From building websites in high school to revolutionizing Australia's defense capabilities—Vu Tran is redefining what tech entrepreneurship means. 🔥

Join us in this insightful conversation with Vu Tran, co-founder of Go1—one of Australia's most successful EdTech startups—and now Black Sky Industries, an ambitious Australian defense tech startup. Vu shares his incredible journey from growing up in an immigrant household, running entrepreneurial ventures from a young age, to scaling Go1 into a global platform and now pivoting into the defense industry to address critical national security challenges. ⚙️

Discover Vu's candid insights into the importance of grit, risk-taking, and resilience gained from years of entrepreneurial struggles and triumphs. We explore how Vu approaches deep tech startups, the critical thinking behind pivoting from education tech to defense, and his compelling vision to enhance Australia's defense capabilities to ensure peace through strength and innovation. 🚀

Key Topics:

🌍 Growing up as a second-generation immigrant in Australia

💡 Why Vu transitioned from EdTech to Defense

🔥 The importance of grit, pain tolerance, and resilience

🤖 How tech innovation impacts national security

🎖️ Defense as a force for peace and stability

📈 Maintaining core values amidst startup growth

🌐 Global threats and Australia's strategic role

🧩 The intersection of AI, autonomy, and defense

🤝 Connect with Vu Tran:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vutrango1

Black Sky Industries: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsaero

🔗 Learn more about NZVC:

Website: https://www.nzvc.co.nz

Mark Pavlyukovskyy – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/

Hendrik Remigereau – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:28 - Growing up in an Immigrant Family

05:34 - Balancing Medicine Studies & Entrepreneurship

09:32 - Pivoting to EdTech with Go1

13:02 - Importance of Risk and Resilience

17:12 - Challenges & Learnings from Scaling Go1

23:13 - Why Vu Pivoted from Go1 to Defense Tech

27:20 - Understanding Australia's Defense Needs

32:26 - Global Threats & Defense Preparedness

35:44 - Black Sky Industries: Defense Innovation

41:09 - Why Defense is Vital for Australia

47:47 - Future of Warfare and Drone Technology

53:11 - AI & the Future of Global Security

56:21 - Australia's Strategic Defense Role

01:02:00 - Final Reflections & Advice for Entrepreneurs

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