Daniel Petre

Daniel Petre has been at the forefront of the technology industry in Australia for more than 30 years, and has deep experience running large organisations, developing new business models, and founding three major tech investment companies.

He is the co-founder of AirTree Ventures, an early and growth stage venture firm that partners with world-class Australian and Kiwi entrepreneurs.

In 2016, AirTree Ventures turned down a $400 million cheque for its fund, believing that venture capital in Australia is like a growing plant: Under-fertilise it and it dies, over-fertilise it and it dies too.

Prior to AirTree, he founded two of Australia's most successful VC companies (netus and ecorp), and spent 10 years with Microsoft, where he was MD of Australia for 3 years before moving to the US as the first non-US VP of a Microsoft division. 

With his eye firmly fixed on the future, he believes Australia has a great opportunity to become an innovation nation, to look beyond the now and focus on research & development to propel us forward.

He is one of the humans on stage at #aah18 on Wed 29th August.