University Equity in Spinouts: Burden or Competitive Edge?
Register your interest today. Approval Required. Co-hosts: Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE), UNSW Barker Street Ventures & UNSW New Ventures.
University equity in spinouts is one of the most debated and least openly discussed topics in the DeepTech ecosystem. Founders worry about cap table optics. Investors scrutinise ownership structures before writing a cheque. And universities are left defending stakes that, from the outside, can look like a tax on innovation rather than a bet on it.
But is that perception accurate? And if not, what's the real story?
This event brings together founders, investors, and university stakeholders for an honest, unfiltered conversation about how university equity actually works, the frustrations, the genuine value, and what a more transparent, founder-aligned model could look like.
We'll be exploring:
- How equity stakes are structured and the reasoning behind university ownership positions
- What the negotiation process actually looks like from the founder's side
- How investors read university ownership when evaluating a deal
- How the university–startup relationship evolves from lab to Series A and beyond
- What best practice looks like in spinout models that work for everyone at the table
Agenda
- 5:30PM: Doors open, light networking
- 6:00PM: Panel Discussion between Investor, UNSW and Spinout founders from the TRaCE ecosystem
- 7:00PM: Networking till close
Our Hosts & Guests:
- MC: Kylie Frazer - Investor in Residence @ UNSW
- Investor: Charlie Ill - CEO @ Investible
- Founder Panel:
- Bram Hoex - P2AgentX
- Priyank Kumar - ZenQuo
- Josh Leverett - OzAmmonia
About
Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE)
TRaCE is a collaborative initiative between UNSW and the University of Newcastle, backed by the Australian Government, to accelerate Australia’s net zero transition by turning world-class clean energy and circular economy research into commercial reality.
By connecting industry with investment, engineering expertise, advanced manufacturing capability, and R&D capability, TRaCE helps climate technologies bridge the gap between the lab and the market.
Barker Street Ventures (Website)
Barker Street Ventures is an investment platform giving sophisticated investors to access DeepTech spinouts and UNSW research. Most people never get the chance to invest early in Australia's best research. We're here to change that.
If you have any further questions, please reach out to barkerstreetventures@unsw.edu.au
