Meet the Founder of S-Core Group, David Jackson

David is proudly Group Managing Director of the AFR Fast Starter companies that are part of the S-Core Group of companies, Web3 experts; S2M Digital Recruitment, DSi Professionals – IT Service’s and ASR Recruitment a generalist recruitment firm based in Newcastle, with Bell Recruitment soon to rank there too!

He was the inaugural CEO and Director at Blockchain Australia and is Co-Founder of Australia’s Blockchain incubator and capital partners fund BLOCKLabs Australia and DION Capital while taking out a nomination in the 2021 Blockies as Community Leader of the Year!

He is a serial entrepreneur (having started just as many failed businesses as currently operating), an avid crypto analyst, and angel investor to early-stage businesses in Australia, Asia, and the USA, and has over 27 years of experience founding and mentoring successful start-ups across Australia, Asia, and the United States.

David’s passion for supporting innovation in Australia and beyond led him to become an active member of fintech incubator, Stone & Chalk, and tech accelerator, BlueChilli, and the founder of Australia’s largest Blockchain MeetUp Crypto Sydney. Former Chairman of ASX: RFN and management committee of angel group Sydney Angels Inc.,

David is a mentor at Sydney University’s accelerator program, visit the link here, and also mentors at UNSW University’s entrepreneur program. David is a true business visionary who is well renowned for his energy, passion, drive, and ability to think outside the box. Not to mention, frank honesty!

For more details, visit their website here. Here we sit down with David, to know a bit more about his journey as an entrepreneur.

Q. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

David: My Grandmother was my inspiration. She was raised in a little place called Kurry Kurry, her father was a miner who later owned a small coal mine only to lose it in the Great Depression, and from that time on my Grandmother as a young 18-year-old set out to create her own wealth talking herself into a job in a typing school, buying a small hairdressing salon, expanding it to 3, and owning a few dress shops. Pushed by my desire to make my own decisions not be told what to do, to create something I can call my own, to create real wealth and above all have fun doing something you don’t call work.

Q. How did you get started?

David: I always knew I wanted my own business and finally at the age of 29 I decided to get a job and work for someone to learn a trade. I was looking at a career in sales and started answering adverts in the Sydney Morning Herald. The first interview I had was with Xerox to sell photocopiers, thankfully I didn’t land that job, next up was an interview with a UK recruitment company launching in Australia, the advert appealed to me as there was an opportunity to travel with this group and equity was on the table too. The rest is history, I lasted two years there; no equity was provided so I went off and started my own company.

Q. What was your biggest startup challenge? What steps did you take to overcome it? What did you learn?

David: My biggest challenge was finding someone to partner with me to help manage the business. I knew I couldn’t create a decent business without a partner, without someone who also had skin in the game and believed in my vision, someone who could work with my passion, and someone who understood me.

Q. What is the Most Memorable Thing You’ve Done Since you Started your Business?

David: Having all our companies listed in the AFR Fast 100. Memorable, and proud.

Q. What is one book you recommend, and why?

David: Making Money Made Simple – Noel Whittaker. Why the title says it all. His books are great.

Q. What are your top 3 favourite online apps, tools, or resources and what do you love about them?

• WhatsApp – the immediacy of responses – I once placed 7 people in a global startup launching in Australia all via WhatsApp.
• Discord – I’m mad at researching the latest Web3 technology plays and that’s where the communities are.
• Netflix – is great for filling in time traveling.

Q. In terms of legacy, what is the mark you’d like to leave on the world?

David: Great question, maybe ask me in 10 years, but if I leave no other legacy, except a happy and successful family of direct descendants I’ll be happy.

Q. In one sentence, what’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?

David: It’s not always all about hard work, there is a degree of the timing of luck but you don’t create that luck without setting goals and getting stuck in!

To keep up to date with David and his journey, connect with him on LinkedIn.