Advertise on podcast: Making it in Melbourne: Conversations with Migrant Entrepreneurs

People are already turning to AI for therapy, companionship and mental health support. But AI tools will only actually help if mental health expertise is built in from the start — not called in when things go wrong. That's what brought together Asami Koike, founder of culturally-responsive mental health support network Shapes and Sounds, and Yifei Wang, founder of AI firm AIBUILD. In this episode, they talk about what it takes to build a companion robot for older Australians — and why getting it right means two very different worlds learning to work together. And also: they got to know each other from being a part of Season One of this podcast!  Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

Irene Tsang had everything the corporate world says you should want — and she walked away from all of it to move to Melbourne as a solo parent with two young kids. During COVID, she watched women bear the heaviest load in their professional and personal lives, so she started coaching, then building. The result is Lift Women, Australia's first crowdfunding platform dedicated to women founders.  In this episode, Irene talks about running 100 free consultations in two months, raising $1.3 million, and what it means to give women the option to fund their dreams without giving away ownership of them. A story about seeing a gap, and having the courage to fill it. Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

What if discomfort was your biggest professional asset? Alvin Hermanto, founder of digital product advisory firm Relab, has spent his career deliberately putting himself in uncomfortable positions — being the odd one out, taking the harder road, pushing past the easy lanes. This way, when he sits down with clients, he knows exactly what they're facing.  In this episode, Alvin talks about building a business on the principle of lived discomfort, and how discomfort could give us hints on how to pave new ways to possibilities and solutions. Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

Baby in one arm, business in the other. This is how Sri Venkatesan started Next XR Group during COVID lockdown in Melbourne.  She had no local clients and no external funding, and she was finding it hard at first to get Australian clients. This is why her first project for Next XR was in Egypt. Then, a breakthrough: her first Australian client came through a mother's group.  Today, NextXR has 50+ staff across four countries. In this episode, Sri talks about building a VR and AR training company from the ground up, why she never waited for investment to get started, and the hiring strategy that keeps her team tight. A story about resilience, creativity, and technology — and what happens when you combine all three. Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

You could have a lot of talent and experience but still be ignored — because your experience might not be seen as relevant, or just because your name or your cultural background might not be something that a recruiter is familiar with.  Nick La, for example, couldn't get a job when he returned to Melbourne from Hong Kong. Too qualified, they said. Not enough local experience. So to help others, he built Weploy — a recruitment platform that strips out names, ages, and genders so employers actually hire for talent. One of their first candidates was a woman who had been running a billion-dollar portfolio. She applied directly to a Melbourne company. They passed. She then went through Weploy and was placed immediately at the same company. The line manager at that company called Nick La within thirty minutes: "Where did you find her?" he asked, not realising he already had her from a previous application.  In this episode, Nick talks about building from nothing, pitching across a stranger on a nine-hour flight, and what he's learned now as he backs other founders. Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

Can a wombat and other Australian animals help fix your mental health?  Michelle Chen ended up in Melbourne because a bus ticket was cheaper than a flight. But then she went to Games Week in Melbourne and decided to stay. Now she's the co-founder of Mental Jam, turning her PhD research into games, including Bobarista, a video game where you play a wombat barista helping Australian animals through their mental health challenges. It's warm, it's creative, and it's targeting early intervention: reaching young people before crisis hits.  In this episode, Michelle talks about pivoting from research to startup, applying for hundreds of grants, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is just show up and do it scared. Making It in Melbourne is produced by the City of Melbourne with technical and research assistance from RMIT School of Media and Communication.

What happens when traditional career paths don’t quite fit? Diletta Legowo, founder of Small and Scale, shares her journey from creative beginnings to building a social innovation consultancy that helps governments, NGOs, and think tanks design better solutions. In this episode, host Jeanette Cheah and Diletta discuss the challenges of finding meaningful work after university, debunking the myth of hyper-confidence, and how reinvention is key to growth. From winning federal government contracts to shaping social impact initiatives, Diletta draws upon her Indonesian background and networks to help her win contracts, and proves that niching down and doing things your own way can lead to incredible opportunities.

How do you build a business that thrives between two worlds? Hung Huynh, founder of Intelligence 4 Start, shares his journey from Vietnam to Switzerland, France, and finally Melbourne—where he’s helping businesses expand between Australia and Vietnam. Host Jeanette Cheah dives into Hung’s experience of cultural adaptation, the power of speaking the culture (not just the language), and how he overcame his own introverted nature to grow an international business network. They also discuss the unique challenges faced by Vietnamese entrepreneurs entering the Australian market and how strategic connections can be a game-changer.

What does it take to walk away from a comfortable corporate career to start your own business? Sangeeta Mulchandani, founder of Jumpstart Studios, shares her path from banking to entrepreneurship, helping others make the transition from employment to business ownership.  Host Jeanette Cheah and Sangeeta explore the mindset shifts required for success, why startup and small business entrepreneurship are different, and how Melbourne’s diverse ecosystem fosters innovation. Sangeeta also explains how she leverages her Indian heritage and networks to help Australian business navigate the Indian market. They also discuss Press Play Ventures, an accelerator supporting women founders, and why India, UAE, and Africa are the next big markets for Australian startups.

What does it take to move from an international student to the CEO of an AI company? Yifei Wang, founder of AI Build, shares his journey from Shanghai to Melbourne, building a successful tech company and becoming a leader in the AI space. Host Jeanette Cheah and Yifei explore the challenges and triumphs of building a network in a new country, the importance of hackathons and community, and how a side hustle as a cake delivery driver led to his first business opportunity. They also discuss AI Build's focus on research, development and deployment, the company's global ambitions, and the significance of the Distinguished Talent Visa.

What does it take to change the conversation around mental health in Asian communities? In this episode, host Jeanette Cheah sits down with Asami Koike, founder of Shapes and Sounds, a social enterprise dedicated to destigmatising mental health for Asian Australians. Born in Japan and living most of her life in Australia, Asami shares her journey from music therapist to accidental entrepreneur, the challenges of bridging cultural gaps in mental health care, and the perseverance it takes to build a mission-driven business. She also opens up about the pressures of entrepreneurship, navigating funding challenges, and the importance of stepping outside of her comfort zone—one coffee meeting at a time.

The Making it in Melbourne podcast series brings you conversations with Melbourne migrant entrepreneurs who are reshaping our city’s business landscape.  In this series, five Melbourne (Australia) startup founders share how their cultural backgrounds have shaped their entrepreneurial journeys, offering insights, lessons, and tips for aspiring entrepreneurs.