A firm built around the founders we back

JD is Co-founder and Managing Partner of Eastend Ventures, where he leads the backend of the firm. He runs the machinery that lets Eastend operate at institutional standard for its investors, founders and team, sitting on a number of portfolio boards and staying hands-on with founders through the life of each investment. His focus covers the operations, governance and compliance that hold the firm to institutional standard, the support systems behind every portfolio investment, and the financial and reporting backbone institutional investors depend on. As one of two founding partners, he is equally active across deal sourcing, fundraising and investment decisions.

Originally from Canada, JD spent two decades working across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe before relocating to Adelaide in 2021 under the Australian Global Talent Visa. As Managing Director and Corporate Technology Director of multinational organisations, he has scaled a business from 100 to over 1,800 employees across four countries, with an operating track record spanning M&A, governance, digital transformation and enterprise SaaS, IoT and AI solutions deployed by Fortune 500 clients. That experience shapes how he shows up at Eastend, hands-on with the team and patient with founders navigating the same decisions.

JD holds an MBA in Finance, GAICD, PMP, a commercial pilot licence and an array of financial and technological accreditations and continues to invest in his personal development.

Josh is a Founding Partner of Eastend Ventures. He chairs the Investment Committee, leads sourcing, and heads the growth and engagement arm of the business, covering capital raising, marketing, ecosystem and government relations.

Most of Eastend's deal flow comes through relationships, and Josh has spent a decade building his across South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. He meets founders early, and runs the structured diligence on companies the firm progresses. Founders describe a fast, transparent process and a partner who stays close for the duration of the company's journey.

Josh represents Eastend externally on panels, at conferences, with LPs, and leads the firm's fundraising. The external work also feeds directly back into investing. It surfaces deals from literally hundreds of deal flow sources, many outside the traditional startup ecosystem, and draws Venture Partners and operating experts into the firm. The relationships generate the opportunities, and the diligence work decides which ones Eastend backs.

The 2023 Australian Angel Investor of the Year, Josh is a recognised figure in Australia's startup investment and commercialisation scene. Prior to working in the innovation and entrepreneurial space, he spent 12 years with fund manager Cromwell Property Group (ASX:CMW), and since settling in Adelaide in 2008 has been instrumental in building the South Australian startup community. He previously founded and ran Southern Angels, facilitating $15 million of investment into 36 companies. Between 2019 and 2023 he served as a Commercialisation Facilitator for the Federal Government's Accelerating Commercialisation program, overseeing 100+ companies, doing deep-dive due diligence reporting for the investment committee, securing millions in grant funding for founders. He is also the curator of the annual Southstart Investor Summit.

He holds a Bachelor of Communication and is a committed lifelong learner, with continued participation in programs like Startmate First Believers, Airtree Explorers, Scale Investors and Pivot Education USA.

Brad Feld chairs the Limited Partner Advisory Committee for Eastend Ventures Fund 1.

A co-founder of Foundry Group, one of the longest-running venture firms in the United States, and Techstars, the global accelerator network that has worked with more startup founders than any other, Brad has spent over 35 years as an operator and investor. He has backed Fitbit, Zynga, MakerBot and countless others, and authored the books that shaped how a generation of founders and investors think about the work, including Venture Deals (still the reference text on term sheets), Startup Communities, Startup Boards, Do More Faster, and Give First.

Three things he has championed his entire career are why he aligns with Eastend. First, the Boulder Thesis: world-class companies can be built anywhere, not just on the coasts. That is the same thesis we operate under in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. Second, a give-first approach to founders, where help comes before any expectation of return, which mirrors how we work with the companies we back. Third, support for emerging fund managers, of which Eastend is one. Brad is internationally recognised as a mentor to new managers and his role at Eastend reflects that.

For Eastend's LPs, having Brad as LPAC Chair means global perspective, depth across cycles, and an independent voice on the issues that matter: valuations, conflicts, investment policy and the alignment between the Fund and its investors.

