Investor and ecosystem networking - Australia-India tech and startup corridor
Network and connect with leading investors and ecosystem players in the Australia-India startup and innovation corridor. Attendees are selected startups, investors, angels, ecosystem supporters, people with strong networks that support innovation.
SAGE: AUSTRALIA-INDIA INVESTMENT FUND LAUNCH
A new Australia-India focused investment fund will launch at SXSW (South By Southwest, Sydney). Tim Thomas & Rajeev Gupta are Co-Founders of SAGE Investments which is a fund focused on being the pre-eminent investor of capital and capability between Australian technology, Industrial ingenuity and exponential India market demand in MedTech, AgTech, SpaceTech, CleanTech and EdTech. Hear them discuss the pathways for significant value upside in India in deep technology augmentation and orchestrating valuation “growth arbitrage” for their investments and
Moderator: James Stewart & Irfan Malik
Tim Thomas
Tim is a senior executive with over 20 years of leadership experience across Asia-Pacific, driving market expansion, operational transformation, and high-growth business models.
Tim led AXA’s financial services foray into India where he served as the AXA Country Head. As Regional Vice President for Prudential’s Asian operations he lead corporate development and strategy, and did a stint as the CEO of Prudential’s Malaysian operations. Tim was a senior partner at KPMG, where he lead the financial services strategy practice.
In 2023 the Australian Prime Minister announced Tim’s appointment as the inaugural CEO of the Centre for Australia India Relations, where as a senior diplomatic officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) he was responsible for spearheading all aspects of the bilateral relationship with India, with a particular focus on driving the economic transformation of the relationship.
Tim holds a Bachelors of Law and Commerce from The University of Melbourne, and is a MBA graduate from Melbourne Business School.
Rajeev Gupta
Rajeev has 25+ years of investment experience across public and private markets in Asia and North America. In addition to co-founding SAGE Investments, Rajeev is also a Founder-Partner at Alium Capital, a fund that invests in innovation-led ANZ businesses.
Rajeev began his investing career at Goldman Sachs, working across Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York, focused on listed and unlisted technology companies. He then ran public and private technology funds for a US based fund and a family office. He also founded Geckolife, a 25-person technology startup, before launching Alium Capital. Mr Gupta sits on several portfolio company boards, as well as the Garvan Medical Institute and University of Sydney Business School boards. He holds a Bachelor & Honours in Economics & Law (University of Sydney); CMFAS charter holder; & AICD Member.
Irfan Malik
Irfan Malik is a Sydney-based innovation and technology leader with over 25 years of experience in digital transformation, financial services, and manufacturing. As National Associate Chair and NSW President of the Australia India Business Council (AIBC), he plays a pivotal role in strengthening bilateral trade and fostering innovation-led collaborations between Australia and India. Irfan has been instrumental in advancing global innovation bridge programs, mentoring over 80 startups, and supporting ecosystem development across sectors including fintech, healthcare, agritech, and clean energy. He is passionate about building sustainable partnerships that drive growth, entrepreneurship, and cross-border collaboration.