Beyond the Build
Vu Tran Challenges Us to Think Bigger
The recent Hunter iF Festival was a great success, and the impact of Vu Tran's keynote remains front of mind. His address, "Demystifying Defence: Why now is the time to start paying attention," was not just informative, it was a powerful meditation on the principle that the festival is not simply about building; it’s about building something meaningful for our community.
For those who may have missed the address, Vu Tran is a respected Australian entrepreneur and innovator who has co-founded two transformative companies: the global education platform Go1 and the pioneering defence technology firm Black Sky Industries. His background, which spans technology, education, and national security, provided a unique lens on what it means to create value for a nation. He powerfully demonstrated how local innovation, such as building a sovereign defence capability, is a critical means of ensuring national resilience and economic prosperity.
The Power of Convergence
Vu’s insights extended beyond his work, offering a profound rationale for the very existence of our festival. When asked why events like Hunter iF matter, Vu emphasized the concept of convergence.
He argued that a successful ecosystem requires the physical gathering of its three essential pillars:
The Builders: The Innovators and Entrepreneurs.
The Funders: The Investors and Capital Allocators.
The Enablers: Government bodies and policymakers.
In Vu’s view, the face-to-face connection offered by the festival is crucial. It’s where idea-sharing sparks, silos break down, and the deliberate construction of a robust local ecosystem truly begins, ensuring we are not all just operating in isolation.
Vu's "Big What If": The Mindset of Value Creation
Finally, when asked to share his biggest "What If", a hypothetical vision for the future, Vu provided a powerful lens for all our entrepreneurial efforts.
His vision is simple yet transformative: A world where every child in Australia gets the opportunity to try building a business.
Vu stressed that this goal is not merely about creating tech "unicorns" or massive startups. It is fundamentally about instilling the mindset of value creation. He believes that if young people learn to build things that solve problems, create value for others, and contribute to their communities, it lifts society as a whole.
This is the ultimate challenge for the Hunter iF community. Let the momentum of the festival continue to fuel projects that enhance our collective capability and create deep value. As we move forward, let’s ensure that every new venture is driven by this powerful understanding: we are building not just for profit, but for purpose, for community, and for a resilient future.
