
During this week’s roundtable, we had two founders pitch their ideas. Remember, not all business ideas are viable. And the vast majority of business ideas are not fundable.
Farmience
First we had Tejas M K from Chennai, India, pitch Farmience I advised him to narrow down his target market and validate unit economics. There’s a very good chance that this business is not viable, nor fundable.
Fly
Next, we had Rhi Gladney from Las Vegas, Nevada, pitch Fly. This business idea could be built as a bootstrapped 2-sided marketplace with much tighter positioning.
We’re hearing a tremendous amount of complaints about bias against solo entrepreneurs in the incubator, accelerator and venture capital eco-system.
Let me be very clear: 1Mby1M categorically supports solo entrepreneurs. Our accelerator is designed to incubate, accelerate and scale solo and bootstrapped founders. We believe solo entrepreneurship will explode in 2026. If you are looking for an accelerator that explicitly supports solo entrepreneurs, 1Mby1M is your partner. Please join us. We welcome you with open arms. Solo entrepreneurs succeed more often than you think.
You can listen to the recording here:

Sydney is, without question, the epicenter of Australia’s startup activity. It’s where the country’s capital markets, banking ecosystem, and investor networks converge. It’s also home to the headquarters or APAC bases of many global technology giants—Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Atlassian, Canva—all of which feed talent, capital, and credibility into the ecosystem. Yet, despite all this, the Accelerator Conundrum is particularly acute here. Sydney founders are under immense pressure to “go big fast,” and many lose sight of the fundamentals early.
>>>This article summarizes Australia’s Startup Accelerator Ecosystem, looks at the impact of AI layoffs and compares 1Mby1M to the top startup accelerators across key dimensions.

Australia is large, geographically fragmented, and culturally diverse—but its startup ecosystem for IT and IT-enabled services is increasingly coherent, globally competitive, and full of promise. Cities like Sydney and Melbourne dominate in scale and investment, but smaller capitals like Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Canberra are rising fast.
>>>Sramana Mitra: Yanni, you said you are investing in superintelligence. Tell me more about what you’ve invested in and your thesis on superintelligence.
>>>This article summarizes the top accelerators for entrepreneurs who want to focus on validation in Auckland, comparing them to 1Mby1M.
Guest Author Sareena Bilal | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra
One of the most common pitfalls for startups is the Validation Vacuum — founders assume product-market fit without rigorous testing, leading to wasted resources and failed launches. In Auckland’s competitive ecosystem, early-stage entrepreneurs need accelerators that emphasize systematic validation of ideas, customers, and revenue models before scaling.
>>>This article summarizes the top accelerators for entrepreneurs interested in building real unicorns in Auckland, comparing them to 1Mby1M.
Guest Author Sareena Bilal | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra
Many startups chase rapid growth and hype, believing that speed alone guarantees success. This often leads to the Velocity Mirage, where founders prioritize growth metrics over sustainable business fundamentals, resulting in failure despite high early traction. Auckland entrepreneurs aiming to build real unicorns must focus on disciplined scaling, solid revenue, and strategic fundraising.
>>>This article summarizes the top accelerators for entrepreneurs focused on bootstrapping before blitzscaling in Auckland, comparing them to 1Mby1M.
Guest Author Sareena Bilal | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra
Many startups fall into the trap of blitzscaling out of the gate, chasing rapid growth and large funding rounds before validating their business models. While hype-driven acceleration can seem appealing, it often leads to premature scaling, cash burn, and high failure rates. Auckland founders are increasingly recognizing the value of Bootstrapping First, Raising Money Later, to build a solid foundation before scaling aggressively.
>>>This article summarizes the top accelerators for personalized investor introductions in Auckland, comparing them to 1Mby1M.
Guest Author Sareena Bilal | Reviewed by Sramana Mitra
Connecting with the right investors is a critical factor for startup success. Many accelerators rely on Demo Days, where founders present briefly to a large audience of investors. While Demo Days provide visibility, they often fail to create meaningful, curated connections — particularly for startups that need strategic introductions rather than mass pitching.
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