Zeller for Startups

Picking the right venture capital (VC) partner can be a game-changer for early-stage founders. Beyond just cutting a cheque, a great VC brings industry connections, mentorship, and long-term support to help your startup thrive. In Australia’s vibrant startup ecosystem, there’s a growing roster of Australian VC firms eager to back the next Canva. This guide introduces some of the most prominent and active VC firms for Australian startups and what they offer. We’ll also touch on why choosing the right VC matters, and what founders should consider when navigating startup funding in Australia. Why choosing the right VC partner matters. One of the first things you should know about raising funds for your startup is that not all investment is created equal. The right VC will provide more than just capital, they’ll become a true partner in your growth. Early-stage founders should consider: Stage & cheque size fit: Ensure the VC firm invests at your stage (pre-seed, seed, Series A, etc.) with cheque sizes that meet your needs. For instance, some funds write first cheques as low as a few hundred thousand dollars, while others lead rounds of $10M and more. Sector focus: Look at the VC’s portfolio and focus areas. A fintech startup may benefit from a fund known for fintech expertise, while a climate tech venture might seek out an impact-focused VC. Value-add & support: Beyond money, what does the VC offer? Many top firms provide hands-on help with hiring, networking, strategy, and follow-on funding. The ideal investor believes in your vision and can open doors in your industry. Cultural fit: All things going well, you’ll be working alongside your investors for years. It helps if their values and expectations align with yours. A supportive, founder-friendly ethos can make the tough journey of building a startup a bit less lonely. Keeping these factors in mind will help you target investors who truly add value and understand your business. Now let’s dive into some of Australia’s top VC firms backing early-stage startups, and what makes each stand out. Square Peg Square Peg is one of Australia’s largest VC firms and has made a serious mark by backing some of the country’s biggest startup successes. Founded in 2012, Square Peg invests from pre-seed through Series C stages. They focus broadly on technology companies, with a particular interest in SaaS, fintech, online marketplaces, and enterprise software. This global fund (with teams in Melbourne, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Singapore) often writes a substantial first cheque (around A$2 million on average in seed or Series A rounds) and can continue supporting startups with follow-on capital into later rounds. Key sectors: SaaS, fintech, online marketplaces, enterprise software Notable startups: Canva, Airwallex, Zeller Website: squarepeg.vc AirTree Ventures AirTree Ventures is a heavyweight in the Australian VC scene, known for its founder-first approach. AirTree invests primarily in early-stage tech startups (seed, Series A and B), and they’ve raised large funds to back bold Aussie and Kiwi founders. AirTree is willing to write a founder’s first cheque at seed stage (around A$200k) – they even set aside a seed fund for this – and then continue supporting companies all the way through $100M+ growth rounds. In practice, that means AirTree can lead your seed round and still be there with deep pockets at Series C and beyond. Key sectors: Broad technology, SaaS, fintech, marketplaces, finance, education, health, agriculture Notable startups: Linktree, Employment Hero, Buildkite, Zepto Website: airtree.vc Blackbird Ventures Blackbird Ventures is often top-of-mind when discussing Aussie startup funding, and for good reason. Blackbird has grown from the new kid on the block in 2012 to managing over A$1 billion across funds by 2022, making it one of Australia’s largest and most active VC firms. Blackbird loves to invest from the very beginning – they’ll back companies at pre-seed, seed or Series A, and continue through growth stages and even to IPO.  In practical terms, Blackbird might invest a small pre-seed cheque (they’ve been known to invest $250k-$1M at seed) and can follow up with multi-million-dollar investments as your company scales (up to $50M in later rounds). Key sectors: Sector-agnostic, software, marketplaces, fintech, space tech, synthetic biology, cybersecurity, cultured meat Notable startups: SafetyCulture, Zoox, Culture Amp, Zipline.io, Rocket Lab, Darwinium, Vow Website: blackbird.vc Folklore Ventures Folklore Ventures (formerly known as Tempus Partners) is an early-stage VC firm committed to backing Australian and New Zealand founders “from first cheque to forever”. They aim to be long-term partners, often writing the very first cheque (pre-seed) and continuing to support startups through growth.  