Meet Laura: Building the World’s Most Human-Like AI with Koby Paull
Koby Paull is the founder of Laura.ai — your most emotionally intelligent, voice-first AI companion. Laura isn’t just another assistant; she listens, reflects, and feels like a presence in your life. From picking up emotional cues in your tone to remembering your patterns and moods, Laura is designed to feel human, not robotic.Before building Laura, Koby gained experience across IT, systems engineering, and cybersecurity — working on risk management, data protection, and secure systems for defense-linked organizations. That background in security and infrastructure gave him a unique foundation to design AI that is not only emotionally intelligent but also safe, resilient, and trustworthy.In this episode, Koby shares why emotional intelligence is the missing piece in AI, how Laura was designed to “feel real,” and what the future looks like when humans form genuine bonds with technology.Laura : https://www.meetlaura.ai/Koby Paull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kobypaull/
--------
50:05
--------
50:05
From Brazil to Unicorn: Scaling Startups and Solving Big Tech Challenges with Rafael Magalhães
Rafael Magalhães has spent over 15 years building and leading in tech — from hands-on coding to managing multi-team engineering groups. He played a key role in scaling a startup to over 500,000 users and achieving unicorn status, while also founding his own consulting firm, ProjectPix.In this episode, Rafael shares his journey from Brazil to Australia, the critical technical decisions behind scaling resilient systems, and how he led teams through rapid growth, acquisitions, and high-pressure challenges. He also dives into the future of mobile and AI, and what founders and developers must know to succeed in today’s fast-changing tech landscape.Whether you’re a startup founder, engineering leader, or developer aiming for impact, Rafael’s story offers a practical blueprint for building scalable technology — and sustainable teams.Rafael Magalhães : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-o-magalhaes/
--------
1:16:46
--------
1:16:46
Before the Buzz: Building the 9-5 Startup Community
This special episode was recorded just before the doors opened at our first-ever 9-5 Startup Networking Event in Sydney. We sat down to talk about the kind of community we want to create — one that brings together founders, students, and professionals in AI, tech, and startups for meaningful connection and collaboration.You’ll hear behind-the-scenes thoughts on why we started 9-5 Startup, what makes this community different, and our vision for future events. Whether you’re an early-stage founder, an industry pro, or just curious about Australia’s growing startup scene, this conversation gives you a front-row seat to our mission before the very first handshake of the night.
--------
25:17
--------
25:17
Building MindMate: From Code to Compassion – A Serial Entrepreneur’s AI Wellness Journey
What does it take to turn code into a compassionate AI companion for mental wellness?In this episode, we sit down with Jonatas Lira, Brazilian-Australian entrepreneur and founder of MindMate AI—a 24/7 mental wellness app that blends AI, psychology, and mobile tech to deliver personalized emotional support. From his software development roots in Recife to launching one of Australia’s most thoughtful health platforms, Jonatas shares how personal experience, technical skill, and empathy come together to create meaningful products.We explore the realities of building a solo-founder app, the design principles behind sensitive AI tools, and how privacy, trust, and user care are woven into every interaction. Whether you’re a developer, founder, or mental health advocate, this conversation offers practical lessons and inspiration for creating technology that truly listens.Jonatas Lira Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonataslr/MindMate AI on the App Store
--------
43:36
--------
43:36
Expanding and Fundraising in APAC: Smart City Startup Lessons from Vitaly Pentegov
How do you scale a smart city startup across APAC while navigating cultural gaps, government collaboration, and regional investor dynamics?In this episode, we speak with Vitaly Pentegov, founder and CEO of UrbanChain Group, a global AIoT company deploying smart parking and mobility infrastructure in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and the U.S. Drawing from a background at Google, SMBC, and years in investment banking and civic tech, Vitaly shares firsthand strategies for launching and fundraising in Asia-Pacific markets.Topics include:Balancing hardware-software development across citiesInsights from 500 Global Japan acceleratorStructuring government partnershipsLeading multicultural, distributed teamsBuilding urban tech with social impactPerfect for startup founders, operators, and VCs focused on Asia-Pacific and smart infrastructure innovation.Vitaly Pentegov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitaly-pentegov-8058509a/
Can you build a global tech company and still finish work at 5?
9-5 Startup explores how Australia’s startup culture combines work-life balance with global ambition.
We speak with startup founders, investors, and industry experts to understand how innovation grows in a system that values both lifestyle and results.
For international investors, students, and professionals
— this podcast offers real insights into Australia’s growing tech economy.
Australia