ARIA INNOVATOR - Creative Entrepreneurship: How to Make It Pay

Creative Entrepreneurship: How to Make It Pay
Featuring Solai Valliappan, Natalie and Ricky Kradolfer, moderated by Megan Brownlow

Turning creativity into a sustainable business is no easy feat, but it’s possible with the right strategy. In this session, music entrepreneurs Natalie and Ricky Kradolfer (Amplify Music Education) and venture capital expert Solai Valliappan will share practical insights into securing funding and scaling creative ventures. From securing investment to building a globally competitive business, this session will provide actionable takeaways for artists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders alike.

About the panel
Solai Valliappan
Technology investor, advisor and board director
Prior to her involvement in the investment space, she qualified as an Actuary and progressed to the position of Chief of Staff in the Australian business of the global insurer Zurich. In 2017 she joined a telco startup where she wore many hats but predominantly worked on the finance side of the business. It was during this time, whilst building systems and reporting for the startup’s investors and board members, that she became increasingly curious about venture capital investing.
Using money originally set aside for an MBA, Solai began angel investing, gradually building a portfolio of investments in the areas of climate and enterprise software. Solai has been investing and advising in the Australian startup ecosystem for seven years, which has included consulting for family offices, accelerators and startups.
She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chair of Forever Projects, a not-for-profit working with local partners to help create a self-sustaining future for Tanzanian women, she is also a member of the finance committee for Sydney Writers’ Festival.

Ricky & Natalie Kradolfer
Co-founders, Amplify Music Education
Amplify Music Education was co-founded by music educator Ricky Kradolfer and wife Natalie Kradolfer, with the goal to ensure that every student has access to contemporary, inspiring and engaging music lessons at school, that meet the curriculum.
Ricky, front-man turned in-demand music educator and Natalie, marketer and music industry professional, combined their complimentary skillsets to create a world-class, media rich, technology platform, that would completely reimagine how music is taught in the classroom. They knew it had to be equally teacher and student focused – super easy for teachers to use and really engaging for students.
Since launching in 2022, Amplify Music Education has grown rapidly and is now used by over 700 schools across Australia. After being named on the Australian Financial Review Fast Starters list in 2024, Amplify is continuing on its steep growth trajectory both locally and internationally and is expanding their product offering into the other performing art forms in the curriculum, dance and drama.

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