Fundraising Fox

Les Delaforce

Investor

Venture Partner at Melt Ventures

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

About

Les Delaforce leads research and development initiatives at Rio Tinto focused on artificial intelligence, robotics, and environmental analytics. He is a venture partner at Melt Ventures and non-executive director of AIM WA, with prior experience as founder and chief executive of a venture-backed AI data analytics company that exited in 2019. Delaforce previously managed innovation and technology portfolios at Minderoo and serves on several government and industry boards.

Experience

  1. Rio TintoResearch and Developmentcurrent2024 — present
  2. Melt VenturesVenture Partnercurrent2022 — present
  3. AIM WABoard Membercurrent2026 — present
  4. Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and InnovationWA Aboriginal Business, Trade and Investment Board - Advisory Board Membercurrent2023 — present
  5. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and TradeAustralian Advisory Board Member2025 — 2026
  6. Minderoo FoundationHead of Indigenous Entrepreneurship & Impact Projects2020 — 2024Perth, WA
  7. Water CorporationHead of Innovation2020 — 2021
  8. DreamSpark CoManaging Director2018 — 2021Greater Perth Area
  9. Tank Stream LabsState Director2018 — 2020Perth, Australia
  10. CovocateCo-Founder & Managing Director2015 — 2019
  11. Government of Western AustraliaWA State Government – Various roles2009 — 2015

Education

  1. Australian Institute of Company DirectorsCompany Directors Course2025
  2. Curtin UniversityMaster of Business Administration - MBA2022 — 2024
  3. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyRegional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program2022 — 2023
  4. Australian Institute of ManagementAdvanced Diploma of Management2011 — 2013
  5. Princeton UniversityBlockchain and Cryptocurrency Technologies2017
  6. University of NicosiaDigital Currencies - Bitcoin, Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies2017

Skills & more

Social Entrepreneurship4Innovation Consulting3Executive Development1New Business DevelopmentStrategic PartnershipsBusiness TransformationStartupsPartnershipsInnovation DevelopmentInvestment Strategies1Digital TransformationStrategic Corporate Philanthropy
+12 moreOrganizational LeadershipStrategic LeadershipGovernmentChange ManagementStrategyProgram ManagementStakeholder EngagementProject ManagementBudgetsStrategic PlanningManagementTeam Leadership
  • Company Directors Course — Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Design-Led Strategy: Design thinking for business strategy and entrepreneurship — University of Sydney

From Les's professional profile.

Colleagues at Melt Ventures

Alan Spicer
Operations & Governance at Melt Ventures
Clint Bruin
Engineer in Residence at Melt Ventures
Hamish Rogers
Analyst at Melt Ventures
James Douglas
Venture Partner at Melt Ventures
Jason Faulkner
Venture Partner at Melt Ventures
Nathan Kirchner
Venture Partner at Melt Ventures
Paul Howdle
Venture Partner at Melt Ventures
Steph Hinds
Managing Partner at Melt Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Where does Les Delaforce work?
Les Delaforce is Venture Partner at Melt Ventures.

Same school

Also attended Australian Institute of Company Directors136

John DysonInvestment Principal at Starfish VenturesHelen SounessVenture Partner at RampersandTim HeasleyPartner at ArtesianKirsten BernhardtPrincipal at ArtesianJordan JeffreyPrincipal at ArtesianStephanie MorrisPrincipal at Artesian

+ 130 more

Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,281

Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars

+ 1,275 more

Also attended Australian Institute of Management7

Vela GeorgievCOO and Operating Partner at Tenacious VenturesMark KalajzichProduct at Tidal VenturesAleta KnowlesInvestment Manager - Biotechnology at UniSeed Pty Ltd.Quentin WallaceVenture Partner at Archangel VenturesSteve YorkBoard Member at PledgeMeNate SturckeHead of Impact at PLUS EIGHT

+ 1 more

Also attended Princeton University551

Fabrice GrindaCo-founder & Managing Partner at FJ LabsAndrewAdvisor at Clear VenturesChristal NgAssociate at Golden Gate VenturesDavid CoatsManaging Director & Co-Founder at Correlation VenturesDan MoreheadFounder & CEO at Pantera CapitalHoward CoxSpecial Limited Partner at Greylock Partners

+ 545 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation1

Tamryn BarkerSector Director, Mining & Nature at Founders Factory

Also worked at Minderoo Foundation7

Kelsee SewellExecutive Assistant & Operations Lead at TenmileJohn HartmanInvestment Committee Member; CEO of Tattarang and Minderoo Foundation at TenmileSteve BurnellManaging Director; Chair of the Investment Committee at TenmileTanisha BanaszczykInvestment Advisor at Folklore VenturesDr Andrew ForrestFounder at TattarangSuzy MontandonGeneral Counsel at Tattarang

+ 1 more

Also worked at Tank Stream Labs1

MarkusGeneral Partner & Co-Founder at Side Stage Ventures

Also worked at Government of Western Australia1

Charlotta KempProgram & Community Lead, Perth at Founders Factory