Michelle “Chelle” Melbourne didn’t plan on becoming a founder. Trained in psychology at ANU and headed for a career in organisational psych, she took a summer job in Sydney that unexpectedly set her on a path into the tech world. That job—in a startup, teaching IT to cranky corporate execs—threw her into the deep end. And she’s been swimming ever since.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Move Fast Break Things podcast:
From Consultancy to Product Company
Chelle and Phil Williamson co-founded what became Intelledox, a Canberra-based software company that grew from a consulting business to a global product platform. They bootstrapped the company, hired ANU students with potential (not polish), and trained them into high-performing engineers. Eventually, their tech was acquired and now powers 20% of a global vendor’s platform.
Keep Showing Up
Chelle credits their success to persistence, people, and knowing when to say no. “We had to survive first,” she says. “Every tender we lost, every rejection—we learned from it, adapted, and kept going.” Over time, they partnered with global tech giants to break through.
Why Canberra?
Forget Silicon Valley. Chelle believes Canberra has everything a founder needs—massive government projects, world-class talent, and a supportive innovation community. “This city runs on real work, not hype,” she says.
Chelle’s Tips for Founders
- Hire for curiosity, not credentials.
- Don’t wait for perfection—ship, learn, improve.
- Customers don’t care how it works. They just want it to work.
- Say no to distractions. Focus on your core.
- Build a team that shows up for each other.
Feeling inspired?
Join us at First Wednesday Connect each month at 1 Moore Street, Canberra. Whether you’re just exploring or building your next company, the team at CBRIN is here to help.
Students can transform their ideas into impact through our Innovation program. Apply for IACT →
Guide the next generation of Canberra entrepreneurs and shape our innovation future. Become a Griffin Mentor →
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Credits: Move Fast Break Things podcast by Sam Hudgson
