Nathan Kirchner

I've been there, I am there right now, & I am keen to pay it forwards!

Sydney, Australia (+10:00 UTC) Englishfrom Sydney, Australia
Usually responds in 9 hours
$150 / hour
Price per hour
30 min60 min
Time Blocks Available
5.00
18 reviews / 24 sessions
Wed
28
Next availability

Bio

Helping Startups Succeed: Navigating the Path to Investment and Growth Securing venture capital funding is a critical yet challenging milestone for startups. With fewer than 1 in 400 startups securing capital and over 90% of innovation projects failing to make a significant impact, it’s essential to approach this process strategically. The key is ensuring your business is structured to attract and sustain investor confidence. With a wealth of experience in AI, robotics, and venture capital, I am uniquely positioned to help startups succeed. My career has spanned roles at UTS, Stanford, a top construction firm, and various startups, giving me deep expertise in bridging innovation and industry adoption. This broad experience enables me to translate groundbreaking ideas into scalable, investable ventures. My approach focuses on three critical phases: preparation, audit, and operationalisation. Phase 1: Refining Your Investment Thesis and ‘Ideal Deal’ The first step in seeking venture capital is understanding what you want from the deal. Together, we will define your 'ideal deal' to use as a guiding star throughout the process. This ensures alignment with your business’s long-term goals and positions you to approach investors strategically. Phase 2: Conducting an Investability Audit In this phase, I guide you through a comprehensive investability audit. This process identifies and resolves any obstacles that could hinder your ability to attract investors, whether related to business structure, market positioning, or technology readiness. Addressing these challenges early helps lay a solid foundation for securing funding. Phase 3: Operationalisation – Making Your Business ‘Investment Ready’ Once your business is positioned correctly, we focus on operationalising it to be ‘investment ready’. I work with you to refine your positioning, develop a compelling narrative, and craft a well-received pitch deck. The goal is not only to secure funding but to attract the right investors—those who align with your vision and values, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability. Having worked in venture capital, research institutions, and large construction firms, I bring a comprehensive perspective on what it takes to succeed. I don’t just help you get funded; I help you build a business that thrives, with the right structure, partners, and resources for future success. At Greywall Advisory, I’ve worked with numerous startups to ensure they are not only ready for investment but are set up for sustained growth. By leveraging my expertise, I help founders navigate the complexities of securing capital, structuring their business, and scaling effectively. Let’s talk! Together, we can set your startup on the path to success and make your vision a reality.

Expertise


  • Building a team

    I have built several deep tech teams to underpin startups, corporate projects & university research groups. My area is generally towards recruiting the absolute top talent in Robotics & AI to provide a rock solid basis for the Tech pillar of a venture to be strong. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Go to market strategy

    I have considerable experience delivering complex deep tech, robotics & AI products from idea to reality & generating a significant paying customer traction base in heavy engineering to successfully drive demonstrable movement based GTMs. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Idea validation

    I have a thorough knowledge & well hone practical hand at effectively & successfully leveraging lean approaches through a a probe screen series of small calculated 'bets' (aka - the scientific method) to carry us from Research, through Development to Deployment (R&D2D) with minimal risk, minimal cost, maximum effectiveness & at a startup pace! Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Link building

    I have a considerable industry, academic, startup, corporate, institutions, ventures, creators, consumers, & 'other' series of international networks (AU-EU-US predominately) that I have built over a considerable track record that I can leverage to get you effectively connected to where you need to be. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Product market fit

    I have considerable experience with engineering & heavy industries customer engagement- & prototype-use product-market fit convergence. I have developed this over numerous product, projects, developments & experiments at during several industry & universities large scale project leadership positions. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Technology and tools

    I have formidable experience in deep tech. I have 7 tertiary qualifications predominately in engineering robotics & AI. My considerable industry & academic success is built one outcomes in this area. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

Toolkit


  • LinkedIn Ads logo

    LinkedIn Ads

    I uncover & imagine emerging realworld opportunities for deep tech, & forge viable R&D to Deployment pathways for their realisation; specifically… * Growth - Positioning ventures for more investment, more opportunities, more… * Traction - Getting ‘new’ into Business as Usual. Devising & delivering sticky adoption * Product - Inherently adoptable must-have solutions * Deep Tech - Injecting into the current stack & roadmap Pls see www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com

Industries


  • SaaS

    Pretty much all of the 32 revenue generating products I have been responsible for generating have come through as Hardware enabled Software as a Service, have been built on AI/ML, have VC, CVC government or institutional funding, & been aimed at B2C or B2B. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • B2B

    Pretty much all of the 32 revenue generating products I have been responsible for generating have come through as Hardware enabled Software as a Service, have been built on AI/ML, have VC, CVC government or institutional funding, & been aimed at B2C or B2B. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • B2C

    Pretty much all of the 32 revenue generating products I have been responsible for generating have come through as Hardware enabled Software as a Service, have been built on AI/ML, have VC, CVC government or institutional funding, & been aimed at B2C or B2B. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Venture Capital

    Pretty much all of the 32 revenue generating products I have been responsible for generating have come through as Hardware enabled Software as a Service, have been built on AI/ML, have VC, CVC government or institutional funding, & been aimed at B2C or B2B. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Artificial Intelligence

    Pretty much all of the 32 revenue generating products I have been responsible for generating have come through as Hardware enabled Software as a Service, have been built on AI/ML, have VC, CVC government or institutional funding, & been aimed at B2C or B2B. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Hardware

