Hi angels 🤍
I’ve spent so much of May and June on planes (Sydney, Thailand, Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney again and again) that I’ve started treating my low-phone days at home like medicine. Genuinely saving my sanity.
Mid-year is my favourite time to go into self-investment mode. It’s never wasted. Usually this means committing to my running routine ahead of Bridge 2 Brissy. But this year I’ve just started professional speaker coaching with the brilliant Sally Prosser and I am SO pumped, after a decade of corporate Australia flattening my voice this feels like taking it back. Put me on a stage and I’m in my element. This is even more impactful if I have something to say that’s not in the corporate messaging guide, I need to get comfy with this.
Clearly the whole room is in build-yourself mode: half of you are quietly deep in Jessi Jean’s Yap Challenge (the one that did a $1.2M launch, yes really). Report back, I want to know how you’re going.
If the thought of yapping on a tiny mic makes you cringe, don’t stress. Getting visible is a pick ‘n’ mix: stages, podcasts, Substack, posting regularly in the group chat, introducing yourself to someone new at drinks. There’s a way to show up for everyone. You just choose the one that feels like you, and go. The key is consistency and a POV that’s uniquely yours.
I’ve also been thinking so much about energy management, mine and ours. I want to build something that lasts, which means I need to scale this properly. Two things I’m calling in: I need city leads to help run events in each capital (more on this to come), and I want to build out our education pillar (you saw the Deep Dives poll, it’s happening). This community deserves both. Aussie women deserve better, and we’re going to build it.
And because I love a hot rec, a few things I’m sick for this month:
→ My new work bag: the Marlow Tote from Reh Studios. I bought it because Jordyn had one (as you do) and the quality for the price point is insane. Aussie brand, all-women team. Sold.
→ The Crown Affair towel. Since getting my K-tip extensions (thank you Stone the Studio) I’ve been obsessed with making the styling actually worth it, and I hate to admit it but Diana Cohen knows exactly what she’s talking about. Worth the $90.
→ Willpowders cherry electrolyte sachets. Got gifted these at Domefest and now I travel with them everywhere. Obsessed.
→ Baked mango from Nibblish. All those months in Asia gave me a thing for nibbly little treats, and these have no nasties. Dangerous in the best way. Thank you Sunday Agency for getting me hooked.
Forward this to one girl in your network who’d get it. Add her to the chat. We’re taking over.
Love Brooke x
Aussie Angels is Australia’s answer to the serendipity Americans take for granted. The room where founders, operators, corporates and creatives are in the same group chat, and it turns out they needed each other. These are the girls who get it.
02 — FROM HQ
A few bits of good news from our side of the room.
→ We tipped over 333 on Instagram. 333. If a number was ever going to feel ANGEL aligned, it’s that one. 🤍
→ Spotify ANZ picked us up. The Process The Pod x Brooke community episode landed in Spotify ANZ’s Podcast Picks of the Week. The one where Arielle and I do nothing but gush about this group for an hour. Iconic that the algorithm and the Spotify ANZ team agrees with us. Listen →
→ I finally said my piece on Vogue Codes. I loved it, and I had notes. I’ve been trying to put my opinions out there more after a decade of corporate Australia flattening them, so this one meant a lot. I loved Vogue Codes, I also have notes →
→ The May Cap Table Report is up. Macro, raises and AI all moved last month. This is the fluff-free version: what actually happened, and the so-what for where you put your money, time and energy. Your brief going into June. Read it →
→ The Aussie Angels Directory is live. You asked for it, so here it is. Spend 60 seconds adding yourself and you’ll be able to search every other angel by what they do, what they’re looking for and what they’re open to being contacted about. Founder, corporate, investor, creative, all of it. The whole community, searchable. No more “wait, who does what again?” Add yourself →
03 — ANGEL OF THE MONTH
Meet Jemma Sbeg. Host of The Psychology of Your 20s, the podcast talking millions of us through this decade with the research to back it. Now available on Netflix!!