Folklore primarily invests at pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages. They don’t mind getting in early, even pre-product or pre-revenue in many cases, and helping founders navigate those early growth steps. Key sectors: Sector-agnostic, B2B SaaS, AI/analytics, digital health, developer tools, robotics, cloud infrastructure, quantum computing Notable startups: Sajari, UpGuard, Harrison.ai, Propeller Aero, Culture Amp Website: folklore.vc Tidal Ventures Tidal Ventures is a newer VC making waves in the seed-stage arena. Headquartered in Sydney with an outpost in New York, Tidal brands itself as “Seed First, Founder First, Product First, Head First”. They specialise in leading seed rounds and early Series A investments, frequently serving as the first institutional investor a startup secures. Tidal typically writes initial seed cheques ranging from around A$500k to A$1.5M, enabling startups to get off the ground with meaningful early capital. Beyond this initial investment, Tidal maintains the capacity to support its portfolio companies through larger follow-on investments – potentially exceeding A$8M – in subsequent Series A and Series B rounds, underscoring their commitment to long-term partnership and growth. Key sectors: Software, tech-driven businesses, B2B, consumer tech, fintech, SaaS, enterprise software, API-based startups Notable startups: FrankieOne, Shippit, Search.io Website: tidalvc.com Giant Leap If your startup has a mission to change the world for the better, Giant Leap is a VC firm you should know about. Launched in 2016, Giant Leap is Australia’s first venture capital fund 100% dedicated to investing in impact startups. That means they back companies that deliver measurable social or environmental benefits alongside financial returns.  Giant Leap typically invests in early-stage rounds (seed and Series A), often taking a minority stake in purpose-driven tech ventures. By 2021, Giant Leap had invested in over 30 impact companies, showing that doing good and high growth can go hand in hand. Key sectors: Climate tech, renewable energy, sustainable materials, circular economy, digital health, mental health, wellness, edtech, worktech, diversity and inclusion solutions Notable startups: Sendle, Who Gives A Crap Website: giantleap.com.au Glitch Capital One of the most recent yet high profile entrants onto the Australian investment landscape is Glitch Capital, which is the first 'founders fund' based in the Australian region. Glitch Capital is bringing together some of the best local entrepreneurs to help build the next generation of global technology companies. The team founded Glitch around the thesis that it recognises that building a company is hard, chaotic and lonely, yet having investors who have shared experiences can help entrepreneurs navigate the journey. Glitch is comprised of an experienced team who have been entrepreneurs themselves, who aim to share their obsession with building the tech companies of tomorrow, as well as a strong belief in curiosity, humility and skin in the game. Glitch aims to be the preferred investment partner for local founders, helping to navigate the imperfect process of scaling high growth companies. The company has raised over $50m from over 15 unicorn founders and 50 operators that are building companies alongside founders. Glitch invests ~$1-3m from Seed to Series B alongside other VCs in companies who have found product-market fit and want to scale globally. Key sectors: General technology, vertical software, AI, fintech Website: glitchcap.com Set yourself up for fundraising success. The Australian VC landscape has grown and matured significantly over the past decade, so whether you’re building a fintech app, a climate tech solution or something never seen before, there’s likely a firm (or several) with the experience to help you navigate growth. But once you secure that all important term sheet, it’s crucial to manage your funding wisely. This is where tools like Zeller for Startups come in. As Australia’s first all-in-one financial platform for founders, Zeller for Startups can help you handle your new funds – with fee-free business transaction accounts , high-interest savings , and smart debit cards for easy expense management – so you can focus on growth. By picking the right investors and staying on top of your finances, you’ll be well on your way to turning your startup vision into reality .

