The Founders

Founder of Staje

Staje was founded by five friends - Alex, Anaita, Carmel, Jarahad and Jess - who met across different careers and life chapters but shared one experience: the in-between of mid-career, mid-life and mid-transformation. After finding nothing that met their specific life-stage needs, they stopped searching and started building, developing supplements with family-owned lab partners in France.

Founder of Hero Packaging

Founder of Neuu Hair

Anna-Gabriella founded NEUU after spending over a year researching and reformulating a slick-back styling cream she could actually live in. She pushed through the final stages of development while working full time and pregnant, launching the brand the same month she had her son. NEUU reflects her mission to give busy women their mornings back with hair that fits real life.

Founder of RCYCL

Founder of Polka

Ben and Emma Mellows founded Polka in 2021 in their home state of South Australia. Ben brings ten years in the food and nutritional manufacturing industry, focusing on flavour and new product innovation, while Emma drives the brand's passion for quality, customer satisfaction and communication.

Founder of The Print Room

In 2013, two young creatives from Central Otago, Chris and Jon, turned an old door into their first manual screen-printing machine and began printing t-shirts for their own fashion label, Moodie Tuesday. As demand grew, they reinvested in their craft and built The Print Room into a leading merch producer across New Zealand and Australia.

Founder of The Bod Society

Christie left school at 15 to pursue a Diploma of Beauty Therapy and spent 16 years working as an aesthetician, including running a boutique beauty salon in the hills of Perth from the age of 19. After experiencing burnout, developing psoriasis, and her father's 2018 cancer diagnosis, she turned to natural remedies, creating body oils and bath soaks in her carport. She later completed a diploma in natural skincare formulation and, in 2023, brought a cosmetic chemist onto the team. Her journey through IVF into motherhood shaped a brand focused on holistic wellness, family and reducing single-use plastics.

Founder of Dahlia Jewel Co

Claire founded Dahlia Jewel Co, inspired by a moment shared with her grandmother Jenny and sister Emily at a picnic in Mandurah, Western Australia. When Jenny passed on her sentimental jewellery pieces, noting they could be melted down and made into something new, Claire realised the importance of quality metals in jewellery. That experience led her to build a brand committed to lasting, meaningful pieces.

Founder of Bon Maxie

Clare Spelta founded Bon Maxie in 2015 while on maternity leave, making earring holders by hand before growing the brand into a full range of bags, wallets and accessories. Based in Queensland, she is a mum of two, including a son with a rare genetic condition, and built the business as a remote-working environment with a specialised team so it could work around her life. She strives to uphold her values of kindness, quality and integrity across her designs and operations.

Founder of De Court

Courtney founded Dècourt in 2024 from a lifelong love of creativity and design and a dream of building something of her own. She creates jewellery that feels elevated, wearable, and made to be loved every day, guided by the belief that jewellery should feel both special and accessible.

Founder of Merry People

Dani grew up on a Victorian farm where gumboots were part of daily life. After moving to the city for study and work, she couldn't find an all-weather boot that suited both her corporate commute and weekends on the farm. Recognising a gap in the market, she began sketching ideas and, with some technical help and a trip to China to meet suppliers, launched Merry People in 2014. She started selling at farmers' markets on weekends and has since grown the brand globally while balancing life as a busy mum and CEO.

Founder of The Lux Little One

Emma is the founder of LuxeLittleOne and a mother to a little boy. After becoming a parent, she found it almost impossible to find a baby bag that was both practical and beautiful, so she created LuxeLittleOne to help parents feel organised, confident and prepared for whatever the day brings.

Founder of Comfrt

I started Comfrt to build something deeper than a clothing brand, I wanted to create a sense of belonging. From the very beginning, it was about connection, purpose, and making people feel truly seen and supported. Comfrt was born from the belief that when people feel emotionally safe and cared for, they thrive. Our mission has always been to deliver that feeling through everything we do, creating something so meaningful, you don’t just wear it, you live in it.