What are you actually building right now? Better habits and muscle. Not particularly sexy, but I’ve been on a real longevity journey this past year after some scary health news. It’s been amazing to see how much the body can adjust and transform on new routines, slowly and then seemingly all at once. I’ve been thinking a lot about myself as a mother and grandmother and how I want to move and feel then, not just look now.
The most unhinged thing you’ve done for your career? Every week I have a ‘shoot your shot’ Wednesday where I send the emails, pitches, articles and DMs to people I’d want to collaborate with in my wildest dreams. I let myself have all the courage and none of the embarrassment for that one day a week, and it’s taught me there’s no shame in asking.
What are you gossiping about right now? Substack. And the people making their BAG from writing and sharing their thoughts online. I have friends making $100–300k on that platform and they never have to sacrifice their voice, pitch themselves to brands or adhere to someone else’s guidelines. I admire them so much.
The thing you’re most embarrassed to admit? I’m really bad with long-term financial planning. I’m so financially cautious and anxious that I don’t always get my money working for me, even though my mum is literally an economist. Something I need to change this year, that’s for sure.
What do you want the angels to find you for? Science-backed evidence for your 20s and for life. Opinions occasionally, but the research and the empirical evidence for why you feel the way you do always comes first.
When did you realise you’d built a community, not just an audience? My first friendship meet-up. We run these occasionally to get likeminded listeners together, and every single person who came was the coolest person I’d ever met. Smart, talented, motivated, kind. It made me shed a few tears of joy.
What’s something ambitious women are spending too much time on right now? Dating. Most men can’t keep up with ambitious women, or simply don’t want to (someone had to say it). Don’t waste any more of your precious time on a man who has to be a special project. The right person will come along.
→ Where to find her? The Psychology of Your 20s wherever you listen, @thatpsychologypodcast and @jemmasbeg on Instagram, and psychologyofyour20s.com.
Want the angel of the month slot? Reply to this email and it’s yours.
04 — WHAT THE CHAT IS DOING WITH AI
I got on a nine-hour flight, realised it had wifi, and asked the chat for the most unhinged and helpful things they’ve got AI doing for them. The thread did not disappoint.
→ Your own board of advisors. Teodora runs a panel of AI “advisors”, each with a role: a contrarian to challenge the idea, an outside observer asking the dumb-smart questions, a task-doer, an out-of-the-box thinker and a top 1% strategist. Each reviews anonymously, then a “chairman” makes the final call. (Prompt via Mariah Brunner.)
→ A personal assistant named Brick. Ari’s husband built her an AI PA (Brick, as in one brick at a time) that sends her the weather, moon phase, horoscope and calendar each morning, reminds her to drink water, and checks in on her mood and stress.
→ Kirby is basically planning a wedding with it. Designs, mockups, fitness and eating plans, the lot.
→ Rachel Lai has it running as a real assistant on recurring tasks: synthesising her human design, gene keys and astrology into a business plan, running a cost-benefit on DIYing a serum, and turning a week of Slack messages and brand docs into a Notion dashboard.
→ The one I can’t stop thinking about: an angel syncing her Oura data so AI books her pre-period acupuncture automatically. That is the level of automation I want in my life.
→ And Alexie (who runs an AI marketing agency in Paris) teaches founders to actually use Claude day to day, and built her own business-tracking platform in a single day. DM her if you want to learn.
The automation is the next level most of us haven’t unlocked yet. Tell me what you’ve built.
05 — WHAT THE AUSSIE ANGELS ARE MAKING
The girls are SHIPPING and I’m obsessed.
