AFC's Wrap Up Panel: The Good, The Bad & The F*ck-Ups They Won’t Forget
AFC’s Wrap Up Panel: The Good, The Bad & The F*ck-Ups They Won’t Forget 🎤🍻
To close out an epic year in Aussie startups, we’re bringing together the founders, the stories, and the scars that shaped 2025 - and we’re going out with a bang.
Join us on Thursday, 20th November for AFC’s final panel of the year, where we’ll unpack the wildest wins, the biggest faceplants, and the most unforgettable lessons from startup life. This is where the glossy pitch decks are off and the real talk begins.
We’re calling it: The Good, The Bad & The Fck-Ups They Won’t Forget* - a raw, honest, and hilarious night of founder stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
🗓️ Event Details
Date: Thursday, 20th November
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: 2/39 Little Collins St, Melbourne - Hosted by Everest Engineering
Food & Drinks: Provided by Everest Engineering 🍕🥂
🎙️ Meet the Panelists
We’re lining up an all-star panel of Aussie founders who’ve seen it all – the growth, the brutal investor calls, the team wins, and the midnight existential spirals. These are the stories you only get behind closed doors, shared with honesty, humour, and heart.
✨ Chad Stephens – Founder, Investor & Fractional Co-Founder
Chad has been building and backing startups for over a decade. He co-founded 1Form (acquired by REA Group in 2014), Fillr (acquired by Rakuten Inc. in 2020), and Inhouse Ventures (acquired by Scalare Partners in 2025). These days, he’s an active angel investor, startup advisor, and fractional co-founder – helping solo founders navigate the messy zero-to-one stage with the scars (and stories) to prove it.
✨ Damien Mahony – SaaS Founder, CEO & Operator
Damien is a seasoned founder and operator with over 15 years leading high-performing teams through scale-up, capital raising, and global expansion. He co-founded and led Stackla, a content marketing platform used by Apple, Meta, Disney, the IOC, Ford, and AstraZeneca, guiding it through rapid growth and a successful exit. These days, he brings deep experience in building global SaaS businesses and scaling teams that last.
✅ Full speaker line-up to be announced shortly – stay tuned!
🤝 What to Expect
An unfiltered look behind the curtain of startup life. Expect laughter, maybe a few gasps, and plenty of nods of “yep, been there.” You'll walk away with insights you won’t find on LinkedIn, plus the chance to swap war stories and connect with fellow founders doing the hard yards alongside you.
Big Thanks to Our Sponsors:
🛠 Our Venue & Catering Sponsor: EverestEngineering
We’re stoked to be hosted by EverestEngineering, a world-class product development partner that helps startups build, scale, and accelerate their software dreams. EverestEngineering help founders can stay focused on what matters most.
🤝 In-Kind Event Sponsor: Kairos Recruitment
Another shout out to Kairos, my recruitment company that has continued to make these events possible. Through running AFC and working deeply with startup clients, we help companies scale their teams with the right people, at the right time.
Supported by LaunchVic ❤️
This event is proudly supported by LaunchVic, Victoria’s startup agency. Their role is to fuel the growth of Victoria’s startup ecosystem by building the confidence and capability of Victorians to create, scale, and invest in startups.
We’re so grateful for their continued support in making events like this possible!
🎉 Don’t Miss Our 2025 Finale
Spots always fill fast - so lock in your place now and join us for an evening of learnings, great convo, and a community that truly gets the founder journey!