As we celebrate 25 years of Cicada Innovations, it’s a moment to reflect not just on what we’ve built, but on the people and ideas that have been part of the story.
As part of our Cicada Deep Tech Icons series, I sat down with Niki Scevak, co-founder of Blackbird Ventures and Startmate, and one of the earliest champions of ambitious founders and the Australian startup ecosystem.
Long before there was one to speak of, Niki was helping to build one, backing founders, creating communities, and championing a culture of belief, urgency, and generosity.
It was a thoughtful and energising conversation about what founders need, what still holds us back, and how we continue to build communities with purpose and ambition.
Here are some of the reflections that stood out.
- Startups are the best place to learn fast.
Niki’s first venture, Bookmark Box, launched at the dawn of the internet era, didn’t scale, but as he describes was the making of him. “That startup was my university degree,”. The learning curve was steep, the pressure real, and the clarity unforgettable: in a startup, you either figure it out or you don’t survive. - When no one’s building it, you do.
Back in the late ’90s, Australia had no meaningful community around technology. So Niki and others created one from scratch “There were no forums, so we made newsletters. No support networks, so we built them.” That mindset of “build what’s missing” would later be the DNA for Startmate and Blackbird. - Founder-led communities endure.
Startmate wasn’t built through a top-down strategy; it was fueled by belief, momentum, and skin in the game. Every mentor was a founder. Every founder had to invest. “You can’t be extractive. You have to put something in before you take anything out.” That model is what made the community resilient and lasting. - Ambition isn’t ego. It’s a magnet.
Too often in Australia, ambition gets second-guessed. But as Niki put it, “The more ambitious you are, the more likely you are to succeed.” Ambition pulls in capital, people, and energy. Without it, founders risk shrinking their ecosystem before it even starts to grow. - Speed matters, even in deep tech.
“If a deep tech founder tells me it’s going to take a long time, that's a red flag,” Niki said. “If it takes a long time, you need to be in a hurry.” He shared the story of Zoox, an autonomous vehicle startup that had a prototype on the road in under a year with just $1.5M. The point? Timelines may be long, but urgency still defines momentum. - Community drives healthy competition
Founders might be building very different things, but the drive to grow, raise, and outperform each other is real and useful. “Even when you’re not in the same market, you’re still competitive. And that competitiveness raises ambition for everyone.”
- His message was clear: Be ambitious. Move fast. Invest in others.
Trailblazers like Niki play a powerful role in shaping ecosystems, backing ambition early and creating space for others to succeed. It’s this mindset, grounded in belief, generosity, and long-term vision, that will help shape the next 25 years of deep tech in Australia.
For over 25 years, Cicada Innovations has supported developing ventures focused on the world’s most pressing problems and promising opportunities.
Our incubators, training, and community are designed to meet the unique needs of deep tech startups. From cutting-edge labs and flexible space, to mentors and a network of ambitious peers. Our mission is to help startups grow and make Australia a leader in deep tech innovation.
If you have been a part of these incredible 25 years, we want to hear from you. Share your story at hotline@cicadainnovations.com today!
