Joan’s Index

I write a bi-weekly newsletter, featuring essays on tech, humans and economics.

Founder / Writer

MODA DAO

Advisor

Flare

Director Of Communications

Fishburners

Head Of Marketing

Joan Westenberg is a seasoned writer focused on tech and economics. She was honoured as one of the top 100 innovators by the Australian. Joan has written for Wired, The Australian Financial Review, the SF Chronicle, The Saturday Paper, Chainsaw, Yahoo,  TIME, Inc, the ABC, Crikey and others. Beyond her writing, Joan is an advisor to Culture Vault and MODA DAO, fusing her technological expertise with her passion for cultural innovation. Joan has spoken at SXSW, NFTfest, Microsoft Ignite, Web Summit etc.

Joan Westenberg

Tokenise

Tokenise is building agentic infrastructure for the future of digital assets. From no-code token models to real-time risk tracking, we give builders and investors the tools to create smarter, safer economies.

I lead operations across product, GTM, and investor strategy, scaling the platform and growing our global footprint.

Chief Operating Officer

DROP

Leading the commercial strategy for DROP, a digital music platform, driving platform growth and strategic partnerships. Oversee sales operations, marketing strategies, and business development, fostering deeper creator-audience connections through innovative technology.

Co-Founder Commercial & Operations

Emanate 

Led commercial sales and operations for Emanate, a platform facilitating instant payment splitting for music rights holders. Negotiated high-value deals, built strategic partnerships, and drove platform scalability while working with a global team to shape the Future of Music.

Stocard - Your Mobile Wallet

Drove the growth and development of strategic partnerships with key retail brands. My focus was on expanding Stocard’s platform by building strong relationships with retailers, enhancing customer loyalty, and increasing user engagement. I collaborated closely with partners to implement innovative digital marketing and in-app strategies, helping them leverage Stocard’s technology to reach and engage their target audiences effectively

Director of Retail Partnerships

Ve Global

I led the commercial strategy in the e-commerce sector, building a high-performing sales team and driving revenue growth. I oversaw client acquisition and retention, expanding Ve’s reach across industries. I implemented Ve’s engagement and email remarketing products, delivering seamless, customizable solutions for clients. My role involved identifying opportunities, negotiating key deals, and ensuring long-term client success.

Commercial Sales Director

Gumtree - eBay Classifieds Group

Responsible for building out the advertising channels and team across eBays classified business Gumtree. Working with national media agencies, brands direct, and trading desks. The role saw me working with multiple areas of the company to create bespoke partnership opportunities, increasing ongoing yearly revenue commitments

National Advertising Sales Manager

Junkee Media

Led the development and execution of innovative sales strategies, driving revenue growth across key national accounts. I collaborated closely with media agencies and direct clients to deliver impactful, integrated campaigns that combined branded content, native advertising, and creative digital solutions

National Sales Manager

News Corp

Developed advertising revenue strategies for Moshtix across online and offline channels. Managed bespoke and integrated marketing projects, working closely with agencies and clients to drive ticket sales and brand growth.

National Sales Manager - Moshtix 

MyTickets.com.au

I spearheaded the growth of this startup across Australia, focusing on key markets in NSW, ACT, QLD, and WA. I developed strategies to build brand awareness and targeted high-value clients, including major sporting bodies, government agencies, and entertainment companies like the ARU, AFL, and Warner Village. The role involved extensive travel, relationship-building, and ensuring revenue opportunities were maximized.

Business Development Manager

realestate.com.au

I worked with the NSW State Manager to develop partnerships and online marketing strategies for real estate businesses in NSW and ACT. My responsibilities included identifying business opportunities, negotiating subscriptions, expanding the client base, and managing key accounts to grow product offerings and drive engagement.

15+ years of experience leading revenue and commercial strategy across SaaS, Web3, media, and e-commerce, I specialise in strategic partnerships, GTM execution, and startup acceleration. Over the past 7 years, I’ve operated at the frontier of emerging tech, founding, scaling, and advising ventures within DeFi, DAOs, NFTs, GameFi and blockchain platforms.

My background spans both startup and enterprise environments, with deep expertise in identifying, closing, and managing partnerships across the full lifecycle, from deal negotiation to activation and co-marketing. I’ve also worked closely with product and sales teams to align partner strategies with measurable commercial impact.

Core Strengths:

- Strategic Partnerships & Operations
- Commercial & GTM Strategy
- Capital Raising & Channel Activation
- Founder/Advisor in Venture-Backed Startups
- Global Team Collaboration in Remote-First Settings
- Contract Negotiation & Deal Structuring

I bring an inclusive, outcome-focused leadership style and a senior network across fintech, media, e-commerce, and tech. As an advisor and investor in Wrappr, Tokenise, Sokan Games, and Alias, I support founders on GTM, revenue growth, and partnership strategy.

Let’s connect if you’re building at the edge of work, tech, or culture.

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The Battle

Joan Westenberg

Trent Shaw

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