Entrepreneurs

Sydney-based startup UrbanYou has closed a $1 million Series A raise in just a fortnight, bucking the usual trend that sees startups spending months of planning and schmoozing to secure funding.

My confidence regarding the treatment of women in the Australian startup community has improved dramatically over the past 24 hours, after seeing strong, public reactions from male and female leaders in the sector to widespread revelations of sexual harassment of female founders in the US.

Prominent Australian businessman, Daniel Petre has hit out at the “pathetic response” from the VC industry to sexual harassment, and issued a no-tolerance policy in the businesses he runs and supports.

Female entrepreneurs deliver on investment more often than male entrepreneurs, yet are funded less frequently.

Late last week, a New York Times article shared detailed accounts from multiple women in tech startups on the sexual harassment and unwelcome advances they’ve received in the industry — particularly when seeking financing.

I was finding it easier to outsource the care of my children than aspects of my business

The growth of Lana Hopkins’ company Mon Purse, and her rise as a global entrepreneur, is stunning.

Sick of Uber? Shebah is the first all female ride share service in Australia, which was founded by Georgina McEnroe. All drivers and passengers are women.

A local surge in demand for sustainable and reusable coffee cups has led to an “unbelievable” 690% spike in sales enquiries for Australian reusable cup manufacturer KeepCup, creating plenty of action for the business as it tries to deal with a massive influx of orders.

Don’t ask a man if he thinks your idea is good.

You can’t exclude half the population when seeking to  build a global economy driven by innovation, writes Nicola Hazell, from the OECD Forum in Paris.

We’d all love for our passion to pay the bills.