Chris Kirk is stepping away from national startup hub Stone & Chalk after 2.5 years as CEO and 10 years as a founding team member.
Kirk wrote to the organisation’s “alumni” on Wednesday afternoon to say he’ll step down on April 10 as part of a planned transition.
“This hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s been a deeply considered one, and I believe it’s the right moment,” he wrote.
“When I joined the founding team in 2015, Stone & Chalk was just an idea on a page. We started with 41 startups in a building marked for demolition. I could never have imagined we’d grow to support more than 3,000 Australian startups and scaleups, or play a role in helping founders raise over $4 billion in capital along the way.”
Stone & Chalk chair Richard Kimber praised his contribution.
“Chris took on the CEO role with a clear purpose: to build a stronger Stone & Chalk for founders,” he said.
“Chris is a passionate champion of entrepreneurs and a values-driven leader. On behalf of the Board, I thank Chris for the impact he has had on Stone & Chalk and the community we serve.”
Financial turnaround
Kirk was previously general manager of the Adelaide Stone & Chalk hub at Lot Fourteen, which he launched there in 2019 in partnership with the South Australian government.
He took on the top job in September 2023 at a challenging time for the organisation, following the sudden departure of the former CEO. The nonprofit business posted combined losses of $8.45 million over two years to June 2023, ballooning to $6.95m that financial year.
At the time, the board declared “there is a material uncertainty related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on whether the company will continue as a going concern”.
Kirk and his team spent the next six months righting the ship to fortify Stone & Chalk’s financial position, securing additional funding and securing organisation’ and secure ‘s long-term sustainability.
Stone & Chalk forged a strong relationship with the NSW government during the turbulent relocation of the Sydney Startup Hub, where it was a founding tenant, last year. The organisation now runs the 8,000 sqm Tech Central Innovation Hub (formerly the Scaleup Hub) at 477 Pitt Street, near Sydney’s Central Station, and also has hubs in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Last year Kirk hosted celebrations for Stone & Chalk’s 10th anniversary at the Innovation Hub, celebrating some of the more than 3000 of startups that have passed through the organisation’s doors over that time.
“I’ve grown up alongside the startup community. I’ve watched technology startups move from a side-show to a central driver of our nation’s future prosperity,” he said.
The hunt for a new CEO is already well advanced with a shortlist confirmed. The Board will announce the incoming CEO in the coming months.
Family time
After transforming the business in the last two years, Kirk is planning a short break with his two young children, then “turning my attention back to where I can have the greatest impact in shaping the next wave of companies, platforms, and future industries”.
The outgoing CEO praised the organisation’s team, saying “They have created a culture where founders help founders by default, and that legacy will outlast any CEO.”
Kirk said watching the startups at Stone & Chalk, he learned that companies have seasons.
“I believe the best way to lead a company you love is to know exactly when to leave it. Stone & Chalk’s foundation is solid; our mission to support 10,000 Australian success stories over the next 10 years is clear,” he said.
“Now is the right time for a new leader to drive that mission forward.
“To the founders who trusted us with their ambitions, the partners who backed the vision, and the Stone & Chalk team who make magic happen daily, thank you.”
