Galileo Ventures

Galileo Ventures is a dynamic Australian venture capital firm that focuses on providing pre-seed and seed-stage capital to emerging and first-time founders. Established in 2020 by co-founders James Alexander and Hugh Stephens, with Julia French later joining as a Partner, the firm has quickly become a key player in the ANZ startup ecosystem and beyond. Headquartered in Melbourne and Sydney, with a growing presence in San Francisco, Galileo Ventures is dedicated to identifying and nurturing innovative technology companies with global ambitions.

What truly sets Galileo Ventures apart is their commitment to backing founders at the earliest possible stage, often before incorporation. They are known for their hands-on approach, offering not just capital but also extensive operational support and founder coaching. This includes assistance with go-to-market strategies, customer growth, and preparing for subsequent funding rounds. Their investment philosophy is rooted in a belief in founder vision, a commitment to technology for the greater good, and investing for the entire, often long, journey of building an impactful business.

Galileo Ventures prides itself on an accessible and transparent investment process, actively encouraging applications from all backgrounds without requiring warm introductions. They offer a streamlined 'Quick Application' process, aiming to provide a response within 48 hours and a clear 'yes' or 'no' within three weeks after a partner meeting and due diligence. This founder-friendly approach is a core part of their mission to create the best possible experience for entrepreneurs.

Since its inception, Galileo Ventures has made significant strides, having backed 25 portfolio companies through Fund I. A notable achievement is that 80% of these early-stage startups successfully secured follow-on funding within twelve months of Galileo's initial investment. Collectively, their portfolio companies have raised over A$100 million in total follow-on capital from leading venture capital co-investors. The firm focuses on a range of sectors including artificial intelligence, robotics, deep technology, software, hardware, and marketplaces, demonstrating a broad yet strategic investment thesis.

The leadership team brings a wealth of diverse experience to the firm. James Alexander co-founded one of Australia's first university-based student startup accelerators, INCUBATE, and was an early engineer at Atlassian. Hugh Stephens bootstrapped his SaaS company, Sked Social, to over A$6 million ARR and was recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30. Julia French has an extensive operator background, having worked at technology unicorns such as Atlassian, Dropbox, and WhatsApp. Together, they leverage their collective expertise to support and empower the next generation of global technology companies from Australia.