About :

Hello, I’m Benny.

I’m a Gunakurnai & Wotjobaluk man.

Born and raised in Melbourne, I now reside in Darwin with my rebellious partner Rachel and our bougie designer-dog, Maggie.

I’ve done 31 laps around the sun, but others tell me that this isn’t my first life.

I was a better than average athlete who invested more in my teammates than myself. I was a coach's dream and nightmare. Sport is a great classroom and canvas. Life is a paradox.

My athletic resume includes being contracted to the Melbourne Stars and captaining both the Victorian & National Indigenous Cricket Team’s. I am the youngest captain in Northcote Cricket Club’s history and have been recognized with a Life Membership.

Like Robin to Batman, I have primarily worked alongside founders and CEOs. This has been one of the few constants in an ever-changing and evolving professional life.

Now, I’m in the process of founding Buck and taking on Gotham.

Born out of optimistic discontent, Buck is an early-stage VC backing out-of-network founders solving real world problems out of necessity, not opportunity.

To date, I have invested in Spoony, Graphics et al, Zoros AI, and Infinity Studio.

When I’m not being a force-multiplier for founders and social-entrepreneurs, you’ll find me reporting at the convergence of planetary health, state and corporate interests, and Indigenous rights.

You can see my work here: https://linktr.ee/bj.abbatangelo

I am also in the midst of writing a limited-series drama based on Paul Cleary’s book, Title Fight - how an Indigenous leader fought back against a billionaire mining magnate in the underdog legal battle of the century.

Before Buck, I was the Co-CEO and Deputy CEO at AIME, Advisor to the Global CEO at SEEK and Director of Strategy & Investments at First Nations Futures.

I am currently a Board Director at Victoria University Online and an Advisor Bright Moon Trust.

Since covid, I have been intentionally exploring and have prioritize working independently. 

I felt a deep need to be in the world; so I can reflect, think, read, wander, drift, sit, love, listen and learn. 

This has allowed me to be accessible to the evolving needs of frontline communities, collectives and social entrepreneurs doing important work.

I long for the humility and growth that is synonymous with new and not-so-familiar environments.

Working independently has enabled me to seek them out.

As an innate story holder, maker and teller, I have been writing, reporting, producing, and corresponding for an array of domestic and global publications - including VICE, CH4, The The Saturday Paper, New Internationalist, The Guardian, IndigenousX and more. 

Holding and telling stories is a gift.

I have infrequently co-hosted The Project, been a voice of reason across shows like ABC’s Q&A, and moved ideas with institutions such as the The Wheeler Centre, Monash School of Media, Film & Journalism, and the Social Good Outpost at Griffith University. I have also had the privilege to work on incredible productions, including the four-part docuseries, The First Inventors.

In 2023, I was a Walkley Finalist, Australia’s version of the Pulitzer Prize, for a story showcasing the entirely preventable scourge of rheumatic heart disease in the remote Aboriginal community of Doomadgee. 

If you’re:

a) working on a BIG idea or have an important story that needs to be told - anywhere in the world

b) in need of some short-term strategic heft

C) raising capital (pre-seed to seed)

then please get in touch at the details below!