Sarah is Head of Operations at Eastend Ventures. She's the firm's quality bar, the operator who makes "institutional grade" a habit rather than a goal. Her focus is operations, covering compliance, HR, legal, finance and fund management. She isn't the public face of Eastend; at a conference you'll more likely find her back in her room watching Bridgerton by 8pm. But she has been one of the key people who works alongside the partners to build the firm from the ground up.

Before Eastend, Sarah was Operations and Marketing Officer at i4 Connect, executing on the Federal Government's Accelerating Commercialisation contract as the primary liaison for 26 commercialisation advisors working across a pre-revenue portfolio. An earlier role as Operations Officer at Enova Energy sharpened the data, problem-solving and cross-team skills she now applies at fund scale. Her gift is turning messy operational reality into systems that hold up under institutional scrutiny.

Sarah holds a BSc (Honours) in Buying and Merchandising from Manchester Metropolitan University with first-class honours, and stays current through compliance and operational coursework as her role demands.

Ava is Head of Platform at Eastend Ventures. She leads how Eastend shows up for its portfolio companies after execution, building the systems, programs, and relationships that turn capital into support. She has been part of Eastend since its founding, helping shape the firm from inception.

Her remit centres on portfolio support, the connections that put the right experts, hires and partners around founders, and the education and engagement programs built around what founders actually need. As one of the most technical members of the team, she also designs and builds the platform technology the rest of the firm runs on. Beyond Platform, Ava regularly leads or supports due diligence across the firm's pipeline, particularly on technical and platform-heavy deals, and will serve as the primary internal point of contact for selected portfolio companies through the life of the investment, including future board roles. She also works alongside the Operations team on legal, policies and procurement.

Originally from Canada, Ava has been part of the Adelaide investment community since 2021. Her background spans operations, procurement, education and community coordination, a mix that shapes how Eastend builds practical, founder-first infrastructure into its operating model.

Ava holds a Bachelor of Education and an MBA, and has earned micro-credentials across programming and Microsoft tools. She adds new skills as the role or interests require.

Gina is Eastend's Relationship Manager. She's the firm's good neighbour across its closest relationships, including founders, investors, and the wider network. Her focus covers the day-to-day relationship work that keeps portfolio companies supported between the bigger Platform moments, the investor follow-ups and LP register work that sit alongside Operations, and the firm's government relations activity at larger events and engagements where her network adds value.

Born and raised in Adelaide, Gina brings experience across both ASX 200 companies and small businesses. Her background spans risk management, private investing, and overseeing SMSF Trustees and Family Offices, with a focus on alternative asset classes and hands-on involvement in complex mergers and acquisitions.

Committed to continual improvement, Gina enjoys learning new ways to improve herself and help others around her.

Sonya currently works at Medfin, where she simplifies finance for medical professionals by offering tailored financial solutions to support and grow their practices. She combines personal service with industry expertise to ensure clients' financial needs are met seamlessly.

Previously, at LGT Crestone, Sonya provided wealth advice to high-net-worth families and for-purpose organisations, focusing on long-term results. Prior to joining LGT Crestone, she advised high-net-worth clients, not-for-profit organisations, and family offices at NAB Private.

Sonya also spent 11 years in Auckland with ANZ Private and ANZ Corporate, advising local and international high-net-worth clients and business owners on investment and lending requirements. Her extensive experience includes working at JP Morgan in London and Adelaide.

Sonya holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from the University of South Australia and a National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice), Investment Advice.

Additionally, she runs “Ladies That Lunch”, a diverse community of over 190 women, spanning various ages and backgrounds, who gather to learn and support one another in both personal and professional aspects while enjoying a delicious lunch. Sonya has also been the Treasurer for The Eastwood Community Centre for over 3 years, and the Treasurer on the Governing Council for Marryatville Primary School for over 4 years.

Dr Roger Voyle is the Managing Director of Southmore, a leading Australian alternative asset management company with a focus on venture capital funds management. With more than 15 years at Southmore Capital, Roger has passionately dedicated himself to early-stage investment management, partnering closely with local and international entrepreneurs to foster and exit an array of technology-centric and knowledge-intensive businesses.

Prior to his venture endeavours, Roger honed his skills in patents, licensing, and technology evaluation at the Swiss biopharmaceutical giant, Serono SA, assisting the Corporate Intellectual Property Counsel with major litigation and transactional activities, including the acquisition of Serono SA by Merck KGaA.