→ Georgie Healy — In The Blink of AI. Her podcast just cracked #46 in business podcasts and passed 10,000 plays on Spotify. Everything you didn’t know you needed to know about AI. If you’re not listening to Georgie yet, fix that. Listen →
→ Annabelle Russell — Substack ANZ. Our angel and Head of Partnerships for Australia & NZ at Substack just launched the next phase of Substack’s native sponsorships program. The inaugural cohort of flagship partners (Yahoo, Whatnot, Granola, Balenciaga, T-Mobile, Polymarket, Uber) is collectively putting millions into Substack creators, who keep full creative control and editorial independence. Real money without selling your voice. This is huge for anyone building here. Annabelle’s Substack → · LinkedIn →
→ BlakCast Network is Australia’s first First Nations-owned and led podcast network, founded by the brilliant Mundanara Bayles (we interviewed her at Domefest, she’s incredible). It’s home to shows like Black Magic Woman and Yarning Up. They’ve launched a Patreon to keep grassroots Indigenous storytelling alive, so rise above the noise and throw your support behind it. BlakCast → · Patreon →
→ Soph Hood — So Topical. The Seoul Tonic founder has launched a new beauty brand, and the move I can’t stop thinking about is the second account. Alongside @sotopical she’s running @sotopicalsociety purely for the behind-the-scenes of building it. Editorial, science-led, a real founder lab in public. “When everyone’s algorithm is the same, where do you find inspiration?” A founder move worth watching. sotopical.com →
→ Sam — Wayfarer Mobility. A medtech startup redesigning mobility aids to actually be beautiful (finally). Sam’s building both the product and the community around it (see her Disability Dinner Club in the diary). This is the good stuff. Sam’s also after brands to contribute products, samples or discount codes for the Disability Dinner Club gift bags. If that’s you, reach out. @wayfarer_mobility →
→ Layla — Dr. Diamond. The elevated jewellery-care brand just launched in Thailand this month, and Layla is packing up her life to take it global. This is the energy. @drdiamonnd →
→ Rosie — Collagenie Wellness Lounge. Rosie wanted to share this one because it’s the community in action: two different Aussie Angels jumped in to help on the day. hree of the Aussie angels came together to run an Event for Collagenie pets on the weekend. At Harry’s in Bondi, over 400 humans and over 150 pets dropped in for matcha, pup cups and editorial protrait photos. A meet and greet with Real Housewives celeb / Vet Dr Kate.
The world’s first certified organic collagen peptides for pets. Because pets deserve to be able to move, and run and play as they get older - just like humans. You can follow Collagenie here. EOFY sale starts on Friday with 30% off @collagenie_pets →
→ Paris — The 194 Collective. An e-commerce shoe brand for wide feet, fit struggles and the genetic stuff nobody designs for: comfortable shoes that actually look good. Waitlist is open (and she built the landing page herself in an afternoon, which is its own flex). Join the waitlist →
→ Rach Tucker — Smooch. Functional beverage to put you in the mood. Presale opens July 1. 💗 smoochdrinks.com →
→ Levina — Karsiyah Beauty. Her Face Polish is live and ready to add to cart now (pre-orders opened 22 June). Treat yourself. @karsiyah.beauty →
→ Sophie — Myrrar goes live. Her beauty AI app hits beta on Monday 29 June and I could not be prouder. Want in on the beta? She’s adding people directly, so DM her to get on the list. @_myrrar →
And the wins that aren’t launches:
→ The dinner the chat built. What started as a single message turned into 15 of us around a table at Matteo in Double Bay last Friday, pulled together with Genevieve. And the magic was the mix: founders, operators, corporate girls and some epic VC talent all in one room. That’s the whole point. We met Joanna Lawson (Co-Ventures, working alongside VC icon Maxine Minter), just back in Sydney from San Francisco, who’s going to help school us on raising and angel investing. We are lucky to have her. One message to a full table in a week.