Launching a startup without a marketing plan is like putting all the effort into throwing a party and then forgetting to invite anyone. For founders juggling a million things, nailing your early-stage marketing can mean the difference between gaining traction and burning through your budget. The good news is you don’t need piles of cash to make an impact, you just need to employ some smart tactics. Here’s our best practice guide on early stage startup marketing. Find your people, then speak their language. Start by understanding who you're targeting. The more specific, the better. Research their needs, pain points, habits and where they spend time online. Are they scrolling Instagram on their lunch break, or browsing LinkedIn late at night? The more you know, the sharper your messaging can be. Use Linkedin surveys, Facebook polls, or informal chats to gather insights from potential customers, stakeholders, and decision makers. You can even create profiles of your ideal customers to guide your marketing. Then, define your value proposition – why your startup exists, how you’re different, and what problem you solve. Once your positioning is clear, build a consistent brand identity. This includes your values, visual style and tone of voice. A strong, consistent brand builds recognition and trust. Stay true to it across all touchpoints, from your website and socials to your email footers and packaging. Create relevant content people actually want. Content marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to bring in leads, and begin to establish your startup’s brand. Instead of just selling, create blog posts, videos, or guides that help your audience solve problems or learn something new. For example, If you’re launching a fintech app, create content that explains industry trends or compliance tips. If you’re in e-commerce logistics, share posts about optimising delivery times or inventory management. Good content is helpful, entertaining, or both. Think about what your ideal customer is Googling, and become the answer to that question. Share real experiences from your journey. Founder stories, customer Q&As, and “how we built this” blogs can humanise your brand and boost engagement. Keep it simple. You don’t need perfectly polished production – even casual videos posted to Linkedin, or blog posts can work if they’re genuinely helpful. Focus on quality and consistency. A post every two weeks or short weekly videos can build trust and improve your visibility over time. Pick your platforms wisely. You don’t need to be everywhere, just where your customers are. For example, Instagram and TikTok are great for building awareness through visual storytelling, especially for consumer brands. LinkedIn suits B2B and tech startups looking to attract talent, connect with early adopters, or raise capital. Facebook can work well for building communities or reaching local audiences with targeted groups and events. Post regularly and respond to comments and messages promptly to show you care. Show behind-the-scenes moments, customer stories, quick tips, or team updates. Early supporters want to see the people behind the product. Use platform analytics to learn what works and tweak your content accordingly. Test different formats, like polls, carousels, reels and live Q&As, then double down on the ones that get traction. Pay attention to what your audience finds engaging. A simple reel or story can often get more traction than a polished campaign. Don’t be afraid to experiment. It’s about connection more than perfection. Avoid paying for every click. If your business has a physical location or serves a specific region, be sure to set up a free Google Business Profile . This boosts your visibility in local search results and maps. It also allows customers to find your contact info, hours, reviews, and photos quickly. Plus, you can post updates and respond to reviews directly, building trust and credibility with minimal effort. Start by thinking about what your customers might be Googling, and build a keyword list around those terms. For example, if you're building a music collaboration platform, you might target phrases like “real-time DAW for remote bands” or “how to record music online with others”. Use these naturally in your landing page headlines, subheadings, and meta descriptions – and make sure your copy actually delivers on what the searcher expects. Google's algorithms are smart enough to spot keyword stuffing or clickbait, so relevance and clarity matter more than cleverness. Use tools like Google Search Console to track your performance, and make sure your site loads quickly and looks good on mobile since most users now browse on their phones. Use free tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to see how your site stacks up. Add internal links between blog posts and product pages, and earn backlinks by guest posting or getting listed in directories. SEO is a slow burn, but the return on investment is massive. Slide into inboxes the right way. Email remains one of the most effective marketing tools for startups. Start building a list early by offering something in return, like a discount, free guide, or early access. Add sign-up forms