Let’s talk about startups in 2023.

Great businesses are born out of challenging times.

It’s a sentiment you’ve probably heard a few times this year, including from yours truly. If you look at the Great Recession of the late 2000s, there are plenty of examples to prove this point: Airbnb, Venmo, WhatsApp and Slack.  

However, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you’re in the thick of it–bank collapses, business closures, rising interest rates, customers and companies cutting spending, layoffs, and more. 

But the light is there.

We’ve compiled a handful of stories from the AirTree portfolio to showcase the triumphs of 2023. From the blue sky thinkers who’ve spotted a new gap, to the founders deftly navigating the rocky road to success, there’s a bunch of canny case studies to corroborate our sentiment. 

Some you may have read headlines about; others have flown under the radar. Either way, once you’ve had a read-through, you’ll get the feeling something’s in the water down under–Aussie and Kiwi founders are genuinely world-class, and we’re in for a treat in 2024 and beyond. 

Happy reading!

The Airtree team 🌳

Check out the stories below:

• Part 1: Exporting ambition
• Part 2: Unwavering momentum
• Part 3: Omnipresent innovation