→ Maddi Kinchington of Mode Office and OG Aussie Angel got married in Scotland. It looks insane. That’s it. That’s the post. Congratulations angel 🤍
→ Perry Howell packed up and moved to London to scale Pilates Gang. Backing herself, going global. This is the energy. @pilatesgang_ →
→ Jen Garner made Mumbrella for her new role: from SVP of sales operations at Epsilon to GM of Operations at Two Dot AI, a Brisbane AI-agent startup. Leaving a big stable corporate seat to back herself at an early-stage company. Her words: “It feels like I’m coming home.” The leap is the whole point.
Shipped something, hit a milestone? Drop it in the chat. I want to celebrate you.
06 — IN THE DIARY
Where we’re showing up.
First, the one I’m hosting. Girl Dinner: In The Making — Melbourne on 8th July and Sydney on 15 July (The Solo Co x Aussie Angels). I’m doing this with Lizzie Mulherin and I could not be more in. An intimate dinner for early to mid-stage founders riding the highs, the lows and the general chaos of building right now.
Our guest for Melbourne is Anna Mackenzie: startup advisor, ex-Mecca, creator of Anna Mack’s Stack, one of the sharpest thinkers going on portfolio careers and the future of work. Our guest for Sydney is Rebecca Jarvie-Gibbs, Co-founder and COO of We are example an earned led culture agency blowing up the world’s hottest brands (The Australian Open - hello!!) and literally shaping the culture.
You don’t need a certain number of years in business or a financial milestone to earn a seat. You do need to come hungry for the kind of evening that nourishes you the way only dinner with your favourite girls can.
Wednesday 8 July, 6:30–10:00pm, Gracie’s Wine Room, South Yarra.
Wednesday 15th July 6:30-10:00pm, Biblo Wine Bar, Double Bay.
$150 a head, strictly 20 seats. First in, best dressed. This will go fast. RSVP Melbourne → RSVP Sydney
Now the rest of the month:
25 June · Sydney — APEX Founders: Founder Coffee Catch Up. 7:40–8:40am, A.P Bread & Wine, Darlinghurst. APEX is the new founders community from Mahdieh (Madi) . First of four on their calendar. RSVP → · @theapexfounders →
26 June · Sydney — Process Clubhouse: June Meet Up. Round two of the casual Process The Podcast get-togethers with Arielle Thomas. Faces to names, no agenda, just the community in a room. 6:00–8:00pm, Surry Hills (entrance 1 Lacey St). RSVP →
30 June · Brisbane — Aussie Angels Brisbane Meetup. Our own one, Brisbane girls this is for you. After-work drinks at Bar Monte, Newstead, 5:30–8:00pm, with a room full of ambitious women building businesses, careers, side hustles and lives they’re genuinely excited about. Most come solo their first time, and you’ll leave with at least one new friend, contact or group chat. Huge thanks to Jen Garner for pulling this one together 💛 RSVP →
30 June · Melbourne — Disability Dinner Club by Sam Freidin (Wayfarer Mobility). A monthly curated dinner for people living with physical disability or chronic illness who want a great night out with people who get it and zero support-group vibes. Venue TBC. RSVP →
1 July · Melbourne — FoundHer Dinner: Ladies of the Round Table by Veronika (Vee). A curated dinner for 20 women who mean business, every seat placed on purpose. Not networking, just two hours of real conversation over a proper meal with the right people in the right seats. 6:00–9:00pm at Pincho Disco, 59 Cambridge St, Collingwood. $85pp, multi-course (drinks not included). Approval required and already over capacity, so get on the waitlist for this and future dinners (Sydney coming August). Email hello@foundher.world or @foundher_world →
9 July · Sydney — APEX Happy Hour. 5:00–7:00pm, location TBC. APEX events are moving to the Gooday app, so join the waitlist for this one. Waitlist → there’s also a Founder dinner on the 16 July. 6:00–8:00pm, SAX Restaurant & Lounge Bar, Barangaroo. Waitlist →
17 July · Sydney — UNSW Founders Female Founders Showcase. Hosted by angel Wonyoung. A night inspired by women who’ve done it, in a room with people who get it. (Founder pitch/demo EOIs have closed, but go along.) RSVP →
