First of all, excellent choice.
You’re about to join a community that’s equally inspiring, energising, and to be perfectly honest, sometimes overwhelming in the best possible way. It’s an inclusive, open group, that is welcoming, generous with their time and collectively lifts everyone up and applauds achievements, ideas and thoughts (yes, that’s what happens when you put lots of ambitious people in one room).
Before you start stressing over your elevator pitch, perfecting your Canva graphics, or memorising the difference between pre-seed and Series A, there’s a bigger question: why would you want to come along at all?
What is Female Founders?
Think of it as your first look at Canberra’s energetic and exciting innovation ecosystem.
The Female Founders program at the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) is designed for women who are starting out, scaling up, or simply exploring the idea of turning a spark into a business.
It’s workshops, mentoring, events, and most importantly, a community of people who understand what it’s like to juggle ambition, impostor syndrome, and possibly a family calendar that looks like an Olympic schedule.
Why come along?
Being a founder can be… lonely. One day you’re convinced you’re building the next Canva, and the next you’re googling “ABN vs ACN” at 1am. The Female Founders program reminds you that you don’t have to do it alone.
You’ll meet other women who are:
- figuring it out together (solidarity in spreadsheets)
- a few steps ahead (yes, they’ve made mistakes and are kind enough to share them)
- and a few steps behind (because you do have wisdom to share, even if you don’t realise it yet).
The benefits?
Well, apart from the obvious—connections, learning, and an amazing lunch from local Female Founded business The Goods Wholefoods, you’ll leave with:
- Confidence: that elusive feeling that you can back yourself.
- Practical tools: from pitching to investors without breaking into a cold sweat, to structuring your business so it doesn’t collapse under its own ideas.
- A network that sticks: friends, collaborators, maybe even co-founders. Attending will boost your LinkedIn notifications significantly.
- Visibility: because Canberra’s innovation scene recognises when you’re in the room.
Why join this community?
Because it’s not just about business. It’s about rewriting the rules of who gets to innovate, lead, and build things that matter. Being part of Female Founders is a way of saying: I belong here. I’m building something. And I’m not doing it alone.
So if you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it. Come along. Be part of it. And bring that idea … messy, half-formed, brilliant as it is. You’ll be in very good company.
Ready to find out more? Register for the next Female Founders event:
Female Founders
