SBE Australia

Welcome to March Collective A community dedicated to empowering women founders who have successfully navigated the early stages of their business and are now facing new challenges as they grow. We know firsthand how it feels when support from other networks thins out. That's why we're committed to providing a safe space to grow, expert advisory services, and scale-up support. But March Collective is more than just a community – it's a promise of support, resources, and a network of like-minded women who understand the challenges of entrepreneurship. Our mission is driven by the stark reality of the funding gap faced by women-led startups. Recent reports highlight the persistent disparities: - Women-led startups saw a decline in total capital share from 18% in 2023 to 15% in 2024. - All-women teams received just 2% of total funding. 0 Since 2019, all-women teams have completed only 2.2% of all $50M+ funding rounds and 1.9% of all $20M+ rounds. - Women hold only 10% of board seats in Australian startups. While our support extends beyond investment, these statistics underscore the need for collective action. Join us in bridging the gap and empowering women founders to succeed. Register to find out more and our launch events happening in April - https://lnkd.in/gKynW4_R #MarchCollective #WomenFounders Nicole Cook Renece Brewster Steph Bailey

The journey starts here. Where collective power, wisdom, and heart come together to redefine what's possible. #TheMarchBegins

It is an absolute pleasure to be nominated by The Australian as the 2025 Australian of the Year for our progress in #Laronix. I have called Australia home since 2012, and it has been quite a beautiful ❤️ journey. Since when I was heartbroken at the end of my PhD in 2013, as we still did not have a functional solution for people who experience voice loss, a condition affecting millions of people globally, leading to a lifetime of isolation and depression, till 2016, when I finally invented a solution that worked, till 2020 when I left academia and joined Mousa Ahmadi, PhD, founding Laronix to make it happen. I have been blessed to work with Laronix team on what we love: bringing magic to voiceless people. I am delighted to see we have commercialised our first product in Australia ahead of our US launch and we have so far helped over 130 people speak, sing, and laugh again with Laronix technology. My special thanks go to Mousa Ahmadi, PhD for being a genuine amazing and always supportive co-founder and a most positive strategic thinker who made this mission possible every step of the way. Also, a shoutout to the smart hardworking Laronix team, who continue to make this much-needed change happen. And to the incredible supporters of project Scale Investors Pty Ltd , Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre Ltd, SBE Australia, Trade and Investment Queensland, Bionics Gamechangers Australia, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, WCBA: Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator (The Catalyst), GBMC HealthCare, our excellent advisors Michael Junger, Paul Cooper, Elaine Saunders and Peter Blamey, Jenny Aiken, Kristy Chong OAM, Bill Trestrail and Martin Krusin and of course our amazing investors, a heartfelt thank you for your ongoing support. Thank you Australia ❤️❤️, 🙏🙏 for being my second home and the home to Laronix 's life changing technology.

A big welcome to Dr Michelle Perugini who has joined UniSA as its new Head of Commercialisation. A leading health and technology entrepreneur, Dr Perugini is the founder of two successful AI tech ventures and has worked in medical research including at UniSA's Centre for Cancer Biology, following completion of biotechnology and medicine qualifications at UniSA and the University of Adelaide. “I have a deep appreciation for the complexity of university research commercialisation and I am excited to bring my academic and commercial experience to UniSA to work with its outstanding researchers and commercialisation team," Dr Perugini says. “I am looking forward to helping expand UniSA’s impressive outcomes in research commercialisation, and facilitating partnerships between more of its innovative researchers, and industry and investor partners.” UniSA Director: Enterprise Partnerships, Peter Stevens, said that the newly created position that Dr Perugini takes up recognises the critical importance of research translation and innovation. “I am delighted to welcome Dr Perugini back to UniSA, in this key strategic role," he says. “UniSA has a strong legacy in research translation through the creation of startups, and growth of entrepreneurs and IP licencing, now centralised through our Enterprise Hub.” Further details: https://lnkd.in/gbkNEnVw

The election turnout was historic, and the result was clear. We love democracy even when we don’t win, though. No matter what side of the great political divide, or no side you are on, Springboard carries on with support for you in your quest to build companies to scale and sustainability.   Unfortunately, this election result is a blow to women’s rights we have fought so long to secure.    Upon reflection on what just happened to reset the US and the global economy writ large. New challenges will emerge, and others will recede, but I want our community to know that our conviction behind our support for all alumnae is as strong as it has ever been. We move on to the future of resilience and innovation, building wealth for our alumnae and reinvesting it in those coming after us. This is the flywheel effect that will make our full community of founders, advisors, investors and experts achieve great results.   Our network of human capital is the secret sauce of Springboard Enterprises. New York Fashion Tech Lab NYFTLab Peter Micca, P. Howard Edelstein, Dr. Joan Fallon, Lauren Flanagan, Abe Minkara, Vanessa Ogle, Rakia Reynolds, Nicole J Walker Julie Silverstein. Learn about Springboard’s inspiring journey and impact. Take a moment to read this article in The New York Times online now. Print on November 17th. https://lnkd.in/eDjx66Vh