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Ash Conway

Entrepreneur. Technologist. Investor.

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A little on me
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As a kid, I dreamed of being Michael J. Fox’s Alex Keaton in Family Ties. I saw a lot of myself in him—short, full of business ideas, and always the first to embrace the latest technology. Today, I’m focused on building startups that provide the “pickaxes and shovels” for the AI gold rush. While I eventually got taller, my passion for creating startups, rolling up my sleeves, and turning ideas into reality never wavered. I’m thankful for my early adopter instincts, which continue to guide me toward technology that brings those ideas to life.

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My professional background
 

I began my career as an award-winning designer, gaining early recognition for creative excellence and starting a design agency at 19. Driven by a passion for innovation, I transitioned into technology and business leadership, spending over a decade with global giants such as Cisco, SAP, and Dell, including acqusitions such as IronPort and Business Objects, where I contributed to over $100 million in sales.

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Recognizing a major challenge in application testing, I left my technology executive role to found Bugwolf, a software testing startup. For the past decade, Bugwolf has been my primary focus, allowing me to tackle this industry pain point head-on, driving growth and innovation, and experimenting with new products.

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I have raised capital, and led global software development teams in creating platforms like Bugwolf, Bugdojo, and Etch, all designed to streamline testing and enhance productivity. A notable achievement has been scaling Bugwolf into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, all while remaining bootstrapped and self-funded.

 

More recently, I’ve been at the forefront of AI innovation as the Co-Founder of BakeQA, an AI startup driving growth and impact in software development tools and testing. My leadership continues to advance these cutting-edge technologies and push the boundaries of innovation.

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“You’ve gotta make people feel something if you want them to do something”.

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Things I have built
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  • Maken Movies (2009-2012): I launched a platform to connect aspiring filmmakers with industry producers, enabling the exchange of movie ideas on a global scale. The website gained traction, attracting over 10,000 sign-ups, and allegdly facilitated the creation of a blockbuster film.
     

  • AppHelp (2012-2013): I created AppHelp, a solution designed to boost user retention in mobile apps and address the billion-dollar challenge of post-download engagement. The innovation earned me a spot on the shortlist for the 2012 Y-Combinator summer intake, where I was interviewed.
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  • Bugwolf (2013 - Present): As the Founder & CEO of Bugwolf, I introduced gamified software testing, enabling testers to compete in identifying and reporting bugs. This approach fueled over 250% annual revenue growth, reaching millions in revenue, and building a high-performing team—all achieved while staying bootstrapped.
     

  • Bugdojo (2017-2018): I created Bugdojo as a spin-off from Bugwolf, focused on continuous QA for web applications. Using AI and ML, the platform streamlined regression and functional testing. It integrated with GitHub, and Bitbucket, allowing engineers to trigger Gherkin-based tests directly within their workflows.
     

  • Etch (2019-2021): I developed Etch, a browser-based collaborative note-taking tool designed to enhance team collaboration. Launched as both a web app and browser plugin, Etch uncovered a market opportunity within U.S. universities, securing pre-seed funding and projecting an impressive 7,000% user growth rate in its second year.​

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  • Conway & Co (2019-2021): I established Conway & Co, a personal investment fund focused on U.S.-listed tech companies. The fund achieved break-out success, with early investments in Zoom (+492%), Pinterest (+162%), and Peloton (+445%), among others, delivering a return of +356% over 24 months.
     

  • BakeQA (2023 - Present): I co-founded BakeQA, an app that leverages GenAI to automate software test creation. Integrated seamlessly into existing workflows, it tackles one of the most significant bottlenecks in testing—writing tests. BakeQA empowers teams to focus on testing more scenarios, expanding test coverage, and improving overall software quality.

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“We often overestimate what happens in the short run, and underestimate the long run”.
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The most impressive thing I have achieved
 

While on my honeymoon during the Asian Tsunami, I relied on my knowledge of natural disasters to save my wife and a dozen others. Trusting my instincts and acting decisively amidst disbelief and chaos, I guided them to safety in a moment where every second was critical.

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A time I hacked a non computer system to my advantage
 

At 19, fueled by my passion for business and design, I launched my own advertising agency by persuading a bank manager to grant me a $10,000 loan for my first Apple Mac. I built the agency from scratch, tirelessly knocking on doors, cold-calling prospects, and turning every introduction into an opportunity. Through grit and creativity, the agency quickly earned industry recognition, becoming award-winning and working with some of Australia’s most prominent families and leading brands such as Lavazza Coffee, Redken, and Red Earth.

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“The anticipation of the unknown drives my relentless pursuit of the elusive unicorn”.
 
Awards I have won
 

  • Web Summit Pitch Event, Europe: I was the runner-up at the Web Summit Pitch Event, presenting Bugwolf to an audience of over 4,000 attendees. The pitch showcased our innovative approach and business model, earning widespread recognition.
     

  • Design and Advertising Awards: As the leader of a Melbourne-based design agency, I received multiple design awards for crafting creative and impactful communication strategies that delivered results.
     

  • Sales Excellence at Dell: During my time at Dell, I ranked in the top 1% of sales performers globally, earning several awards for my ability to translate product benefits into tailored customer solutions and consistently exceed targets
     

  • Competition Tennis: Starting tennis just five years earlier, I reached the Semi-Finals of the Kooyong Club Championships and later captained a Victorian Tennis Pennant team to the top of the ladder, ultimately finishing as runners-up in the state finals.


What’s on my mind
 

I make shit happen

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