For Eastend, Roger brings not only his venture acumen and extensive board experience but also a scholarly background, with a PhD in biochemistry, post-doctoral studies in immunology, and post-graduate pursuits in intellectual property law, offering a distinctive perspective on potential investment opportunities.

Greg Riebe is Eastend Ventures' Venture Partner for Western Australia. He leads sourcing, diligence and founder engagement across the WA technology ecosystem, where two decades of relationships give Eastend access to the state's most promising early-stage companies. Greg is the principal of his own advisory practice serving corporates, early-stage ventures and angel investors, and a Non-executive Director or Chairman for several Australian technology firms.

His career spans roles from managing Perth's first technology incubator to advising founders on scaling, value creation and investment readiness, and he has co-founded multiple technology businesses along the way. In 2020 Greg was named the Australian Angel Investor of the Year and received the WA Pearcey Entrepreneur Award.

Sneha Rajan is Eastend Ventures' Venture Partner for Sustainability. She brings a climate and sustainability lens to the firm's diligence and portfolio support, drawing on more than a decade of private equity and venture capital experience across the full investment lifecycle, from sourcing and transacting through to portfolio management and exits.

Sneha is General Manager, Investments at NatureCo, where she leads investment initiatives for the company's nature-based carbon projects worldwide. Earlier, at Greening Australia, one of Australia's largest environmental organisations, she spearheaded capital-raising for the group and its subsidiaries, after holding investment roles at Apollo Global Management and Unitus Ventures (now Capria Ventures) in India.

Sneha holds an MBA with a specialisation in Finance and a Master of Commerce.

Scarlett McDermott is Eastend Ventures' Venture Partner for the ACT. She leads sourcing and diligence across the Canberra ecosystem, with a particular focus on cyber, deep tech and customer-validation work for the firm's portfolio. She is also the founder of Longitude Advisory, an independent tech advisory firm serving organisations across Australia, where she helps boards and executives turn technology strategy into execution.

A career technologist, Scarlett has worked from software developer through to Chief Technology Officer across startup, enterprise and not-for-profit organisations. As a startup CTO she helped scale a company from Australia into the UK, US and Canada. Before founding Longitude she led Ecosystem Capability at the Tech Council of Australia, contributing to national initiatives on skills, AI, cyber security and workforce policy.

Scarlett holds a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology and a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security, and remains a regular speaker and contributor across Australia's tech industry. She lives in Canberra with her husband, son, daughter and their dog, Wally.

Jo Chaturvedi-Durant is Eastend Ventures' Venture Partner for APAC and the US. She leads cross-border strategy for the firm's portfolio companies, advising founders on go-to-market, international expansion and market nuances across Asia Pacific and North America. With 16+ years across private markets and venture capital, she has worked with global investment managers including Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and VU Venture Partners, with an investment focus on deep tech and alternative asset classes, and serves on investment committees for impact funds and university venture funds.

Her academic background covers international business law, business management and economics, complemented by certifications across governance, capital markets and alternative assets. She has authored work on macro and behavioural economics, retirement investing and emerging technologies in global markets, and has supported portfolio companies across biotech, space, agtech, defence and next-generation AI.

Jo is also the VC in Residence at the University of Adelaide’s ThincLab, where she mentors founders on business models, go-to-market strategy, governance and capital strategy across Australia, the US and Asia.

Laura Ashmole is Eastend Ventures' Venture Partner for Queensland. She supports deal flow, founder engagement and ecosystem development across the state, connecting founders to the right people, capital and opportunities at the right time. Laura is also Head of Growth at River City Labs, one of Queensland's leading startup hubs, where she works closely with emerging technology companies on programs, community and strategic initiatives.

Her background spans talent, people and culture, creative media, sales and growth across corporate and startup environments. She has delivered brand and storytelling projects for organisations from grassroots charities through to larger tech businesses, in Australia and internationally. A strong advocate for diversity, inclusion and ecosystem strengthening, Laura's approach centres on people, community and a clear focus on customers as the driver of business success.