After eight mighty years as CEO of Startmate, Michael Batko (aka Batko) is passing the baton onto Phoebe Pincus (prev COO), effective immediately.
As a team, we are incredibly grateful to Batko and equally excited for what’s ahead with Phoebe at the helm.
Batko has been the driving force behind Startmate since 2018. Under his leadership, we've backed over 220 companies with first cheques, launched new programs for founders, students, operators and angels, raised over $50m across our funds, and helped thousands of people find their place in the startup ecosystem.
Why leave?
“Eight years is a long time to lead anything. I never thought I’d stay anywhere this long. I joined Startmate to learn how to build my own startup, so I truly overstayed that purpose. I’ve learned so incredibly much over the last eight years, but now I’m ready for my next big challenge and chapter of my career.”
What’s next?
“I’ll be taking a good few months to reflect and spend time with my family. I want to find something I can dedicate my next 10 years to, so I’m in no rush. In the meantime, I’ll be exec coaching other CEOs. I’ll shadow them, sit in on all their meetings for an intense, real-time week of coaching. This will be a fun interim challenge to impart my hard-earned lessons, whilst seeing how other CEOs operate in their day-to-day.”
Startmate today looks vastly different from the company Batko joined all those years ago. It’s now a humming ecosystem of ambition, impact and community - and that's largely thanks to him.
“To say Batko left Startmate in a better place than when he took the reins would be an embarrassing understatement. Batko literally re-founded Startmate, and Australia thanks him for it. And the impact he’s made in the last eight years will continue to snowball into the future.” Niki Scevak, Startmate Founder / Blackbird Co-CEO
As Batko steps into his next chapter, we’re thrilled to announce that Phoebe Pincus will be stepping up as Startmate’s new CEO.
.jpg)
Phoebe joined the team in 2021 as Chief of Staff, became COO two years later and has since been across everything from fundraising and operations to community growth. She’s been instrumental in shaping the Startmate you see today. Her love for founders runs deep, and her vision for what comes next is exciting.
"Startmate is in a strong position," Phoebe says. "I'm focused on deepening the work we do for founders and our community."
Batko’s legacy runs deep. Now, we’re backing Phoebe to take Startmate even further.
And so, a new chapter begins.
