Elevator Pitch is a regular feature on Lifehacker where we profile startups and new companies and pick their brains for entrepreneurial advice. This week, we’re talking with Chris Gilbert, co-founder of Equitise.
In 128 words or less, explain your business idea.
Equitise is an online platform that enables Australian and New Zealand investors to access and invest capital in their favorite startup company.
What strategies are you using to grow and finance your idea?
We have received investment from various venture capital firms, high profile angel investors and most recently Investec, a global investment bank. We are deploying this capital into various marketing channels and expanding our team in both Australia and New Zealand. To say we are very busy at the moment is an understatement. The early stage funding space in Asia Pacific at the moment is going gang busters!
What’s the biggest challenge facing your business?
The biggest challenge at the moment is the lagging change in regulations around offering private securities to retail investors in Australia. We have been consulting with Government and Treasury for three years on these new laws. Fortunately we are now seeing change and with any luck should have a Bill through parliament before Christmas. Once these regulations are changed Equitise will be able to offer exciting, potential high growth investment opportunities to all Australians.
How do you differentiate your business from your competitors?
Equitise is building a very defensible business model. We have built and will continue building secure and solid technology, we are offering a a very unique product for our platform users to utilise and explore and are focusing on delivering one asset class, executed properly (equity). We feel that keeping this simple, effective and secure will drive success for our business.
What one phone, tablet or PC application could you not live without?
Most definitely, my phone.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?
Never be ashamed of failure. Celebrate it and learn from it.
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