As the founders reach the halfway point in the accelerator, the rubber is hitting the road. Andrèz Coco has launched her first prototype and after a difficult pitch session she is left questioning the direction she has taken. It’s time to get back to the customer and re-centre... so Andrez (and Dr Annie McAuley and Danielle Owen Whitford) engage in user testing ahead of demo day to make sure their MVPs are in the best place possible.
Danielle is now running a pilot with one of Australia’s biggest banks at ANZ - a big step for her business. She meets with ANZ to show them how the key product is evolving - a big moment in her startup journey.
Meanwhile, Annie is getting her tech in the hands of children at her pilot childcare centre, where her daughter Grace is customer #1. A deeply personal reminder of why she is building her company and the impact it can have.
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1st December, 2018
Episode 7 – Going global in San Francisco
The SheStarts female founders hit the pavement in San Francisco! Over the course of a week, they visit tech giants like LinkedIn, Google and CISCO Meraki, as well as emerging tech companies like Juvo, and they meet with investors to get feedback on their pitches.
It’s an eye opening opportunity to go inside the global heart of tech and hear from some of the world’s most influential companies. This is the founder's opportunity to see what scale looks like and get vital feedback on their businesses from the influencers of Silicon Valley.
The trip has a transformative effect on each of the founders but particularly on Zoë Condliffe, founder of She's A Crowd, who is confronted with being asked if she has what it takes to run a big data company.
1st December, 2018
Episode 8 – What’s next for the female founders?
The SheStarts founder’s are now at the end of their six month accelerator journey.
After an intense and mind blowing experience in the US, they have come home and are ready to move forward to create the change they want to see in the world.
Zoë Condliffe has been wrestling with the soul of her business. She’s not in it just to make millions, but she understands that her business needs to be financially viable so that she can create real and lasting change.
Danielle Owen Whitford finds solace knowing she is building a company and a future where her family can thrive.
Andrèz Coco has embraced her new identity as an entrepreneur, seeing the value of her ideas playing out in the hands of her customers.
And for Dr Annie McAuley, she finally feels the power of sharing her story. She has found her voice - just like her daughter - and is proud to be seen as a tech entrepreneur, recognised by one of the biggest tech companies in the world.
The women of SheStarts are paving the way for the next generation of female leaders... and they’re truly in it together.
1st December, 2018
Episode 6 – Demo Day
Ready or not, Demo Day has arrived! The female founder’s nerves start to peak as they deal with last minute technical issues just hours out from the guests arriving.
It’s a flurry of panic mixed with excitement, but once demo day kicks off the founders impress the room, make great connections and Zoe Condliffe potentially lands her first big university customer.
Yet even as the founders celebrate the accomplishments of Demo Day, the trip to San Francisco looms large. It’ll be an incredible opportunity for the founders but Dr Annie McAuley can’t help feeling the guilt of a broken promise to her children.