The AI Advantage: Investing in the Future of Intelligence – Part 2
The AI Advantage: Investing in the Future of Intelligence
A Webinar Series by Aura VC
AI is rewriting the rules of business and investment. From breakthrough infrastructure to billion-dollar applications, the opportunities are unfolding faster than ever. The AI Advantage is a new 3-part webinar series presented by Aura Ventures designed for investors, founders, and operators who want to cut through the noise and understand where real value is being created.
Following the success of our first fireside chat on the 'AI Gold Rush' with Michael Greenberg, Head of AI Strategy at Snap Inc., we're excited to announce our second instalment of the series on 6th November.
Part 2: Beyond the Hype – Evaluating Real-World AI Businesses
Hype alone won’t deliver returns. This session digs into the practical frameworks, metrics, and models that matter when evaluating AI companies, whether they’re enterprise incumbents or the next wave of startups. Our guests bring perspectives from both sides of the table.
Together, they’ll unpack:
How to identify defensible AI businesses
Which metrics signal sustainable growth
How incumbents vs. startups are shaping the ecosystem
What investors should prioritise when evaluating opportunities
By combining insights from an enterprise leader and an early-stage innovator, this conversation will give investors a clear lens on what separates hype from real, investable AI.
Meet the Speakers
Kunal Vankadara
Kunal Vankadara is the Co-Founder of Haast, an AI-driven compliance platform transforming how organisations manage marketing, legal and brand risk. With a background spanning law, public policy, and strategy consulting, Kunal has worked as a policy adviser for the Australian Government and a consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). At Haast, he leads product and strategy, helping enterprises automate complex compliance workflows through intelligent, human-centred design. Kunal brings a unique perspective on how technology can simplify regulation while enhancing accountability and trust.
Liam King
Liam King is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Lead at Haast, where he drives the company’s machine learning and product engineering vision. With expertise in mathematics, statistics, and AI systems, Liam has led large-scale digital transformation projects at Deloitte and holds a strong research background from the Australian National University. His focus at Haast is building AI that understands the nuance of compliance and language, empowering marketing and legal teams to work faster and more accurately. Liam is passionate about bridging cutting-edge technology with real-world business impact.
Mark Esterhuizen
Mark Esterhuizen is a globally recognised entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and corporate leader celebrated for transformative impact in technology, investment, and innovation. A SAICA Top 35 Under 35 finalist (2022) from a global membership of 17,000+, Mark has scaled two of Australia and APAC’s fastest-growing technology companies, delivering 40x revenue growth, 10x customer expansion, and over $30M in capital raises to build a $180M+ enterprise. With nearly two decades of experience spanning KPMG Financial Services, Deloitte Consulting and Commercial Advsory, asset management, banking consulting, venture capital, private equity, and strategic advisory, he has driven IPO strategies, advised leading tech firms across APAC, and led high-performance teams through complex corporate transformations. His expertise spans eCommerce, marketplaces, AI, blockchain, and supply chain innovation. Today, Mark is a Partner at Aura Group and a venture capitalist standing at the epicentre of high-growth ecosystems, on the hunt for vertically AI-enabled software businesses that inspire and transform today’s way of life.
Presented by Aura Ventures, in partnership with Allrites
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