to your site and social media profiles. Keep your emails simple and relevant. Share updates, tips, or offers that add value. Sharing behind-the-scenes stories or offering early access to new products helps build loyalty and keep your audience engaged. Don’t flood inboxes – one or two emails a month is plenty. Use tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to manage your list and send automated messages. Try to segment your list if you can. For example, send different messages to potential customers vs. returning ones. It helps improve open rates and keeps your emails feeling personal. Over time, your email list becomes an owned audience, one you can speak to directly without relying on algorithms. Say howdy to a partnership. Collaborations can help you expand your reach without having to spend much. Partner with complementary businesses to run joint giveaways, events, or content. Look for partners whose audiences overlap with yours but aren’t direct competitors. You can also trade shoutouts on social media or guest blog posts – it’s a great way to reach new people and build credibility. Bonus points if your partner has a loyal audience and strong brand alignment. Build your fanbase. Your early supporters can become powerful advocates. Create spaces for them to engage, like a private Facebook or WhatsApp group, or even physical meetups. Encourage user-generated content, like photos or stories featuring your product. Repost and celebrate your community. It makes people feel part of your journey and builds word-of-mouth. Ask for testimonials, reviews, and feedback. The more invested your early users feel, the more likely they’ll be to stick around and spread the word. Community-building takes time, but it pays off. Loyal fans are more likely to recommend you, and support your future initiatives. Consider micro-influencers. You don’t need big-name celebrities to get noticed. Micro-influencers (with 1,000 to 20,000 followers) often have higher engagement and charge far less. Find people whose audience aligns with yours and who genuinely like your product. Offer to send them your product for free. If they like it, they may post about it. You can also collaborate on content, like live chats, takeovers, or co-hosted events. Keep it authentic. Influencer content works best when it feels natural, not scripted. Work smarter with automation and AI. Gone are the days of needing a massive team to market like a pro. AI tools can help you move faster, make better decisions, and scale your marketing without blowing your budget. Use platforms like ChatGPT or Claude to brainstorm ideas or refine copy. For design, apps like Canva’s Magic Studio, Adobe Firefly and Google Veo can help you quickly create high-quality graphics, social posts and even video content without needing a full creative team. If you’re running email campaigns, AI features in platforms like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign can recommend send times, subject lines, and automated workflows based on customer behaviour. Not every tool is worth your time – some are all hype and no real help – but the right stack can reduce the tedious work and free you up to focus on strategy and customer connection. Test, tweak, repeat. Use free tools like Google Analytics or social platform insights to track your performance. See what content people engage with, which channels drive traffic, and where conversions come from. Use this data to improve. Set clear goals for each channel, whether it’s traffic, leads, sales, or awareness, and review your progress monthly. Identify your best-performing posts or campaigns and repurpose them elsewhere. Not everything will work, and that’s normal. The key is to test small, learn quickly, and double down on what works. Whether it’s an Instagram ad or a blog series, measure its impact and adapt as needed. Be smart with paid ads. You don’t need a huge budget to try paid marketing. Start small with Facebook, Instagram or Google Ads – even $10 to $20 a day can work to give you insights. Focus your targeting by picking a location, age range and selecting interests relevant to your audience. Set clear goals for these ads. For example, are you aiming for sign-ups, purchases or brand awareness? Watch your results and tweak the creative or audience to improve performance. Don’t spend more until you’re confident the channel works. Test different headlines, visuals, and calls to action. Use A/B testing to refine your ads and improve conversion rates. And always keep an eye on your cost per result, it’ll tell you whether your budget is being spent wisely. Ready, set, grow! Effective startup marketing isn’t about doing everything you can, all at once. It’s about doing the right things well. Focus on your customer, create value consistently, and stay open to trying new tactics. Most importantly, let your passion, personality and purpose come through. There’s a well-known saying in marketing attributed to Simon Sinek – “ People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." Finally, remember marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. But with persistence and a smart approach, you’ll build a presence that grows with your business.

