What does it take to turn a startup into a billion-dollar business? And how do venture capitalists spot the next big opportunity before the rest of the world catches on?

In this episode of Talk Money To Me, Candice sits down with Maxine Minter, Founder and General Partner of Co Ventures, to take listeners behind the scenes of venture capital where bold ideas meet big money, and the potential rewards can be extraordinary.

From backing ambitious founders to navigating startup valuations, Maxine shares insights into the world of early-stage investing and what separates tomorrow's market leaders from the businesses that never quite make it.

In this episode, we explore:

• The making of a unicorn: What transforms a startup into a business worth over $1 billion?
• The big wins and lessons learned: The successes, setbacks and surprises that shape venture capital investing.
• Backing the right founders: What investors look for when deciding which entrepreneurs deserve their capital.
• The valuation puzzle: How do you put a price on a company that isn't yet profitable?
• The AI gold rush: Are we witnessing a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity, or are valuations getting ahead of themselves?
• The next big opportunity: Which emerging industries could produce the next generation of billion-dollar businesses?
• Women in venture capital: Breaking barriers and creating opportunities for the next generation of female founders.

With AI, private markets and pre-IPO investing capturing increasing investor attention, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into an investment world that most people rarely get to see.

Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur or simply curious about how the world's most successful companies get their start, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Tune in to discover what really makes a unicorn and what happens long before the IPO.

The information discussed in this episode of Talk Money To Me is general in nature and has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute personal financial advice and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs.

Before making any investment decision, you should consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and seek professional financial advice where necessary. Where relevant, you should obtain and consider the applicable Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or other offer documentation before making an investment decision.

Any views, opinions, forecasts or forward-looking statements expressed are those of the speakers as at the recording date of 4th November 2026 and may change without notice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Venture capital and private market investments carry additional risks, including illiquidity, valuation uncertainty and the potential for total loss of invested capital.

Talk Money To Me is hosted by financial advisers at Shaw and Partners Limited (ABN 24 003 221 583, AFSL 236048). Views expressed by guest speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Shaw and Partners Limited.

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The AI trade is under pressure. Microsoft and Google are being questioned over billions in AI spending, while investors are selling some of the biggest names in technology.

But are we witnessing the beginning of an AI bubble bursting or another opportunity to buy quality stocks at a discount?

In this episode Candice Bourke reveals five stocks on her BUY list and is adding them to the Orderpad:

VRT — Why Vertiv's explosive earnings growth makes the sell-off interesting.

AMAT — The semiconductor equipment company powering the AI revolution.

NFLX — Netflix is down significantly since Candice's original April pitch. Why is she still bullish?

MSFT — Is Microsoft becoming too attractive to ignore?

GOOGL — Could investors be underestimating Google's AI opportunity?

Plus, Candice breaks down the AI capital expenditure debate, interest rates, market volatility and why strong earnings don't always translate into higher share prices.

Are you buying the dip or waiting for further weakness? Tell us in the comments!

Subscribe for more market updates, investment insights and Order Pad stock picks.

Instagram: @talkmoneytomepodcast

cftgroup@shawandpartners.com.au

DISCLAIMER

This podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute personal financial advice. It does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. References to securities, ETFs, price targets and investment strategies are not personal recommendations to buy, sell or hold investments. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of capital. Analyst forecasts and price targets are subject to change and may not be achieved. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Information and prices are based on sources available at the time of recording and may change. Consider relevant disclosure documents and seek professional financial advice before making investment decisions.

#AIStocks #StockMarket #Microsoft #Google #Netflix #Vertiv #AMAT #BuyTheDip #Investing #TalkMoneyToMe

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Is the AI boom turning into a debt bubble? And could the enormous cost of financing artificial intelligence infrastructure become the next major risk for global financial markets?

In this episode of Talk Money To Me, Felicity and Candice explore the growing financial risks behind the artificial intelligence investment boom and examine why credit markets are beginning to send some important warning signals.

While investors have focused on the extraordinary growth potential of AI, semiconductors and data centres, another story is emerging beneath the surface: the billions of dollars of debt being used to finance this technological revolution.

Drawing on UBS Global Research's October 2026 report, The AI Debt Financing Monitor: Funding Costs Rise, Fault Lines Emerge, we unpack what is happening across global credit markets, why borrowing costs are increasing and what this could mean for investors heading into 2027.

In this episode, we explore:

• Is AI becoming a debt bubble? Why the enormous capital expenditure required to build AI infrastructure is creating new financial risks.
• The warning signs in credit markets: What rising credit default swap (CDS) spreads are telling us about the financial health of major technology companies.
• The CoreWeave case study: Why unsecured bond yields above 15% highlight the growing risks associated with highly leveraged AI infrastructure businesses.
• The data centre financing boom: How investment-grade bonds, leveraged loans, private credit and asset-backed securities are funding the next generation of AI infrastructure.
• AI investment opportunities: What rising financing costs could mean for NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Broadcom and the broader semiconductor and technology sectors.
• The next AI IPO wave: What developments involving Anthropic, OpenAI, Firmus Technologies and other AI infrastructure businesses could tell us about investor appetite and valuations.
• Are we repeating the dot-com bubble? Why a technology can fundamentally transform the world without every company involved becoming a successful investment.

We also identify the five key indicators investors should monitor as we head into 2027, including hyperscaler capital expenditure, credit spreads, funding costs, data centre utilisation and free cash flow.

Our key takeaway? We remain constructive on the long-term AI investment opportunity, but believe the market is entering a more disciplined phase. The focus is shifting from who can grow the fastest to who can generate sustainable earnings, manage debt and deliver attractive returns on invested capital.

Because being right about the future of artificial intelligence doesn't necessarily mean every AI investment will make money.

Join Felicity and Candice as they unpack the opportunities, risks and potential fault lines emerging behind one of the biggest investment themes of our generation.

🎧 Subscribe to Talk Money To Me for more insights into global markets, investment trends, wealth creation and the themes shaping tomorrow's investment opportunities.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is general in nature and for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute personal financial advice. Always consider your individual circumstances and seek advice from a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.

Recorded: 26 October 2026

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