A firm built around the founders we back

JD is the Co-founder and Partner of Eastend Ventures, Founder and Managing Director of Virtca Capital, and Non-executive director of several prominent technology and not-for-profit organisations.

Originally from Canada, JD has spent the past two decades living and working throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. JD relocated to Adelaide in 2021 after being awarded the Australian Global Talent Visa based on his internationally recognised technology and business achievements.

JD is an accomplished, transparent and innovative business, finance and technology leader with extensive experience growing companies to scale. He has held key leadership and shareholders positions as the Managing Director and Corporate Technology Director of multinational organisations, where he played a significant role in leading these companies through phases of substantial growth and international expansion (growing from 100 to over 1,800 employees across four countries). Beyond numbers, JD's influence was felt across mergers and acquisitions, compliance and governance, operations, product development, stakeholder management and engagement, digital transformation, enterprise systems, process improvement and the creation of some of the Oil and Gas industry's first widely adopted SaaS, digital workforce, IoT, AI and machine learning-based solutions and products (with numerous Fortune 500 companies as early adopters and long-term clients).

JD holds a suite of qualifications, including an MBA in Finance, Graduate – Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Project Management Professional (PMP), a commercial pilot licence and an array of financial and technological accreditations.

The 2023 Australian Angel Investor of the Year recipient, Josh Garratt is a highly regarded figure in the investment and commercialisation sector in Australia. He spent 12 years with fund manager Cromwell Property Group and, since settling in Adelaide in 2008, he has been instrumental in building the startup ecosystem.

He was previously the Co-founder and CEO of South Australian-based investment group Southern Angels and has facilitated $15 million investment into 36 companies. Between 2019 and 2023, he served as a Commercialisation Facilitator for the Federal Government's Accelerating Commercialisation program, where he oversaw a pipeline of 100+ companies and secured $4.8 million in highly competitive grant funding. All bar one of the companies from both portfolios is a going concern, reflecting a talent for selecting promising early-stage innovation companies.

He holds a Bachelor of Communication and has a commitment to continuous learning, participating in programs with Startmate, Airtree, Scale Investors and Pivot Education USA. He provides strategic business counsel and deep dives into new technology investigation in producing due diligence reports.

Brad Feld is chair of the Limited Partner Advisory Committee for Eastend Ventures Fund 1.

Brad co-founded Foundry Group and Techstars, one of the world’s leading accelerator networks. He has spent more than 35 years as an operator and investor, backing companies including Fitbit. He is also the author of Venture Deals, Startup Communities, and Give First, widely read by founders and investors.

Brad is known for the “Boulder Thesis”, the view that world-class companies can be built anywhere. This aligns with Eastend’s focus on backing founders in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland, regions that receive a small share of national venture capital.

As LPAC Chair, Brad brings an independent perspective and deep experience across cycles. He strengthens governance and supports alignment between the Fund and its investors.

His involvement gives Eastend access to global insight while reinforcing a clear strategy. Back strong founders in overlooked markets and build enduring companies.

Sarah is Head of Operations at Eastend, with responsibility for finance, legal, governance, people and culture, suppliers, and the policies that hold the firm together. She runs the day-to-day of fund management, including operations, valuations, administration, and the ESVCLP and regulatory reporting institutional funds depend on, and partners with the Relationship Manager on investor onboarding, capital calls, LP reporting and general meetings. She serves as Secretary of the Investment Committee.

Compliance is a particular focus area for Sarah. She leads compliance and risk across the firm and sits on the Compliance Committee as Member and Secretary. Before Eastend she was Operations and Marketing Officer at i4 Connect, executing on the Federal Government's Accelerating Commercialisation contract as the primary liaison for 26 commercialisation advisors working across a pre-revenue portfolio.

Sarah holds a BSc (Honours) in Buying and Merchandising from Manchester Metropolitan University with first-class honours, and stays current through compliance and operational coursework as her role demands.

Ava is Head of Platform at Eastend Ventures and a Partner and shareholder in Virtca Capital, the firm behind Eastend. She leads how Eastend shows up for its portfolio companies after the term sheet, building the systems, programs, and relationships that turn capital into genuine support. Her remit covers portfolio monitoring, industry partnerships with AWS, Notion, Google and Pitchbook, the Venture Partner program, the talent and sourcing network, and the portfolio education calendar. Alongside the Managing Partner, she orchestrates the database and platform technology that runs across the firm.