Australia’s first all-in-one financial stack for founders, by founders. Australia’s startup ecosystem is entering a new area of investment speculation following the May 2025 federal election, with the Labor Government’s proposed tax on unrealised gains on superannuation balances exceeding $3 million, foreshadowing a potential impact on future investment in early-stage startups. Self-managed superannuation funds have historically played an essential role in the Australian startup sector. Concerningly, the government’s proposed policy agenda may spell a risk in future investment, which has been flagged by startup advocacy groups, VCs, and local founders. With early-stage startups searching for greater control and visibility over their finances to support them in this emerging landscape, we’re proud to have deployed an all-new solution – designed for founders, by founders. Introducing Zeller for Startups , a free, purpose-built solution that combines every financial tool a founder needs to start and scale. From business accounts and spending cards to high-interest accounts and expense management, Zeller for Startups brings all your cash inflows and outflows into one place, delivering powerful real-time financial oversight. By unifying these tools, Zeller for Startups removes the need to juggle multiple disparate finance applications, and reduces the reliance on outdated banking products built for traditional, bricks-and-mortar businesses. Zeller for Startups was inspired by the experience Zeller’s founding team had in the early days of establishing and navigating Australia’s outdated business banking landscape. With a recent Zeller survey finding that 9 out of 10 (91%) of Australian founders don’t believe the big-4 banks offer financial products designed to help them launch and scale , it’s clear to see these pain points are clearly also felt by the wider startup community. The only all-in-one financial solution for Australian founders. Say goodbye to wasting countless hours setting up and bouncing between bank accounts, excel sheets, and expense trackers. When you open a Zeller for Startups account, you get instant access to a fully integrated cash flow and financial management solution, including: • Feature-rich digital business accounts: Manage and separate funds across teams, projects, expenditure and capital by creating free, unlimited business transaction accounts in minutes, without the need to visit a bank branch. Every individual business account comes with its own BSB and account number, and is armed with BPAY payments, transaction notes for streamlined reconciliation, and instant, real-time fund transfers. • Unlimited startup debit cards: Issue free unlimited virtual or physical Zeller Debit Cards, with no monthly fees or charges. Debit cards can be issued to founders or team members instantly, enabling you to spend in-person or online, pay for recurring software subscriptions, and attach notes or invoices to transactions for enhanced expense tracking. As an exclusive benefit for Zeller for Startups founders, you can even customise your debit cards by adding your logo, giving your brand an extra early-stage boost. • High-interest savings on your capital: You’ll earn  a competitive 3.2% p.a. standard variable rate on funds stored in a Zeller Savings Account . Unlike a term deposit, funds saved with Zeller are never locked-in – so you can make your spare capital work harder, while retaining the flexibility to access and spend your funds whenever you need. • Real-time expense management: Track every expense with Zeller Corporate Cards , which is completely free to founders for the first 12 months. Zeller Corporate Cards can be issued instantly from Zeller App and Dashboard, with spend limits and recurring budgets applied giving you greater control over how and when your team spends. Transactions are automatically categorised to simplify your bookkeeping and keep you on top of your cash flow. • Exclusive partner perks: Founders using Zeller for Startups enjoy discounts on popular business tools to help kickstart their growth. For example, save 90% on Xero accounting software for 6 months, get 3 months free of Employment Hero’s HR platform, and access discounted tax compliance packages from POP Business . How to get up and running with Zeller for Startups. 1. Create your free Zeller account. Sign up for a free account in minutes. It’s fast, fully online, and takes far fewer steps than opening an account with a traditional bank. 2. Set up your finances. Tailor your Zeller for Startups account to suit your business. You can create  separate transaction accounts for specific purposes  (e.g. for operating cash, or an account to store founding capital), design and issue free debit cards, and build your expense categories. You can instantly send virtual cards to your team with defined spending limits when you’re ready for them to start spending. 3. Start tracking your finances. Once your account is set up and funds added, you can start using Zeller for Startups as your primary financial solution. We’d love to hear your feedback. If there are products or features you’d like to see included in your Zeller for Startups account, please get in touch with us at startups@myzeller.com .

