Q&A with OneVentures' new Venture Partner
Sydney-based venture capital firm OneVentures has announced the appointment of technology investor and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Melissa Widner as venture partner. In a Q&A that reveals her entrepreneurial spirit was well and truly woken by the age of ten, Melissa tells Industry Moves who she admires most and uses a beautiful Willy Wonka quote to explain why.
Sydney-based venture capital firm OneVentures has announced the appointment of technology investor and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Melissa Widner as venture partner. In a Q&A that reveals her entrepreneurial spirit was well and truly woken by the age of ten, Melissa tells Industry Moves who she admires most and uses a beautiful Willy Wonka quote to explain why.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
Working with the OneVentures team and portfolio companies. The companies in the portfolio and pipeline are creating extraordinary technologies and services.
What are your biggest goals for the first 12 months?
Working with the OneVentures team to find and support the next Atlassian, ResMed, or Seek.
What is one of the best pieces of advice you've ever been given?
There are so many, but one that stands out is to follow a path of "regret minimization". I would be more disappointed if I never tried something than if I tried and failed.
Who do you most admire and how have they influenced your life/work?
I am continually inspired by entrepreneurs. They are the dreamers of dreams and the makers of magic.*
When someone starts a company, she is doing so against tremendous odds of success. Without these extraordinarily brave people, the world would be much less interesting.
*Willy Wonka
Where did you grow up?
Silicon Valley until my early teens and then Seattle.
What was your very first job?
Stuffing envelopes when I was 10 years old. I was paid $0.70/hundred. The company let me take the envelopes home to do the work. I realized I could pay the neighbourhood kids $0.50/hundred. This worked well until my mom found out and made me stop outsourcing the task (she was clearly not an entrepreneur!)
Is there a particular charity or cause that you support?
Heads Over Heels - a non-profit organisation that seeks to increase the representation of women leading high-growth businesses.
Create Foundation
Social Ventures Australia