Founder of Quick Flick

Iris Smit founded Quick Flick in 2017 from her dining room table. Entrepreneurial from a young age, she began coding websites at 14 and by 16 was selling vintage clothing on Etsy. While studying a Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture, she grew frustrated trying to master a winged eyeliner and concluded the problem was the tool, not her ability - inspiring her belief that beauty tools should change to suit our lives, not the other way around.

Founder of Aaliyah and Me Jewellery

Jada and Suzann are the mother-daughter duo behind Aaliyah & Me. Passionate about creating timeless, durable jewellery, they run this small family business with a focus on affordability, quality, and celebrating individuality.

Founder of Health Lab

In 2015, tired of her daily 3pm sugar cravings & navigating the "healthy" snacks available with complicated ingredients & blah tastes, Jess Thomas saw the need for plant-based and satisfying snacks to help busy women and mums thrive. Realising there was a huge gap in the market, Jess made the bold move to quit her corporate career, sell her Toyota Corolla for funds and start hand-rolling protein balls from her home kitchen....

Founder of Reclaimed Beauty

Reclaimed Beauty was founded by husband and wife Jordan and Gabriella after Gabriella navigated a period of hormonal imbalance that prompted a closer look at what she was placing on her skin. Frustrated by synthetic ingredients and harsh actives, they stripped everything back and returned to nature. What began as a personal shift soon spread from friends and family to thousands of Australians seeking a considered, low-tox approach to skincare.

Founder of Mingle

Jordyn (Jords) founded Mingle in 2016 after cleaning out her pantry and discovering her seasonings were full of additives, fillers, preservatives and artificial flavours. Unable to find a healthier alternative, she set out to create seasonings that are real, natural and full of flavour. She has grown Mingle from her kitchen to over 2,000 stockists across Australia, driven by a belief in healthy food, easy cooking and connection.

Founder of Chasing Lila Parfum

Chasing Lila was founded by Kat and Josh, a couple from Sydney, Australia. After years of navigating endometriosis and hormone imbalances, Kat discovered the hidden impact mainstream fragrances can have on health and wellbeing. What began as a personal pursuit for balance evolved into a vision to create a fragrance house where luxury and wellness coexist.

Founder of Moodi

Kate is Co-Founder of Moodi. Frustrated by boring capsules and powders that didn't work, she set out to create science-backed supplements that support well-being and become an enjoyable daily ritual. She has been recognised for championing diversity and inclusion, receiving the New Zealand Woman of Influence Young Leader Award, and launched the Moodi Female Founder Fund to support female founders in New Zealand and Australia.

Founder of Kerys Leigh Jewellery

Kerys is the founder of Kerys Leigh Jewellery, a brand driven by her passion for offering elegantly beautiful, high-quality pieces at an affordable price, with styles and materials to suit every individual.

Founder of KimKo Beauty

Kim is a salon owner who spent years working with women balancing full schedules while wanting to feel confident. Noticing that many quick beauty products fell short on quality and lasting results, she created KIMKO to deliver convenience without compromise - simple, high-quality essentials drawn from her own experience of fitting beauty into a busy life.

Founder of Heiych

Laura King is the CEO and founder of Heiych, and a mother of two boys. She was the driving force behind corporate fashion label 400 Co. for over a decade. Laura leads the creative direction of every Heiych bag, taking care of the drawings while trusted workshops help bring the designs to life. She founded Heiych in late 2024 in Brisbane with a goal of creating minimalist, functional bags women genuinely love using every day.

Founder of Laukonik

Lauren Nikoloski created Laukonik Jewellery in Perth, Western Australia in 2024, drawing inspiration from golden hours, coastal living, and the beauty found in simplicity.

Founder of Dreamly

Linda and Remy are the two mums behind Dreamly, a small Australian business based on the Gold Coast. They created Dreamly from a desire to make sleep and loungewear they could proudly dress themselves and their own children in, bringing the same love and care to every piece that they bring to motherhood.