Building a startup is exciting, but keeping it financially healthy from day one can feel like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming torches. For early-stage founders, understanding your numbers is key to survival. By monitoring the right KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), you’ll know whether your startup is on track for success, or headed for trouble. Whether you’re launching a cutting-edge SaaS product, a mobile app, or an online marketplace, the fundamentals are the same. Let’s break down 15 of the most important financial metrics that every startup founder should keep an eye on. Sales and growth metrics. First up, let's look at metrics that demonstrate your sales and growth momentum. No matter your business model, you should know how much money is coming in and how your customer base is expanding over time. Tracking these figures helps you spot opportunities to boost growth or catch signs of a slowdown. 1. Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) ($) MRR is the total predictable revenue your startup earns each month from recurring sources like subscriptions or ongoing service contracts. It’s a snapshot of steady monthly income you can count on. For example, if you have 50 customers each paying $100 per month, your MRR is $5,000. 2. Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) ($) ARR is the yearly recurring revenue run rate based on your current monthly recurring income. It tells you how much revenue you’d generate in a year if your subscriber base and pricing stayed consistent. Investors often look at ARR to gauge your startup’s traction on an annual scale. 3. Conversion Rate (%) Conversion rate measures how effectively you turn potential customers into actual customers. It’s usually expressed as a percentage of people who take a desired action out of the total who had the chance. For example, it could be the percentage of website visitors who sign up for your product, or the percentage of free trial users who become paying customers. A higher conversion rate means your marketing and onboarding are working well. 4. Annual Contract Value (ACV) ($) ACV represents the average revenue per customer contract per year. This metric is especially relevant if you sell multi-year deals or annual subscriptions as it helps you understand the yearly value of a customer’s contract. To calculate ACV, take the total value of the contract and divide it by the contract length in years. For example, if a client signs a 2-year contract worth $10,000 in total, the ACV is $5,000 per year. 5. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) ($) ARPU tells you how much revenue you earn from each customer on average, usually per month. You calculate it by dividing your total monthly recurring revenue by the number of active customers that month, which shows the average value of each user. For instance, if your MRR is $5,000 and you have 50 active customers, your ARPU is $100. Tracking ARPU over time can reveal if you’re increasing the value of each customer (through upselling or higher pricing) or if it’s dropping. Customer acquisition and retention metrics. Your customers are the heart of your business, and these metrics examine how much it costs to get new customers and how well you keep them active. By tracking acquisition and retention, you can ensure you’re growing sustainably – gaining new users without losing too many existing ones along the way. 6. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) ($) CAC tells you the average cost of acquiring a new customer. It includes all your marketing and sales spend (ads, promotions, salaries, etc.) divided by the number of new customers gained in that period. Knowing your CAC helps you understand if your growth strategies are cost-effective. For example, if you spent $1,000 on marketing in a month and acquired 100 new customers, your CAC is $10 per customer. 7. Churn Rate (%) Churn rate is the percentage of customers who leave or cancel over a given period. It’s essentially the opposite of your retention rate – if your retention rate is 90%, your churn is 10%. This metric is crucial for any startup with recurring revenue because high churn means you’re losing customers almost as fast as you gain them. For instance, a 5% monthly churn means 5 out of every 100 customers leave each month. 8. Monthly Active Users (MAU) MAU is the number of unique users who actively use your product or service in a given month. “Active” might be defined as logging in, making a transaction, or otherwise engaging with your app, whatever activity matters for your business. This metric shows how well you’re retaining users and keeping them engaged. If your MAU is growing, it means more people are finding value in your product and sticking around. Startups often track MAU to demonstrate user traction, even before revenue ramps up. Cash flow and runway metrics. When you're running a startup, staying on top of your cash flow is everything. You might have great revenue on paper, but if you run out of cash to pay the bills, your startup can’t survive. These metrics focus on your cash usage and how long you can keep operating. They’re especially critical if you’re not yet profitable and are burning through savings or investor funding to drive growth. 