# Steve Maarbani

> Steve (Steven) Maarbani is a Sydney-based corporate lawyer, former PwC partner and VentureCrowd co-founder identified publicly as its CEO. He advised venture fund managers before helping establish the digital alternative-investment platform with Artesian. His public writing advocates wider investment access; VentureCrowd Holdings entered administration in April 2026 and liquidation in July 2026.

- **Role:** Co-founder & CEO at VentureCrowd (publicly identified role; parent company entered liquidation in July 2026)
- **Organizations:** VentureCrowd, Maarbani Consulting, PwC Australia, Sydney Angels, Real Tech Ventures Fund
- **Education:** Master of Laws, University of Sydney
- **Known for:** Helped establish VentureCrowd with Artesian Venture Partners., Advised on the formation of Australian venture capital funds and corporate venture initiatives., Led PwC’s annual Future of Venture Capital briefing.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2013** — Worked as a PwC partner specialising in venture capital and private equity; led its venture capital practice.
- **2013** — VentureCrowd launched; Maarbani helped establish the business with Artesian Venture Partners.
- **2016** — Published a plain-English introduction to early-stage venture capital limited partnerships through Maarbani Consulting.
- **2017** — Authored Real Estate Technology: Threat or Opportunity?, a KPMG and Real Tech Ventures white paper.
- **2019** — Published columns on company purpose, digital investment services and equity crowdfunding.
- **2023** — Outlined plans for Southeast Asian expansion and blockchain-based investment infrastructure.
- **2026** — VentureCrowd Holdings entered administration on 9 April and liquidation on 24 July.

## Achievements

- Helped establish VentureCrowd with Artesian Venture Partners.
- Advised on the formation of Australian venture capital funds and corporate venture initiatives.
- Led PwC’s annual Future of Venture Capital briefing.
- Authored a 2017 white paper on real-estate technology.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Winding-up applications involving four other VentureCrowd-related companies were published, with the liquidated parent as applicant; applications are distinct from court orders.
- **2026-07** — VentureCrowd Holdings entered liquidation on 24 July, according to The Open Register’s account of ASIC notices.
- **2026-07** — On 16 July the Federal Court refused an urgent application for leave to dispose of secured property connected with a proposed restructure, finding the evidence insufficient to establish adequate secured-creditor protection.
- **2026-04** — VentureCrowd Holdings entered administration on 9 April; Maarbani described a corporate debt restructuring and said operating subsidiaries and managed funds were unaffected at that time.
- **2025-07** — Appeared on Funded Futures to discuss the platform’s origins, access, due diligence and leadership lessons.

## Links

- Website: https://maarbaniconsulting.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmaarbani/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/SteveMaarbani/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stevenmaarbani/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/steve-maarbani
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-15