Scott Handsaker

🎯 What They Do

Scott Handsaker is a prominent Australian entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and startup coach based in Melbourne.

• ●With an extensive career spanning over two decades in the technology and startup sectors, Handsaker has established himself as a serial founder, an astute investor, and a dedicated mentor to a new generation of entrepreneurs.
• ●His professional journey began in corporate life before he transitioned into entrepreneurship around 2008, where he co-founded and led several successful ventures, including Eventarc and Attendly, which operated in the event registration space.

📖 Their Story

A significant aspect of Handsaker's career has been his deep involvement in fostering the Australian startup ecosystem.

• ●He is a co-founder and former Non-Executive Director of Startup Victoria, which he helped grow into Australia's largest grassroots community for founders.
• ●His commitment to nurturing emerging talent extended to his role as the founding CEO of CyRise, Asia-Pacific's leading cybersecurity startup accelerator.
• ●During his six-year tenure, CyRise made 39 investments across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, and the US, achieving a portfolio investment multiple of 3.2x and a gross IRR exceeding 50%.

⚡ What Sets Them Apart

Currently, Handsaker serves as the Co-founder and CEO of Cartesian (2024 to Present) and Serverless Guru, an AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner.

• ●At Serverless Guru, he focuses on assisting companies with building, migrating, and innovating using serverless and cloud-native technologies, demonstrating his expertise in cloud strategy and digital transformation.
• ●He is also a Venture Partner at Black Nova Venture Capital and a Co-founder of Something Real Ventures, actively investing in and supporting the future of technology, particularly within the cybersecurity domain.

🏆 Track Record

What differentiates Scott Handsaker as a coach and mentor is his hands-on experience as a multi-time founder and CEO, coupled with his investor perspective.

• ●He offers practical, real-world advice, drawing from his personal journey of building, struggling, pivoting, and successfully exiting businesses.
• ●This unfiltered approach to startup life is also captured in his Substack newsletter, 'Valley of Doubt,' where he shares intimate conversations with founders, exploring their vulnerable moments and pivotal decisions.
• ●He has had the pleasure of mentoring over 100+ founders through various programs, including Angelcube and Startmate.
• ●His leadership and advocacy also extend to co-hosting the 'Serverless Chats' podcast, where he delves into trends, best practices, and real-world applications of serverless computing with industry leaders.

👥 The Team

Handsaker's key achievements include establishing leading technology companies, significantly contributing to the growth of the Australian startup community, and successfully guiding numerous early-stage companies to secure funding and achieve market validation. His diverse background positions him as a trusted advisor for founders navigating the complexities of building and scaling technology businesses.