21 July & 30 July · Sydney & Melbourne— Disability Dinner Club by Sam Freidin. Venue TBC. RSVP → The Commons Collective Winter Garden. RSVP →
Date Night by Hayley Westoby (our Issue 03 angel). Her curated female-founder dinner series, running on rotation: Gold Coast in July, Sydney 28 Aug, Melbourne Sept/Oct, Sydney 30 Oct, Sydney 11 Dec. Real connection, no surface networking, Hayley curates the room. The only way to get an invite is her EOI form. @datenight.aus →
On the radar (lock in early):
→ 9 Sept · Online — Women in Digital masterclass, “Elevating Your Digital Career & Personal Brand” with Ashton Tuckerman (GM, TwentyTwo Digital). 12–1pm AEST, $0–$35. Tickets →
→ 5 Nov · Sydney — Techella Fest, billed as Australia’s first tech festival built by women. 300+ women and gender-diverse builders, founders and AI creators in one room, from Brooke Wright. Save the date. techellafest.com →
Coming up: the Deep Dives. A series over the next few months. Less networking, more practical skills, insider knowledge and access to people you’d normally never get an hour with. I put it to a poll, and here’s what you want most:
→ AI technical skills: Claude Code, Codex and agentic workflows (with AWS)
→ Content creation: podcasting, video, newsletters and personal brand growth
→ Sales and pitching: how to influence, negotiate and close, for founders and corporate
→ Personal branding and LinkedIn growth
→ AI co-working: bring your laptop and your biggest bottleneck in biz or life
→ Angel Investing 101: how to get started, sourcing deals, what to look for
→ Raising Capital AMA: hear from VCs and founders who’ve raised in Australia and the US
DM me if you want to be involved in running one, or have a topic we missed.
Next round of Aussie Angels IRL dates dropping soon. Syd, Melb, Bris, Adl, GC. Watch this space.
Running something? We want to know. DM me.
07 — THE CLASSIFIEDS
The angels need things. The angels have things.
The girls are hiring:
→ No Sunday Blues (Mikhaila Warburton) — recruiting a newly created role at a culture-led, social-first media agency in Sydney. It’s a head-hunt, referral-led, and Mikhaila reckons this community is the place to start. Advert →
→ Missing Perspectives — the media company platforming women’s stories is hiring a junior, freelance/casual, to support editing podcast episodes and clipping for social. missingperspectives.com →
→ Dr. Diamond (Layla) — the elevated jewellery-care brand is growing fast and hiring a part-time Marketing & Content person. Creative, proactive, social-obsessed: think TikTok, Instagram, influencer gifting, content shoots and creative brainstorming. @drdiamonnd →
→ RUME is looking for a co-founder. Kaitie Mulherin launched RUME at the Social Summit last month (you might have caught her flyers around). It’s a live platform connecting creators and brands to make and source social content in real time: create for brands you actually care about, build your portfolio, sharpen your craft. She’s after a growth lead to come on as co-founder and scale it, for equity. If you’re well connected in the influencer and social space and want to build from scratch on a platform that’s already LIVE, this is your seat. Interested? Hit up Kaitie@duopr.com.au rumesocial.com → · @kaitiemulherin →
The AI labs just landed in Sydney. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to shoot your shot at frontier AI, this is it:
→ Anthropic opened a Sydney office, its fourth in Asia-Pacific, and is hiring on the ground. Roles floating around include External Affairs Australia, an ASEAN Account Executive based in Sydney, ANZ Communications and a Data Center Energy Lead. Careers →
→ OpenAI is hiring in Sydney too, mostly technical and go-to-market: Solutions Architect, Solutions Engineer, Model Deployment for Business. Hybrid, with relocation on some roles. Careers →
Asks:
→ Franziska — new to Sydney, eyes open for the right match in tech or startups, would love to hear from anyone who started from scratch here or knows the scene. DM her.
