A Melbourne startup that aims to teach one million women to ‘build the internet’ by 2025 is breeding a new generation of local entrepreneurs.
Girl Geek Academy Co-founder Sarah Moran said that Melbourne is a great place to be if you’re a woman building a startup.
‘Our #SheHacks initiative is designed specifically to connect women founders together to build sustainable businesses and make Melbourne the best place in the world for a woman to join or create a startup,’ Sarah said.
‘Figures show that startups and small and medium-sized enterprises are generating more employment for Australians than big businesses, so it’s critical that we work together to grow this section of our economy.
‘The best part is watching women and young girls light up when they realise there’s a whole world they can build – and it’s within reach.’
Girl Geek Academy is just one of the many Melbourne startups supported through the City of Melbourne’s new Startup Action Plan.
‘The best part is watching women and young girls light up when they realise there’s a whole world they can build – and it’s within reach.’
Developed through extensive engagement with Melbourne’s startup community, the Startup Action Plan identifies what the City of Melbourne can do to help businesses start, grow and go global from Melbourne.
‘It’s great to see the City of Melbourne so forward thinking in supporting startups and we’ve received incredible support from the Council that has been invaluable to our journey,’ Sarah said.
‘Being involved with Melbourne Knowledge Week, for example, has enabled us to extend the reach for our startup bootcamps to a completely new audience.
‘We have also participated in the Mini Maker Day at the Docklands Library every year since its inception.’
For the Girl Geek Academy team, the next step is the world stage.
‘We want to take our MissMakesCode’s initiative – the world’s first hackathon for girls aged 5 to 8 – global and we’ve packaged it in a way that makes this possible,’ Sarah said.
‘So far we’ve had an incredible reaction from the startup community who are backing us in what we’re trying to achieve, along with our growing community of Girl Geeks who are driving our organisation into the future.
‘In Australia, we’re much more advanced than other markets for gender equality in business – including the United States – although we’ve still got a long way to go.’
Startups aren’t just about technology. They’re businesses from all sectors that have an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset and grow quickly.
If you have a bold, inspirational and sustainable idea for a startup, find out more about small business grants and the Startup Action Plan online.
To find out more, visit startups.
