Zani warms to Antarctic plan

Electronic payment entrepreneur Chad Zani has shifted focus from the office to the great outdoors with the first event of his new networking club, The Unstoppables

A co-founder of Ezeatm, Mr Zani resigned as director of the company after a bitter boardroom stoush last year.

He has chosen a very different environment for his new venture, with plans to take 117 ambitious Australian entrepreneurs to Antarctica on an 11-day tour and networking event.

He has the backing of investment management firm JDL Strategies’ founder Julio De’Laffitte, who is underwriting the $1.2 million cost of the trip.

“We chose Antarctica as a destination first on the basis that it’s the sort of place that has an impact,” Mr Zani told Business News.

The tour, scheduled for early 2015, will fly participants from Chile to Antarctica where they will spend nine days on a ship exploring the Antarctic waters.

Networking and mentoring events would be undertaken along the way making using the expertise of those attending.

“For example I floated my company (Ezeatm), so I can talk about what’s involved in taking a company through to initial public offering – creating a prospectus, getting a spread of investors,” Mr Zani said.

He said interest in the expedition had been strong, with 46 people registering their intention to purchase a spot, which costs between $15,000 and $25,000.

Mr Zani has established The Unstoppables with a philosophy focused on entrepreneurial innovation and collaboration.

He said he was already considering other locations for future events, with Russia emerging as an enticing destination.