Google giant flies down under on board Myriad Air

The founder and the first CEO of Google Ventures will be on board Myriad Air alongside leading entrepreneurs and investors from Silicon Valley bound for Brisbane next month.

Bill Maris, an influential tech financier and formally trained neuroscientist founded Google Ventures where he managed a $2.5 billion fund and invested in more than 400 companies like Nest, Uber, Flatiron Health, Cloudera, Carbon 3D, Slack, The Climate Corporation and 23andme.

He’s also the creator of Google's Calico project, a multi-billion dollar company focused on the genetics of aging.

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said she was proud Maris would headline the future of health discussions at this year’s Festival.

“Queensland is leading the nation in health and life sciences research and development. Having someone of Bill Maris’s calibre on board Myriad Air will inspire some of our greatest thinkers to continue to move forward in the health sector,” she said. 

“Myriad Air promises to be one of the biggest mid-air networking events ever staged, with an exciting in-flight program of cutting edge conversation, pitching and collaboration.

“We’re backing Myriad because we want to create the jobs of the future in Queensland and we know that promoting local startups and entrepreneurs is an important part of that strategy.”

Myriad CEO Martin Talvari said this was a major coup for the Festival and urged startups and entrepreneurs to secure a ticket on board Myriad Air before they sell out.

"Myriad's measurement for success is all about the genuine connections that are made. These connections will begin on board Myriad Air, with some of the most progressive people on earth, and continue through to the main event here in Brisbane."

Myriad Air was created through a partnership with the Queensland Government and uses a chartered Qantas Boeing 747 to link Silicon Valley, the world’s epicentre for technology, startups and venture capital and Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, home of the 2018 Myriad Festival.

The flight departs San Francisco International Airport on May 12 and arrives in Brisbane on May 14.

Tickets are available now at www.myriad.org/myriad-air

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