieve greatness together. We encourage innovation, and we pay it forward, sharing knowledge and wisdom with others. In our garden of tall poppies, we honour both success and failure, and turn the impossible into reality, believing that our successes are intertwined.
We are growing a garden of tall poppies
At NextGen, we believe it is time to change the narrative in Australia that silences ambition among our youth – tall poppy syndrome. We’re building a tribe where exceptional people thrive and achieve greatness together. We encourage innovation, and we pay it forward, sharing knowledge and wisdom with others. In our garden of tall poppies, we honour both success and failure, and turn the impossible into reality, believing that our successes are intertwined.
We are growing a garden of tall poppies
At NextGen, we believe it is time to change the narrative in Australia that silences ambition among our youth – tall poppy syndrome. We’re building a tribe where exceptional people thrive and achieve greatness together. We encourage innovation, and we pay it forward, sharing knowledge and wisdom with others. In our garden of tall poppies, we honour both success and failure, and turn the impossible into reality, believing that our successes are intertwined.
We Embrace Curiosity
Curiosity fuels our growth and pushes us to constantly evolve. We approach every challenge with an open mind, never letting ego get in the way of our learning. We accept that we don’t know everything and welcome the discomfort of uncertainty, because it drives us to find new solutions. We are lifelong learners.
We Embrace Curiosity
Curiosity fuels our growth and pushes us to constantly evolve. We approach every challenge with an open mind, never letting ego get in the way of our learning. We accept that we don’t know everything and welcome the discomfort of uncertainty, because it drives us to find new solutions. We are lifelong learners.
We Embrace Curiosity
Curiosity fuels our growth and pushes us to constantly evolve. We approach every challenge with an open mind, never letting ego get in the way of our learning. We accept that we don’t know everything and welcome the discomfort of uncertainty, because it drives us to find new solutions. We are lifelong learners.
We place humans first
At NextGen, we act and invest through recognition of the nuances that makes us human. Our approach is therefore rooted in transparency and authenticity, trusting human instincts over rigid frameworks. By celebrating the individuality that define us, we foster a culture where people can thrive on their own terms, grow naturally, and achieve success together. It’s about embracing what it means to be human.
We place humans first
At NextGen, we act and invest through recognition of the nuances that makes us human. Our approach is therefore rooted in transparency and authenticity, trusting human instincts over rigid frameworks. By celebrating the individuality that define us, we foster a culture where people can thrive on their own terms, grow naturally, and achieve success together. It’s about embracing what it means to be human.
We place humans first
At NextGen, we act and invest through recognition of the nuances that makes us human. Our approach is therefore rooted in transparency and authenticity, trusting human instincts over rigid frameworks. By celebrating the individuality that define us, we foster a culture where people can thrive on their own terms, grow naturally, and achieve success together. It’s about embracing what it means to be human.
Built by Students
For Student Founders
Mitchell Hughes
Founding Partner
Monash University
Mitchell Hughes
Founding Partner
Monash University
Jerry X'Lingson
Founding Partner
University of Melbourne
Jerry X'Lingson
Founding Partner
University of Melbourne
Varad Chaudhari
Head of Investments
University of Melbourne
Varad Chaudhari
Head of Investments
University of Melbourne
Viveca Tang
Programs and BD Lead
University of Sydney
Viveca Tang
Programs and BD Lead
University of Sydney
Donald La
Investment Associate
University of Melbourne
Donald La
Investment Associate
University of Melbourne
Jasper Meckel
Investment Associate
University of Melbourne
Jasper Meckel
Investment Associate
University of Melbourne
Jasper Meckel
Investment Associate
University of Melbourne
Kayson Wang
Investment Associate
University of Melbourne
Kayson Wang
Investment Associate
University of Melbourne
Kayson Wang
Investment Associate
University of Melbourne
Jamal Baba
Investment Principal
Monash University
Jamal Baba
Investment Principal
Monash University
Jamal Baba
Investment Principal
Monash University
Mary Abraham
Investment Associate
Monash University
Mary Abraham
Investment Associate
Monash University
Mary Abraham
Investment Associate
Monash University
Mashi Arachchi
Investment Associate
Monash University
Mashi Arachchi
Investment Associate
Monash University
Mashi Arachchi
Investment Associate
Monash University
Jayan Shrestha
Investment Associate
Monash University
Jayan Shrestha
Investment Associate
Monash University
Jayan Shrestha
Investment Associate
Monash University
Quinn Papworth
Investment Associate
RMIT
Quinn Papworth
Investment Associate
RMIT
Quinn Papworth
Investment Associate
RMIT
Shae McKenna
Investment Principal
University of Sydney
Shae McKenna
Investment Principal
University of Sydney
Shae McKenna
Investment Principal
University of Sydney
Mohitha
Investment Associate
University of Sydney
Mohitha
Investment Associate
University of Sydney
Mohitha
Investment Associate
University of Sydney
Sam Wein
Investment Associate
University of Sydney
Sam Wein
Investment Associate
University of Sydney
Sam Wein
Investment Associate
University of Sydney
Geoffrey Yang
Investment Associate
University Of Sydney
Geoffrey Yang
Investment Associate
University Of Sydney
Geoffrey Yang
Investment Associate
University Of Sydney
Jamyson Gouveros
Investment Associate
UNSW
Jamyson Gouveros
Investment Associate
UNSW
Jamyson Gouveros
Investment Associate
UNSW
William Liu
Investment Associate
UNSW
William Liu
Investment Associate
UNSW
William Liu
Investment Associate
UNSW
Dean Fellner
Investment Associate
UNSW
Dean Fellner
Investment Associate
UNSW
Dean Fellner
Investment Associate
UNSW
Rodger Liang
Investment Associate
UTS
Rodger Liang
Investment Associate
UTS
Rodger Liang
Investment Associate
UTS
Emily Ho
Investment Principal
University of Queensland
Emily Ho
Investment Principal
University of Queensland
Emily Ho
Investment Principal
University of Queensland
Varun Pillai
Investment Associate
University of Queensland
Varun Pillai
Investment Associate
University of Queensland
Varun Pillai
Investment Associate
University of Queensland
Quianna Nguyen
Investment Associate & Marketing Manager
University of Queensland
Quianna Nguyen
Investment Associate & Marketing Manager
University of Queensland
Quianna Nguyen
Investment Associate & Marketing Manager
University of Queensland
Will Gerard
Design Director
University of Adelaide
Will Gerard
Design Director
University of Adelaide
Will Gerard
Design Director
University of Adelaide
Ikya Thearam
Marketing Manager
Monash University
Ikya Thearam
Marketing Manager
Monash University
Ikya Thearam
Marketing Manager
Monash University
Leesa Bristow
Marketing Manager
Monash University
Leesa Bristow
Marketing Manager
Monash University
Leesa Bristow
Marketing Manager
Monash University
Jason Tan
Growth Lead
UNSW
Jason Tan
Growth Lead
UNSW
Jason Tan
Growth Lead
UNSW