Charlie talks with the co-founder and former CEO of iiNet, Michael Malone.

A maths graduate with an early interest in the emerging internet, Michael calculated he needed to sign up 200 clients at $25 a month to allow himself access to the Net in 1993. Working out of his parent’s garage in Padbury, he built up one of the largest ISPs in the country with over $1B in sales over the next 20 years, taking on industry giants and even Hollywood studios.

One of WA’s true tech success stories, Michael is now a non-executive director at Seven West Media and NBN Co, as well as an investor in several startups and tech businesses.

“It’s pretty special when you’re sitting down with an 18-year-old (South African) kid, we were paying 6 times the average national income, youth unemployment was 50% at the time, and that 18-year-old kid can buy his Mum her first house.” ~ Michael Malone.

For more: https://iinet.net.au/customers/

and https://www.perth.net.au/

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Startup West is recorded at Riff studios in beautiful downtown Perth, Western Australia; produced by Startup News, edited by Carmen Yee Kai Wen and brought to you thanks to support from the New Industries Fund, Spacecubed, Curtin University, RSM, the City of Perth and Dinner Twist.

Startup West acknowledges the Whadjuk Nyoongar people, traditional owners of the lands and waters of Perth, where this podcast was recorded, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.