More than just an event. This is your space.
For People professionals building the teams, culture, and practices that fuel startup success. On 31 July 2025, we gathered to share the real, unfiltered playbooks of startup People experts who have done it before—real expertise, no fluff, just actionable strategies that move the needle. Now, you can access it all.
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People fuel startup success.
But scaling the teams, culture, and practices that drive growth is no small feat.
We assembled a powerhouse lineup of People experts with firsthand startup experience to share practical, no-fluff insights—real strategies that drive real impact. From attracting and retaining top talent to building scalable systems, every session delivered actionable takeaways you can apply.
& Experts
Over 5 Tracks
Day
If you’re a startup People professional, the job you’re in is one of the most complex and consequential in any startup.
You’re the recruiter, the cultural architect, the comp expert, the mental health support, the coach, the corporate historian, the moral barometer—and often the person making sure the office snacks are stocked. You’re expected to have the EQ of a therapist, the foresight of a strategist, and the compliance knowledge of a lawyer, all without becoming a bottleneck.
And often, you carry this responsibility alone.
The Startup People Summit exists because this is the part no one else talks about. We spend so much time making work better for everyone else, and so little time in a space where we are the priority—until now.
This is our room.
—Matt McFarlane, Founder
2025 Schedule
Where today’s People leaders shape tomorrow’s workplaces
Recorded live Thursday, 31 July 2025 | 09:00am to 04:00pm AEST
TRACK 1
Connect & Recharge
A rhythm-setting track for special moments, community connection, sponsor demos, and guided breathwork. Designed to help you reset, reflect, and recharge throughout this epic event.
TRACK 2
Leading at Scale
Big-picture thinking for startup leaders and people pros navigating growth, strategy, culture, and team performance at speed.
TRACK 3
Culture by Design
Tactical, human-centred sessions on building intentional, inclusive, and scalable workplace cultures that actually work.
TRACK 4
Systems for People Teams
The tools, tech, and frameworks behind every strong People function—built for scale, simplicity, and impact.
TRACK 5
Talent & Growth
Smart hiring, onboarding, development, and performance strategies to help teams grow with purpose and precision.
2025 Speakers
Meet the experts shaping startup People practices
An all-star roster of leading People professionals, startup operators, and founders who have built and scaled high-performing teams—and generously shared what really works.
Powered by brands that are empowering startups
Startup People Summit 2025 was made possible with the support of our major sponsors
We were also proudly sponsored by
Post event ADD-ONS
Catch up on what you missed
With five tracks running across the first‑ever Startup People Summit, even the most committed note‑takers couldn’t catch it all live.
Now, you don’t have to miss a thing.
The SPS 2025 On‑Demand channel is ready. Packed with 40+ session recordings from every track, game‑changing ideas from all our speakers, and 12 months to watch, rewatch, and take notes at your own pace.
Just a reminder: If you’re a Unicorn Pass holder, you already have On‑Demand access included. No need to purchase an add‑on — you’re already all set!
SPS On-Demand
Get access to every single session recording from the summit—all five tracks, all speakers, all the insights. Learn on your schedule and replay your favourites any time over (and over again).
40+ session recordings from every track
12 months to watch, rewatch, and take notes at your own pace
Stay in the loop
Be the first to know about event updates, speaker announcements, bonus content, and all the good stuff happening in the lead-up to Startup People Summit 2025.
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