TechTalk: Investing in Hardware - Space, Robotics, Critical Minerals & Energy Transition (w/ Jun Qu, Principal @ Main Sequence)
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
Will the next decade of sovereign capability be decided in these three verticals? Space, Robotics and Critical Minerals.
$14 billion was invested into robotics in 2025 alone. Entire categories like humanoid robots, autonomy software, and robotics operating systems didn't exist a decade ago. Artemis II just completed the first crewed journey around the Moon since Apollo. And China currently dominates the refining of 19 of the 20 minerals the world needs to build the future.
Global leadership in these three sectors could create the next generation of industrial powers. Where does Australia fit in all of this?
To find out, we're flipping the script for our next TechTalk. A founder interviews a VC. How capital is actually being deployed into Space, Critical Minerals, and Robotics in Australia, what's gaining momentum, and what keeps investors up at night.
Some topics that might be covered:
How do you back pre-product, pre-revenue companies when technical risk, regulatory complexity, and decade-long build cycles all collide?
Where does Australia genuinely have an edge? What's missing, and who's responsible for closing the gap?
What separates a defensible frontier tech company from a well-funded research project?
How should founders position themselves when their market doesn't exist yet?
What does Australia need to build next to stay relevant in the global industrial and scientific landscape?
Agenda:
5:00PM Doors open
5:20PM Fireside Chat with Jun Qu (Main Sequence) & Dr Joe Cronin (ADR)
Networking to follow
About
Jun Qu
Jun is a Principal at Main Sequence where he helps Australian scientists and entrepreneurs create, build, and scale the next generation of deep tech companies that will change the world. Jun is focused on early stage investments in the industrial-tech and space sectors and also sits on the boards of a number of companies in those areas. Prior to joining Main Sequence, Jun spent most of his career in engineering and industrial operations.
He began his journey as an engineer with ExxonMobil before moving to the US for his MBA at Stanford. He then joined McKinsey where he served a broad range of clients across energy, advanced manufacturing and mining, and led investments into client-facing tech solutions as part of McKinsey Launch. He joined the Main Sequence team in 2021 and is based in Sydney.
Dr Joe Cronin
Dr. Joe Cronin is the CEO and co-founder of Australian Droid & Robot (ADR), a robotics company purpose-built for the underground hard rock mining sector. ADR's flagship platform, the Remote Data Acquisition System (RDAS), enables continuous monitoring and inspection in areas where human access is restricted — keeping personnel safe without halting production. Following investment from RCF Jolimont in 2024, ADR has scaled into a proven commercial capability and now holds multi-year contracts with major miners globally.
Prior to founding ADR, Joe led the automation of the E48 production level at Northparkes Mines during his tenure at Rio Tinto, an early benchmark for remotely operated equipment in underground mining.
Barker Street Ventures (Website)
Barker Street Ventures is an investment platform giving sophisticated investors to access 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.
If you have any further questions, please reach out to [email protected]