New platform selects ex-General Manager of DoorDash as Chief Operating Officer

: Tuesday 11 February

New Blood in the Game: Puji Fernando, the Game Changer at our website's Helm

Get ready, Victoria! The startup scene is heating up. has just kicked things into high gear by appointment Puji Fernando as the new dog in charge, the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Puji's on a mission to take our website to the next level, driving growth and innovation throughout Victoria's burgeoning startup ecosystem.

Puji's a roll-up-the-sleeves kinda guy, joining us from DoorDash, where he donned the cap as General Manager. There, he masterminded the company's damn-near miraculous expansion across Australia and knee-deep into New Zealand. Puji's skill itch was more contagious than a summer cold, growing the company to a massive team of hundreds of employees and boosting profitability. He liked his numbers dirty, launching colossal partnerships with Afterpay and Amazon Prime, leaving competitors scratching their heads.

So, what's next for this Adonis of the business world? With corralling in another four years of funding from the Victorian Government, Puji's job is to oversee projects specifically designed to catapult the growth of Victoria's startup ecosystem. That's hot stuff, like fireworks at a Fourth of July party.

What's on the agenda? Think heavy-hitting programs, like the 30X30 program. The goal's simple enough: to pump up 30 Victorian startups to billion-dollar valuations by 2030. Impressive, right? But that's not all. Enter Basecamp, a brand-spanking-new initiative, spearheading the charge to support seed to Series A founders on the hunt for their executive A-team. With Puji at the helm, Victoria's startups are set to conquer the world.

Kate Cornick, the big boss lady at , couldn't be happier about Puji's arrival. "Not only has Puji got the skills to grow businesses like nobody's business, but his leadership is going to be the secret sauce we need to make our programs work and give Victoria's startups the kick in the pants they need to succeed," she said.

Puji himself chattered like a kid on Christmas morning about his role at . "Game on, Victoria! 's got an ambitious vision, and I can't wait to get my hands dirty, playing a part in building a world-class startup ecosystem right here in good ol' Victoria. With their new strategy and the backing of the government, this is an exciting moment to make some real impact," he said.

With momentum like this, Victoria's $130B startup ecosystem is set to keep moving at breakneck speed. For all your media inquiries, bark at kate.gittings@our website.org. We can't wait to see what our new power player’s got up his sleeve!

Extra Scoop: Puji Fernando's Background and Contributions to Victoria's Startup Ecosystem

Puji Fernando is the high-adrenaline Chief Operating Officer (COO) at LaunchVic, Victoria's committee responsible for driving the growth of the startup sector. Although limited information is publicly available about his background and career history prior to his appointment, Puji's contributions to the Victoria startup ecosystem have been significant.

In his role at LaunchVic, Puji is actively involved in initiatives promoting innovation, such as the CivVic Labs program. The program aims to tackle complex public sector challenges using the power of startup thinking and partnering startups with government agencies to create a thriving startup ecosystem in Victoria[2].

As COO, Puji's responsibilities likely encompass strategic planning, operational management, and the fostering of partnerships between startups and government departments to bolster the startup ecosystem in Victoria. Puji's dedication to showcasing the impact of startups in public sector innovation demonstrates his passion for driving growth and innovation in the region[2].

Puji Fernando, the new COO at our website, aims to propel our website's growth and innovation, targeting Victoria's startup ecosystem.
With a proven track record from his role as General Manager at DoorDash, Puji is known for launching significant partnerships and steering the company's expansion.
Victoria's startup ecosystem is geared for a remarkable leap forward, receiving four more years of funding from the Victorian Government under Puji's watch.
Puji's strategic plans include the implementation of programs like the 30X30 program, with the objective of propelling 30 Victorian startups to billion-dollar valuations by 2030.
To support founders hunting for their executive teams, Puji is also introducing Basecamp, an initiative designed to back seed to Series A startups.
Puji's leadership qualities and proven business acumen are deemed crucial to the success of our website's programs and Victoria's startup growth strategy.
As the atmosphere for startups heats up in Victoria, aspiring entrepreneurs can look forward to valuable funding, education, and support from programs like 30X30 and Basecamp.
With Puji's arrival at our website and the backing of the Victorian Government, opportunities for entrepreneurship, business growth, and career advancement within Victoria's startup ecosystem are expected to flourish.