After living in Canada and the US, Ava joined the Adelaide investment community in 2021, through Virtca and Southern Angels. Her background spans venture operations, procurement, education and community coordination, a mix that shapes how Eastend builds practical, founder-first infrastructure into its operating model. Within the firm she also sits on the Compliance Committee, serves as Board Secretary, and contributes to due diligence across the firm's pipeline.

Ava holds a Bachelor of Education and an MBA, and has earned micro-credentials across programming and Microsoft tools. She adds new skills as the role or interests require.

Gina is Eastend's Relationship Manager and the connective tissue between the firm and the people it works with most closely, including founders, investors, and the wider network. She works alongside the Head of Platform as the day-to-day relationship lead for portfolio companies, building and sourcing connections across the ecosystem and driving the quarterly information collection that underpins portfolio monitoring. On the fund side, she partners with the Head of Operations on investor follow-ups and keeps the LP register accurate and current, and she supports the firm's government relations work for larger events and engagements where her network adds value.

Born and raised in Adelaide, Gina brings experience across both ASX 200 companies and small businesses. Her background spans risk management, private investing, and overseeing SMSF Trustees and Family Offices, with a focus on alternative asset classes and hands-on involvement in complex mergers and acquisitions.

Committed to continual improvement, Gina has an educational focus on communications, sales, and improving her technology toolkit.

Sonya currently works at Medfin, where she simplifies finance for medical professionals by offering tailored financial solutions to support and grow their practices. She combines personal service with industry expertise to ensure clients' financial needs are met seamlessly.

Previously, at LGT Crestone, Sonya provided wealth advice to high-net-worth families and for-purpose organisations, focusing on long-term results. Prior to joining LGT Crestone, she advised high-net-worth clients, not-for-profit organisations, and family offices at NAB Private.

Sonya also spent 11 years in Auckland with ANZ Private and ANZ Corporate, advising local and international high-net-worth clients and business owners on investment and lending requirements. Her extensive experience includes working at JP Morgan in London and Adelaide.

Sonya holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from the University of South Australia and a National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice), Investment Advice.

Additionally, she runs “Ladies That Lunch”, a diverse community of over 190 women, spanning various ages and backgrounds, who gather to learn and support one another in both personal and professional aspects while enjoying a delicious lunch. Sonya has also been the Treasurer for The Eastwood Community Centre for over 3 years, and the Treasurer on the Governing Council for Marryatville Primary School for over 4 years.

Dr Roger Voyle is the Managing Director of Southmore, a leading Australian alternative asset management company with a focus on venture capital funds management. With more than 15 years at Southmore Capital, Roger has passionately dedicated himself to early-stage investment management, partnering closely with local and international entrepreneurs to foster and exit an array of technology-centric and knowledge-intensive businesses.

Prior to his venture endeavours, Roger honed his skills in patents, licensing, and technology evaluation at the Swiss biopharmaceutical giant, Serono SA, assisting the Corporate Intellectual Property Counsel with major litigation and transactional activities, including the acquisition of Serono SA by Merck KGaA.

For Eastend, Roger brings not only his venture acumen and extensive board experience but also a scholarly background, with a PhD in biochemistry, post-doctoral studies in immunology, and post-graduate pursuits in intellectual property law, offering a distinctive perspective on potential investment opportunities.

A seasoned figure in Western Australia's tech investment landscape, Greg Riebe brings to Eastend an expansive twenty year career marked by his engagements with corporates, SMEs and startups.

Recognised for his aptitude in identifying and nurturing high-potential technology ventures, Greg's experience encompasses roles from managing Perth's first technology incubator to advising founders on scaling, value creation and investment readiness. He has also been a co-founder of multiple technology businesses and today stands as the principal of his advisory practice, catering to corporates, early-stage ventures and angel investors.

