Building WealthTech in Australia w/ Hayden Smith, Co-Founder & CTO @ Pearler
About
This is an invite‑only event for investors interested in frontier opportunities in DeepTech. Register your interest today. Approval Required.
Co-hosts: UNSW Barker Street Ventures, The Pillars
Event Details
Australians are increasingly looking for better ways to build long-term financial security as concerns around housing affordability, retirement savings, and cost of living continue to grow. At the same time, Australia's fintech ecosystem is producing globally competitive businesses, with Pearler recently securing a $16 million Series A capital raise to accelerate its mission of helping everyday Australians invest consistently and confidently for the future. With more than 120,000 Australians already investing through the platform, Pearler is one of the country's fastest-growing wealth-building tools for everyday investors.
In this TechTalk, Hayden Smith, Co-Founder & CTO of Pearler, will unpack:
Building one of Australia's fastest-growing wealth-building platforms for everyday investors
Scaling product, engineering, and customer experience in a highly regulated industry
Creating products that encourage long-term investing and financial independence
How AI and emerging technologies are shaping the future of personal finance and wealth management
The journey from startup to a $16M raise and the lessons learned along the way and what’s next for the team
With these perspectives spanning fintech product leadership and wealth-building innovation, this conversation will provide practical insights for founders, operators and investors interested in the future of personal finance and fintech.
Agenda:
5:00PM Doors open
5:20PM Fireside Chat with Hayden Smith
Networking to follow
About
Hayden Smith (LinkedIn)
Hayden Smith is the co-founder and CTO of Pearler, a Sydney fintech that helps Australians invest for retirement, a first home or their kids. He started Pearler with his co-founder around seven years ago and has led engineering, product, and customer service behind the platform through to its recent Series A. Hayden also co-hosts the Aussie FIRE podcast on long-term investing and financial independence. He continues to teach at UNSW Sydney with a focus on helping students explore startups and navigating the changing AI landscape.
Pearler (Website)
Pearler is a direct to consumer wealth building product that helps young Australians that are anxious about their financial future. They provide tools and education to invest for retirement, build up a first home deposit, invest for their kids, and simplify their superannuation.
Barker Street Ventures (Website)
Barker Street Ventures is an investment platform giving sophisticated investors access to DeepTech spinouts and UNSW research. Most people never get the chance to invest early in Australia’s best research. We’re here to change that.
For questions: barkerstreetventures@unsw.edu.au