Repeat Builders, founded by Andonis Sakatis, is a Sydney-based venture builder offering $3 million and two years of embedded support to startup founders, aiming to reduce early-stage risks and accelerate startup success.
- Provides $3 million in funding and two years of team support
- Validates startup ideas before matching founders
- Founders retain 30% equity with no service fees
What happened
Repeat Builders was launched in Sydney by entrepreneur Andonis Sakatis to address the high-risk early stage of startup creation, especially in expensive cities where founders often rely on savings while simultaneously fundraising. The model emphasizes validating ideas upfront before forming founding teams, which then receive $3 million in funding and support from an embedded HQ team for two years. This funding covers salaries, product development, marketing, and team growth to reduce the burden founders usually face at launch.
The venture builder takes inspiration from established models like Germany’s Rocket Internet but innovates by inverting the traditional sequence: focusing on evidence-backed ideas before recruiting founders. Founders chosen are required to demonstrate deep domain expertise, strong problem-solving agency, and sustained energy. Founders keep 30% equity, and operations benefit from silent support across multiple key functions without additional fees.
Why it matters
This approach directly targets the systemic risks involved in the early startup phase that cause many new ventures to fail. By eliminating the need for founders to bootstrap and fundraise initially, Repeat Builders allows them to devote their energy fully to developing viable products and businesses. This reduces financial stress and increases the chances of creating a sustainable company.
The embedded team support across engineering, product, talent, and governance also provides a structured environment where founders can focus on executing rather than administrative or fundraising distractions. In the context of the Australian startup ecosystem, this initiative helps lower entry barriers and offers a more accessible path to launch ambitious startups in an expensive urban market.
What to watch next
Repeat Builders plans to launch five ventures in its first year, each backed by its $3 million funding and operational support model. Observers should watch how effectively this pre-validation and founder matching strategy translates into startup success and if it can sustainably scale in the competitive Australian market.
Additionally, monitoring founder experiences and equity outcomes will be key, particularly how the 30% equity stake aligns incentives for growth. The venture builder’s model could represent a new blueprint for startup creation in high-cost cities worldwide if it successfully addresses common failure points early.