    Pretty much all of the 32 revenue generating products I have been responsible for generating have come through as Hardware enabled Software as a Service, have been built on AI/ML, have VC, CVC government or institutional funding, & been aimed at B2C or B2B. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

  • Machine Learning

    Pretty much all of the 32 revenue generating products I have been responsible for generating have come through as Hardware enabled Software as a Service, have been built on AI/ML, have VC, CVC government or institutional funding, & been aimed at B2C or B2B. Pls see https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkirchner/ & www.nathankirchner.com for a fuller sense of what I offer

Experience

  • Infrastructure Intelligence Lab

    Co-Founder

    I co-founded Intelligence Labs to unlock massive, practical gains across construction and infrastructure by transferring AI workflow-empowering skills directly into the hands of industry practitioners. Through the Infrastructure Intelligence Lab, we take non-technical leaders and teams beyond hype, equipping them to identify, design, and deploy AI-enabled workflows that solve real operational problems. The focus is execution: safer delivery, faster decisions, reduced waste, and measurable productivity uplift. Rather than tools for tools’ sake. Intelligence Labs builds capability, confidence, and cultural readiness so organisations can embed AI into business-as-usual and realise sustained, compounding value at scale.

  • Embeint

    Advisor

    Embeint provides cutting-edge wireless connectivity and advanced sensing systems that support industrial automation, remote operations and high-reliability environments. Their technology enables smarter, safer and more efficient workflows by bringing robust communications and data from the physical world directly into operational decision cycles.

  • Zabidou

    Founding Team | VP Product

    Zabidou delivers full materials awareness at industrial scale, providing automated, real-time, in-line sensing at 1/10th the price and 10x the speed. Its breakthrough technology is already proving itself in early deployments across advanced manufacturing and heavy-industry production environments.

  • Grey Wall Advisory

    Founder | Managing Director

    I founded and lead Grey Wall Advisory to guide emerging technologies through commercialisation, adoption and scale. We help innovators convert complex research and early capability into real business impact by shaping strategy, readiness, pathways to market and targeted execution across heavy industries.

  • Melt Ventures

    Venture Partner

    Melt Ventures powers the creation of world-class products by backing advanced manufacturing founders. We believe hardware is the new software, providing capital, expertise and practical guidance to Australian deep-tech startups with global ambitions, helping them design, build and scale industry-shaping technology.

  • Presien

    Founder | Chief Evangalist

    Presien is a Computer Vision AI company rooted in construction and engineering. Its mission is to free heavy industry from risks that threaten worker safety and operational performance by delivering intelligent sensing technology that detects hazards, enhances awareness and strengthens frontline decision-making. Founder | Advisor May 2022 - 2024 Founder | CTO | Director Sep 2018 - Apr 2022

  • University of Technology Sydney

    University of Technology Sydney - Various research & professing faculty appointments

    UTS hosts nationally significant robotics and advanced manufacturing capability through its Robotics Institute and Advanced Fabrication Research Laboratory. These hubs unite researchers and industry to design, prototype and deploy frontier automation, sensing and intelligent systems that translate rapidly into real-world industrial impact. Honorary Adjunct Professor (Industry) 2026-Present Research Commercialisation 2024-2026 Honorary Adjunct Professor Intelligent Systems UTS ISF 2016 - Feb 2021 Principal Investigator RobotAssist - Senior Lecturer (Mechatronics) UTS 2009 - 2016 Post Doc Centre for Autonomous Systems 2009 Doctoral Candidate & Casual Academic 2006 - 2009 - PhD: Exploiting laser and capacitive ranging sensors’ behaviour to identify material type

  • Arena Mars

    Mission Director - Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing

    As Mission Director for Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, I support Arena Mars, a founder-designed national scale-up program that helps Australian deep-tech startups grow, mature and compete globally through structured guidance, capability uplift and real-world pathways to market across frontier technologies.

  • Robopalooza 2025

    Co-Founder (Perth Event)

    Robopalooza 2025 is Australia’s flagship robotics festival, uniting industry, researchers, startups and students to showcase frontier technology, real-world deployments and hands-on demonstrations. It is designed to accelerate adoption, inspire future talent and strengthen Australia’s national robotics and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

  • Robotics Australia Group

    Co-Founder | Director

    Robotics Australia Group is the national peak body advancing Australia’s robotics sector. It connects industry, researchers and government to accelerate adoption, support capability growth and build a thriving, globally competitive robotics ecosystem spanning mining, logistics, defence, agriculture, construction and manufacturing.

  • Laing O'Rourke

    Head of Robotics | Ventures Advisor

    Laing O’Rourke is a global engineering and construction leader known for digital delivery and advanced manufacturing. From within the Engineering Excellence Group, I led the Future Robotics programme, drove venture activities and successfully delivered a spinout company built from my innovation and commercialisation work. Head of Robotics | Ventures Advisor - Engineering Excellence Group 2015 - 2020 Special Advisor Robotics | Ventures 2020 - 2023

  • Stanford University

    Stanford - Various research & professing faculty appointments
    •stanford.edu/

    Stanford University is a world-leading institution for research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Its ecosystem blends engineering, science, design and business, producing breakthroughs that shape global industries and driving a culture where frontier technologies, bold ideas and practical impact thrive side by side.

    Higher Education

Made within Glyfada