Founder of Strapsicle

Lou founded Strapsicle with her partner Ben after accidentally dropping her Kindle while nursing their newborn son Archie during a late night. Ben made a crude Kindle strap from an old silicone mat and staples, which became the first Strapsicle prototype. In just three years their Aussie business grew into a worldwide sensation, appearing on Shark Tank where they landed two Sharks. Lou is passionate about helping everyone, including readers with mobility issues, enjoy books in comfort.

Founder of Clear For Men

Louis Watkins founded Clear For Men in February 2021 after his own struggles with anxiety, loneliness and burnout in 2020. Rediscovering the calming ritual of a skincare routine inspired him to build a community-led brand that reminds men to Take Five and prioritise their wellbeing. He now shares his story daily online and in schools, workplaces and men's groups to break the stigma around male mental health.

Founder of Kadi Luggage

Founder of Sueur Swim

Natalie Le Sueur is the founder and creative force behind Sueur Swim. A former travel photographer turned fashion photographer and design innovator, she channels her love of travel and fashion into the brand's designs, focusing on quality and a seamless integration of luxury and functionality.

Founder of Tiny Jewellery

Pauline founded Tiny Jewellery during a quieter season of her life, in the in-between moments of motherhood when she felt drawn back to creating. What began as a small creative outlet grew into a slow, considered practice. She handmakes each piece in her NSW studio and showroom, using high quality materials and taking her time from shaping to finishing.

Founder of Lustre Skincare

Rachel founded Lustre Skincare after severe allergic reactions to many products on the market led her to discover they were full of unnecessary ingredients. That experience turned into a passion for natural beauty and a desire to create affordable, naturally infused and effective skincare. Drawn to self-care, she wanted to build more than a product business - a community where skincare feels simple, enjoyable and accessible, empowering people to bring out their natural glow.

Founder of Contour Cube

Contour Cube was co-founded by Australian entrepreneurs Sarah Forrai and Lewis Battersby. Sarah, the inventor, created the viral skincare tool to make facial icing mess-free, while Lewis, who comes from a graphic design and e-commerce background—helped scale the brand globally

Founder of Sol Bevi

Stefan Di Benedetto is the founder of Solbevi. Drawing on his Northern Italian roots and his family's cherished Limoncello recipe, he set out to change Australian perceptions of limoncello, transforming a traditional digestivo into a contemporary spritz. Through persistence and passion, he has built one of Australia's fastest-growing Limoncello brands.

Founder of Proud Poppy Clothing

Tara, an emergency nurse by trade, launched Proud Poppy Clothing in August 2019 near the end of her maternity leave after the birth of her son Brodie. Having struggled to find beautiful, affordable clothing as her body changed, and hearing that petite friends faced similar frustrations, she created a welcoming, inclusive store where all women could shop together.

Founder of Maison Amie

Maison Àmie was founded by best friends Tenaya and Daria, who started the brand after late-night conversations about how rare it has become to truly slow down and be present with the people you love. What began as shared ideas and dreams grew into a vision for a modern ritual house designed to bring women closer, more intentionally.

Founder of Bae Juice

Bae Juice was co-founded by Tim O'Sullivan, Sumin Do and Liam Gostencnik. The idea began when Tim visited Sumin's home in South Korea for Chuseok and noticed locals drinking Korean pear juice before a big night out. Back in Melbourne, Tim shared the discovery with his best mate Liam, and the three teamed up to bring 100% Korean pear juice to Australia.

Founder of Destino the Label

Victoria Rose started Destino The Label with her father Joe in 2020, while she was caring for him after he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a terminal brain cancer. She shared her idea to create her own jewellery brand and Joe was excited to help, loving that it was culturally tied to his Italian background. Together they developed the business, drawing on their heritage for everything from the scent of the candles to the charms used. The name Destino came from an Italian saying common in their household, an affirmation to live by, believing that everything happens for a reason.

Founder of WHOOP

Will Ahmed, CEO and founder of WHOOP, was a collegiate athlete who wanted to understand how training affected his body. Prone to overtraining and missing sleep, he read hundreds of medical papers and found that 24/7 monitoring of metrics like heart rate and heart rate variability could help people feel, perform, and live better. That research led to the creation of WHOOP.