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Christopher Laughlin
Innovation Acceleration Program Lead with extensive background in entrepreneurship, finance, and humanitarian response.
Christopher Laughlin is a multifaceted professional with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture capital. He is currently a Fellow at Startmate, focusing on High Performance, Product Management, Climate Tech, and Investing.34
Professional Background
Christopher holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, where he specialized in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Entrepreneurial Finance.2 He also has a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship from Melbourne Business School.2
Current Roles
- Innovation Acceleration Program Lead at the University of Melbourne (since December 2022)2
- Startup Mentor and Investor at Courageous Ventures (since May 2020)2
- Fellow at Startmate34
Entrepreneurial Experience
Christopher is deeply involved in the startup ecosystem:
- He mentors founders for various organizations, including Techstars, MIT, QUT, and the University of Melbourne.2
- As an angel investor, he invests in startups through platforms like Techstars, Hustlefund, Afterwork Ventures, and The Fund.2
Previous Experience
Before his current roles, Christopher had a significant career in humanitarian work:
- He spent 11 years (2005-2016) as a Humanitarian Response Manager for multiple agencies, including UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, and others.2
- In this capacity, he led humanitarian responses in complex environments across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.2
Skills and Expertise
Christopher is known for his expertise in:
- Negotiation
- Mediation
- Facilitation
- Coordination
- Advocacy
- Transformational processes1
He is particularly passionate about helping early-stage entrepreneurs succeed, using principles of design thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship to solve high-impact problems.1
Philosophy
Christopher's approach to mentoring and investing is characterized by:
- A commitment to lifelong learning
- Deep listening and thinking with entrepreneurs
- A belief that "t=0" (the time is now) for starting entrepreneurial ventures1
His LinkedIn profile states that he is "Making each person the hero of their own story," reflecting his dedication to empowering entrepreneurs and founders.45
