Macquarie Business School alumnus uses Big Data to support the changing commercial property technology sector, whilst helping upcoming Australian startups scale and grow.

David Dinh is no stranger to the startup world. Since graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Applied Finance in 2002, his career has gone from strength-to-strength. He is the co-founder of several highly successful startups; osDORO, a Singapore-based company that uses big data to help businesses find their ideal commercial and co-working space, and Woveon, a software company that uses artificial intelligence to aggregate customer data, so that organisations can improve the customer experience, generate untapped revenue, and improve operational efficiencies. As well as being an entrepreneur, he is passionate about giving back to the business community. How? By guiding fresh upstarts through each step of the growth phase, so that they can achieve real, long-term profitability and global impact.

Of course, David has never forgotten about the strong foundation that Macquarie University set for him. Speaking on the influence of the campus, “Macquarie University was at the forefront in the field of Applied Finance. It had established global partnerships with international scholars, industry professional bodies, and leading businesses. Also, it was the only university at the time to combine Applied Finance with a Bachelor of Laws. As a result, I could focus on topics like globalisation and behavioural finance, two areas of study that were fairly unique at the time.”

Perhaps what spurred David on the most were his lecturers. “They inspired me to challenge the impacts of corporate change. For the first time in my life, I was asked to weigh up the benefits of economic growth with the wellbeing of the planet and the rest of society. This concept is what we now know today as Corporate Social Responsibility. But, back then, it wasn’t talked about as much.” Since then, David has made it his mission to give back to the community with each of his ventures, and make sure the ventures he supports do the same as well.

One way David has been able to support new entrepreneurs is through the Macquarie University Incubator program. The purpose of the Incubator is to create entrepreneurship programs that train and nurture innovation, and to support the growth and success of impactful solutions to the world’s problems. Every year, the program hosts regular events and workshops, where students have the chance to pitch exciting new ideas, meet like-minded people, receive mentoring from industry leading professionals, and find out what it takes to turn their ideas into tangible assets. Some of the many startups to launch through the Incubator include Pedestal 3D, a media platform where educators use 3D assets for learning and teaching, Sustainable Schoolwear, which makes eco-friendly school uniforms, and Hatch Health, a digital billing portal for private hospital patients.

As well as guide startups through the growth phase, David has been able to open doors for students. Many students who have interned or volunteered for him have gone on to work at billion-dollar companies like Google and Palantir. Some students have even gone on to become co-founders for his own startups. His current property technology startup, osDORO, was co-founded with a Macquarie University student; a project that has been so successful, the student put their accounting studies on hold to focus on the business full-time.

But what drives David to give back to the business community? Put simply, he knows how challenging it is for startups to get their foot in the door, especially in the investing and pitching space, which is notoriously competitive. Speaking from personal experience, David said, “During the early 2000s, when I graduated and started my first few ventures, it was hard to find a mentor or advisor who could help you launch a new startup. Now, we have many talented companies gain visibility through the Macquarie University Incubator program. Since the students are nurtured in a collaborative space, they get the support they need to reach their full potential.” For him, watching students get their prototypes off the ground and into the market is a tremendous joy.

When discussing how the Bachelor of Applied Finance course supported his career, David highlights the networking benefits, and how the degree equips students to become professionals in the field of finance. “It opened doors for me in the wealth management industry, such as the Commonwealth Bank and Colonial First State. I worked with highly successful and wealthy individuals. They opened my eyes on how to create value with the right products and services. I was also lucky enough to meet some very influential mentors and advisors in the corporate and government sector. They got me ‘up to speed’ with key underlying investment principles like money raising, venture capital and financial modelling. Of course, I still use this knowledge today.” What’s more, the course helped David gain an understanding of international business across a range of disciplines – from economics and business to marketing. This has allowed him to take part in industry delegations in South East Asia and China, speaking to industry heads, government and innovation centres throughout Asia.

For prospective students wanting to get their foot in the startup world, David has some stellar advice: get involved. Visit the Macquarie University Incubator or a similar startup community program. Get exposure to some startups. Familiarise yourself with the different phases of growth. Find your value, and figure out how to help other startups as either a volunteer or intern. By putting yourself out there, you’re more likely to achieve success in the startup world. Most importantly? “Let go of the expectation that you must work where the degree tells you to go. Allow yourself to make mistakes, and take the economic cycles as a chance to truly innovate.”

Visit the MQ Incubator website to learn more about the current startups in residence and  how you can be part of the ecosystem. If you’d like to be part of the community, you can join their mailing list to receive latest news and announcements.

David Dinh is the Evangelist at osDORO, which is responsible for helping businesses in the Asia Pacific to find their ideal office. He was also the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Woveon, a company specialising in customer data technology.