→ Veronika “Vee” Forsyth wants a photographer or content creator to shoot an event in Melbourne in July. In return: exposure to the community, tags across every post including brand partners, referrals to her agency clients, and paid gigs the moment she locks sponsorship. @foundher_world →
→ Pardis is after a great activation or pop-up agency (or person) based in Melbourne. Worked with someone good? Send them her way. @pardismahdavi →
→ Nancy Cao (Muse Circle) is building a social platform connecting small businesses with local freelance talent, and wants a partner to help host IRL events across Sydney, Melbourne and beyond. Could be a lead-gen play if you love hosting. musefunnel →
→ Rach Tucker (Smooch) is hunting a buyer contact at Priceline. Smooch has been invited to pitch a big pharma group for ranging, but Priceline is the dream for brand fit. Got a contact, even a sneaky one? Email rach@smoochdrinks.com. smoochdrinks.com →
→ Sonia is after a product photographer or creative-direction assist in Sydney. @soniakhay →
→ Shreya — Australian Coffee Culture. Premium, plant-based, ready-to-drink cold brews from 100% Australian-grown coffee, fully traceable to the farm. Soft-launched three months ago and already in premium hotels, organic grocers, luxury wellness and corporate. She’s after a social content agency (small budget, be kind), and in return offers a second pair of eyes on anyone’s growth model, account management or sales strategy, plus intros. DM her. australiancoffeeculture.com →
Offers:
→ Content creators for hire. Georgia McFarlane shoots weddings (@thewed.files) and events via her agency (@thecontent.files), captured my wedding, and is doing an Aussie Angels discount. Jess covers weddings up the Byron and southern GC way. Paris (studioblueproductions.com.au ) is running mini content shoots.
→ Need a startup-friendly accountant? The chat rates Coast Accounting and The Integrated CFO (a fractional CFO with a full accounting team, great if you’re scaling and want to be set up properly from the start). coastaccounting.com.au → · theintegratedcfo.com.au →
Capital and the US play:
→ We’re building a US connections channel. So many of you are eyeing the States for funding, expansion or a corporate move, so we’re spinning up a dedicated space, sorted by exactly what you need: investors and angels, events, vendors, industry intros, across health, beauty, tech and consumer. Want in, or sitting on US contacts to share? DM me.
→ A founder house is in the works. Holly is building Build Stateside, a NYC-based founder house for Aussie founders who want to plug into the US ecosystem and raise from US angels and funds. She says A16z, Sequoia and three female-led funds are already in the group. If you’re eyeing a US chapter, add yourself to the list. buildstateside.com → · @hollysanderz →
→ Raising help, US-flavoured. A couple of angels have offered to share what they know on raising in the States: Hailey (fundraising intensives for founders, mostly US contacts) and Caitlin Duryea (just off a US growth chapter, on whether US expansion is even the right move). Reach out if you’re raising and need a sounding board.
Put yourself forward:
→ Forbes 30 Under 30 Australia 2026 nominations are open. Finance, VC, media, entertainment, music, arts, retail, e-commerce, science, social impact, sport, AI and tech. Nominate someone. Nominate yourself. This is your sign. Forbes 30 Under 30 →
Drop your asks in the chat.
08 — JOIN THE CHAT
This newsletter is the highlight reel. The WhatsApp is where we actually live.
Every city, growing weekly. The chat is approval-only so we keep the spammers out.
Overheard this month:
→ “The girls are ON.”
→ “This chat really brings a lot of energy into my life right now.” — Franziska, newly in Sydney
→ “Vibes were high, we were too in it.” — Cathy, on the Adelaide girls’ lunch (no photo survived, because Adelaide girls do it better)
That’s the whole point. Forward this to one girl in your life who’d get it. Tell her to join the WhatsApp.
See you in there. 🤍
Brooke x
Brooke 'corporate speaker' Moody era going to be mega.