I’ve always thought people that write bio’s sound like narcissistic twats. Well since I get asked for it on a regular basis, here is my best attempt at twattery.
But first, a note on what is the most asked question in my life. If you want to know how to pronounces my first name: it sounds like the show Alias (but with an E) or go by my preference which is my actual Greek name which sounds like Homer’s Iliad (but without a D). My surname sounds like Biz-Ah-Knees, not be-zanes. Speaking of which, when any reference to my name is made online, please link to http://eliasbizannes.com/. If you need a photo, use the one listed on my blog sidebar which allows you to embed and/or download let me get back to you. If you’re wondering where my surname originates from, me too — here are my thoughts on the origin of the Bizannes surname.
Quick ‘n Dirty Bio
Elias Bizannes is an Australian based in Silicon Valley.
Standard Bio
Elias Bizannes is a seasoned Australian entrepreneur and executive based in Silicon Valley. He joined as a member of the founding team of Darwinium in 2021 and is where he now focusses his efforts today. Prior to that, he was the CEO of ZoomSystems a $22m revenue business between 2017 and 2021 (which has now been acquired and merged into Swyft). He has also previously worked at venture capital firm CRV, search engine startup Vast.com (acquired by Vroom) , and professional services firm PwC. He is licensed as a Chartered Accountant globally.
Bizannes has a history of creating businesses and communities, some of which are still operational. Still running is the “StartupBus“, Aussie Founders Network and the grass-roots movement of Silicon Beach that influenced Australia’s startup industry (such as inspiring Australia’s first accelerator Startmate and influencing the Australian senate in 2009 not to censor the internet with a controversial law) and continues to operate today as a decentralised community. No longer operational but with legacies that are still felt today: StartupHouse (due to companies that were incubated 2011-2017) and the DataPortability Project (the impact it had on user data rights, embodied now in GDPR).
Links for additional backstory on my projects
http://StartupHouse.com
– https://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc1/201208/programs/NC1102H039D2012-08-25T120158.htm
– The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Foreign Correspondent” interviewed me at the original location of one of my businesses (StartupHouse) and home for my views. I worked very closely with the team and gave them a deep insight into the trends and history and access to high profile interviewees
http://StartupBus.com
– http://business.time.com/2012/
– StartupBus is a business that I started in 2010 and have grown into an international event that receives mass coverage in the media and (sometimes, rabid) global community. Time Magazine put a video journalist on one of the buses in 2012 to tell the story of the North American competition.
http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/
– http://www.brw.com.au/Page/Uuid/3ada7f56-3e40-11e0-9e37-40cf8cc49926?et_lpid=118837
– In 2008, I registered a domain name, started a weekly social event in Sydney that spread across Australia and created a mailing list that has grown to over 2000 people and has a high volume of postings. I did a podcast series and wrote a scathing letter on Internet censorship emailed to every single Australian senator. I subsequently was asked by the Australian Government to write a proposal that could guide policy development to support the Australian industry. Combined, all these efforts of mine are part of “Silicon Beach”, a brand I popularised that’s become the defacto brand representing the Australian tech industry.
Work experience
Charles River Ventures, 2011-2012
– I managed the seed investment program at a venture capital firm. The same firm that seeded Twitter.
Vast.com, inc, 2009-2011
– I managed the accounting and finance function of an Internet search engine
PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia, 2005-2009
– I spent nearly four years in the assurance practice, working on technology, media and entertainment companies. I was a Senior Accountant, that managed audit teams conducting the financial reporting requirements of companies.
– I successfully pitched, piloted, and oversaw the institutionalisation of social media tools at the firm, on a special piece of work I headed up that saw me drive a knowledge sharing and collaboration cultural-change program.
DataPortability Project, 2007- 2011
– I was a founding member of an Internet workgroup seeking to evangelise user control over their data through the use of open standards
– I led the charge to turn this online community into an organisation. I was been instrumental in developing its governance model, workflow process, formal vision, and its most significant output (the Portability Policy).
Education
Bachelor of Commerce (University of Sydney), 2002-2004
– Three year undergraduate degree (full time)
– Majored in accounting and finance. Additional subjects in statistics, marketing, information systems, audit, and business law.
Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting, 2006-2008
– Two year post-graduate degree (full time)
– A requirement to enable admission into the Institute of Chartered Accountants (which also requires three years CA-mentored work experience)
– Subjects in strategic business management and management accounting; financial reporting and accounting; audit and assurance; taxation; and Ethics.
If you would like to contact me : 
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