Entrepreneur's Day

Entrepreneur's Day

Monash AI Institute Face-to-face workshop
Friday, 13 March 2026
8:30 am - 3:30 pm (AEDT)
Free

Big ideas deserve momentum

Hosted by the Monash AI Institute in the Faculty of IT, Entrepreneur's Day is a full-day experience designed for academics, PhD candidates and coursework students with an interest in AI startups.

Participants will:

  • gain actionable insights by hearing from AI founders as they share their journeys, challenges and hard-won lessons
  • discover the Monash innovation ecosystem – the programs, networks, resources and support available to academics and students to advance deep tech start-up ideas
  • develop a deeper understanding of the University's perspective on deep tech entrepreneurship and the evolving funding landscape.

This event is open to Monash University staff, PhD candidates and coursework students.

Agenda

TIME                            AGENDA

Session One

9.05AM - 9.10AM

Official opening and Acknowledgement of Country
Dr Jyoti Joshi,
Faculty of IT, Monash University

9.10AM - 9.25AM Scaling AI Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Professor Shonali Krishnaswamy,
Academic Director, AI Innovation, Monash University
9.25AM - 10.05AM Founder Journey
Mr Navin Suri,
Managing Director Financial Services (APAC) Accenture 
10.05AM - 10.25AM Innovation and Commercialism at Monash
Dr Ingmar Wahlqvist
Chief Commercialisation Officer, Monash University 
10.30AM - 11.00AM Morning Tea

Session Two

11.00AM - 11.20AM Founder Journey
Dr Geok Leng TAN,
Chairman Fourtitute.AI and Advisor, Phillips Capital, Singapore  
11.20AM - 11.40AM Founder Journey
Associate Professor Mo Dirani,
Entrepreneur - in Residence, Heart Foundation, Victoria 
11.40AM - 12.00PM Founder Journey
Professor Santosh Kulkarni,
CEO, Tradie Pal,
Professor, Faculty of IT, Monash University
12.00PM - 12.45PM
Monash Eco-System for Founders
Moderator: Dr Alison Greenway, Associate Dean and Senior Director, Enterprise and Partnerships, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University

Panel:
  • Sarah Mander, Monash Generator
  • Dr Pamu Kularathna, Velos Accelerator
  • Charlie Nave, Creative Destruction Lab
  • Stefan Mauger, Monash Innovation and Commercialisation
12.40PM - 1.30PM Lunch

Session  Three

1.30PM - 1.50PM Founder Journey
Dr Abbi Sharma GAICD
CEO InfoQ, Australia
Professor, Faculty of IT, Monash University 
1.50PM - 2.10PM Founder Journey
Deva Seetharam
CEO Kailash Consulting India 
2.10PM - 2.30PM Founder Journey
Professor Amy Shi-Nash
CEO Occubuy, Australia
Professor, Faculty of IT, Monash University 
2.30PM - 3.00PM
VC Perspectives on Deep Tech Startups
Moderator: Professor Shonali Krishnaswamy, Academic Director, AI Innovation, Monash University
Fire Side Chat
  • Lee Lagdameo, CEO Shikii Labs and Former VC
  • Leila Oliveira, Scouting Manager, Antler
  • Dr Tan Geok Leng, Advisor, Phillips Capital
3.00PM - 3.05PM Closing Remarks
Dr Jyoti Joshi
Faculty of IT, Monash University
3.05PM - 3.30PM Afternoon Tea and Networking
Current studentsResearch

Speakers

Professor Shonali Krishnaswamy

Associate Dean (Innovation) and Director, Monash AI Institute

Dr Jyoti Joshi

Senior Lecturer (Practice)

Mr Navin Suri

Managing Director, Financial Services, Accenture

Dr Ingmar Wahlqvist

Chief Commercialisation Officer, Monash University

Dr Geok Leng TAN

Chairman Fourtitude.AI and Advisor, Phillips Capital, Singapore

Dr Mo Dirani

Entrepreneur in Residence, Heart Foundation, Victoria

Dr Santosh Kulkarni

CEO, Tradie Pal

Dr Alison Greenway

Associate Dean and Senior Director, Enterprise and Partnerships Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Sarah Mander

Senior Manager, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Monash Generator

Dr Pamu Kularathna

Strategy, Innovation and Operations Manager, Monash Victorian Heart Institute

Charlie Nave

Site Lead/Director, Creative Destruction Lab & Associate Professor (Practice), Monash Business School

Stefan Mauger

Investment Manager, Monash Innovation and Commercialisation

Professor Abbi Sharma

Chief Digital and Transformation Officer, Victorian Government

Deva Seetharam

CEO, Kailash Consulting India

Dr Amy Shi-Nash

CEO, Occubuy, Australia

Lee Lagdameo

Former VC (Antler) and CEO, Shikii Labs

Leila Oliveira

Scouting Manager, Antler

Event contact

Faculty of IT Events Team

E: fit-marketing@monash.edu

Location

The Pavilion
Level 8, Building H, Monash University Caulfield Campus
Caulfield East VIC 3145 Australia

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