# Sam Chandler

> Sam Chandler is an Australian entrepreneur and investor who co-founded Nitro in Melbourne in 2005, led its 2019 ASX listing, and left as CEO in March 2023 following its takeover. Based in London, he is founder and managing partner of Laneway Ventures and co-founder and chairman of Dear Coco Coffee. His work connects software company building, startup mentoring and investment in businesses beyond technology.

- **Role:** Founder & Managing Partner at Laneway Ventures; Co-Founder & Chairman at Dear Coco Coffee
- **Organizations:** Laneway Ventures, Dear Coco Coffee, Nitro (co-founder and former CEO), Startmate (investor and mentor), Bloom Equity Partners (operating advisor, listed in archived team biography), Australian Communities Foundation (former board member), Aliqua, Web Logic Interactive
- **Nationality:** Australian
- **Education:** Bachelor of Business, RMIT University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Nitro and served as its CEO from 2005 until March 2023., Led Nitro’s 2019 ASX listing., Built Nitro before its A$561 million acquisition in 2023.

## Career timeline

- **Age 16** — Started his first business while at high school.
- **Age 21** — Started a second business while attending university.
- **2005** — Co-founded Nitro in Melbourne in May.
- **2007** — Nitro raised a $1 million angel round led by Andrew Barlow.
- **2008** — Moved to San Francisco; Nitro established its headquarters there in 2009.
- **2012-2013** — Nitro raised about $6.5 million from Starfish Ventures.
- **2014** — Nitro raised $15 million from Battery Ventures; Chandler received EY Australian Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year recognition.
- **2019** — Led Nitro’s listing on the Australian Securities Exchange.
- **2021** — Nitro announced its agreement to acquire Connective for €70 million.
- **2023** — Nitro was acquired in a transaction valued at A$561 million; Chandler left as CEO on 29 March.
- **2024** — Founded Laneway Ventures and became an investor, co-founder and chairman at Dear Coco.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Nitro and served as its CEO from 2005 until March 2023.
- Led Nitro’s 2019 ASX listing.
- Built Nitro before its A$561 million acquisition in 2023.
- Named EY Australian Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014.
- Helped finance Dear Coco’s expansion through Laneway Ventures.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Dear Coco CEO Ant Duckworth described the company as operating five locations and employing twenty people, following Chandler’s 2024 investment.
- **2024-10** — Chandler promoted Dear Coco’s expansion films and a joint founders’ question-and-answer session.
- **2023-03** — Departed as Nitro CEO on 29 March following the change of control to Potentia.

## Links

- Website: https://www.laneway.vc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandlersam/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/nitro_sam

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sam-chandler
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25