Notably, in 2020, Greg was honoured as the Australian Angel Investor of the Year and received the WA Pearcey Entrepreneur Award. Additionally, his leadership extends to serving as a Non-executive Director/Chairman for several Australian technology firms, amplifying his profound footprint in the nation's tech and investment sectors. For Eastend, he brings unparalleled access to the most promising early-stage companies in WA.

Sneha Rajan brings a rich background to Eastend in both private equity and early-stage venture capital investing. With hands-on experience that spans the entire investment lifecycle, Sneha has strategically navigated processes from sourcing and screening potential opportunities, to executing transactions and managing portfolios, all the way to successful exits.

In her role as General Manager, Investments for NatureCo, she leads investment initiatives for the company's nature-based carbon projects across the world. Adept at collaboration, Sneha works in harmony with a diverse set of stakeholders, ranging from company management and board directors to investors, legal counsel and other advisors.

Previously at Greening Australia, one of Australia's largest environmental organisations, Sneha spearheaded capital-raising efforts for the Group and its subsidiary businesses. Prior to that, she held roles at Apollo Global Management and Unitus Ventures (now Capria Ventures) in India. Sneha holds an MBA degree with a specialisation in Finance and has also completed her Master of Commerce degree.

Scarlett McDermott is the founder of Longitude Advisory, an independent tech advisory firm serving organisations across Australia. With over a decade of technology industry experience, she specialises in helping boards and executives leverage technology to execute on business strategy. Scarlett is an experienced technologist, having worked in roles from software developer to Chief Technology Officer, with experience across startup, enterprise and NFP organisations. As a startup CTO she contributed to scaling from Australia to the UK, US and Canada, putting her in the 1% of Australian tech workers who have worked in a scaleup organisation.

Before starting her own business, Scarlett led Ecosystem Capability at the Tech Council of Australia, delivering industry growing initiatives including Virtual Work Experience. There she contributed to major industry initiatives focused on skills and innovation, alongside making contributions to technology policy discussions related to workforce, AI, cyber security and more.

Scarlett is passionate about the continued growth and development of Australia's tech ecosystem and is a regular speaker and contributor across the industry.

Scarlett holds a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security, and continues to be a lifelong learner, regularly upskilling as technology evolves.

Scarlett lives in Canberra, where she grew up, with her husband, son and daughter, and their dog, Wally. When she's (very occasionally) not doing something tech related, you'll find her in the garden or reading a book.

Jo Chaturvedi-Durant is a private markets and venture capital investor with over 16 years of experience across Asia Pacific and North America. She has worked with global investment managers including Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, and VU Venture Partners. Her investment focus spans alternative asset classes across stages, geographies, and sectors, with a focus on deep tech where frontier technologies intersect with real-world impact. She also serves on investment committees for impact funds and university venture funds.

Her academic background covers international business law, business management, and economics, complemented by certifications across governance, capital markets, and alternative assets. She has authored work on macro and behavioural economics, retirement investing, and the impact of emerging technologies on global markets. Jo has held both executive and non-executive board roles and has supported portfolio companies across biotech, space, agtech, defence, and next-generation AI, while advising founders, accelerators, governments, and not-for-profits.

At Eastend Ventures, Jo provides hands-on strategic support to several portfolio companies, leveraging her international experience to guide founders on go-to-market strategy, expansion, and market nuances across regions.

She is also the VC in Residence at the University of Adelaide’s ThincLab, where she mentors founders on business models, go-to-market strategy, governance, and capital strategy across Australia, the US, and Asia.

Laura Ashmole is a Venture Partner at Eastend Ventures, where she supports deal flow, founder engagement, and ecosystem development across Queensland. She brings a strong network and a practical understanding of how early-stage companies scale, with a focus on connecting founders to the right people, capital, and opportunities at the right time.

Laura is also Head of Growth at River City Labs, one of Queensland’s leading startup hubs, where she works closely with emerging technology companies to support their growth through programs, community, and strategic initiatives. Her background spans talent acquisition, people and culture, creative media, sales, and growth across both corporate and startup environments.

She has worked with a broad range of organisations to build brand, capability, and scale, and has delivered storytelling projects for grassroots charities in Australia and internationally. Laura is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion and is deeply committed to strengthening the startup ecosystem. Her approach centres on people, community, and a clear focus on customers as the driver of business success.