Founder and Product Lead
Dave McManus
Melbourne, VIC
Dave McManus is the founder of Lightning Ventures, a Melbourne-based AI integration and custom software agency. With experience spanning enterprise clients like Ford through to early-stage Y Combinator startups, Dave brings a pragmatic, build-first approach to every engagement.
His core focus areas are AI integration — connecting LLMs and autonomous agents into real business operations — and product strategy for technical founders who need to move fast without building the wrong thing. He’s particularly deep on MCP server architecture, HubSpot ecosystem development, and workflow automation using tools like Make.com and custom code.
Before Lightning Ventures, Dave built products across the US and Australia, working with over 10 Y Combinator companies and leading technical builds for mid-market businesses across property, professional services, and healthcare.
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