9. Burn Rate ($) Burn rate is how much cash your startup is spending each month to operate. In other words, it’s the amount by which your monthly expenses exceed your revenue (if you’re in the red). It shows how quickly you’re “burning” through your cash reserves. For example, if you spend $50,000 in a month and your revenue is $30,000, your burn rate is $20,000 for that month. A high burn rate isn’t sustainable for long, so keeping this number in check is critical. 10. Cash Runway Cash runway tells you how many months you can continue operating at your current burn rate before you run out of money. It’s basically your financial lifeline. For instance, if you have $200,000 in the bank and your burn rate is $20,000 per month, you’ve got about 10 months of runway. Knowing your runway helps you plan ahead – you’ll know when you need to start raising more funds or cutting costs to avoid hitting empty. 11. Operating Cash Flow ($) Operating cash flow is the amount of cash generated (or used) by your core business operations. It excludes things like new financing (loans or investments) and capital expenditures, it’s purely about day-to-day operating money coming in versus going out. This metric tells you if your core business is self-sustaining. If this number is positive, your operations are bringing in more cash than they spend, which is a very good sign. If it’s negative, it means your business needs external funding or additional revenue to cover its costs. Economic metrics. Finally, let’s examine metrics that speak to your startup’s overall economic health and long-term sustainability. These metrics help you understand if your business model makes financial sense in the long run. They cover everything from how much profit you make on each sale to how valuable each customer is over their lifetime, relative to what it costs to acquire them. 12. Payback Period Payback period is the time it takes to recover a given investment. In a startup context, founders often look at how long it takes to earn back the cost of acquiring a customer. (This is sometimes called the CAC payback period.) For example, if your Customer Acquisition Cost is $100 and a customer generates $50 of gross margin for you per month on average, the payback period is 2 months. A shorter payback period is better because it means you recoup your costs sooner. 13. Gross Profit Margin (%) Gross profit margin is the percentage of revenue left after you’ve paid the direct costs associated with your product or service. Those direct costs are often called Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). For a software startup, COGS might include hosting fees, whereas for a hardware product, the COGS includes manufacturing costs. Gross margin basically tells you how much of each dollar of revenue is gross profit. The higher, the better – a healthy gross margin means you have more money available to cover your other expenses (like salaries, rent, and marketing) and invest back into growth. 14. Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) ($) LTV is the total revenue you expect to earn from a typical customer over the entire time they remain a customer. In other words, how valuable an average customer is to your startup in the long run. A higher LTV means each customer is contributing more to your bottom line over time, either because they stay with you for a long time or because they purchase repeatedly.  For a subscription business, for example, you might calculate LTV by taking the monthly revenue per user (ARPU) and multiplying it by the average number of months a customer stays subscribed. 15. LTV:CAC Ratio This ratio compares the lifetime value of a customer (LTV) to the cost of acquiring that customer (CAC). It’s a quick way to gauge the efficiency of your business model – are you getting significantly more value from a customer than what you spent to get them? As a rule of thumb, an LTV:CAC around 3:1 or higher is often considered healthy in the startup world, meaning you get about $3 or more in lifetime revenue for every $1 spent acquiring a customer.  If the ratio is much lower (say 1:1), you’re spending nearly as much to acquire a customer as they bring in, which may not be sustainable. If it’s extremely high, it could mean you have room to invest more in acquiring customers to drive faster growth. The right tools make all the difference. As a founder, knowing these metrics is only half the battle. The other half is tracking them consistently and acting on what they tell you. Having the right tools to keep tabs on your financial metrics makes things much easier.  Zeller for Startups is designed with this in mind. It’s completely free to sign up, and you’ll get instant access to zero-fee business transaction accounts , smart debit cards for real-time expense tracking, high-interest savings accounts and more.

Startup culture isn’t just table tennis, pizza Fridays and funny GIFs on Slack. Those things are all great, but they’re not really what drives people to stay up late solving hard problems or rally behind a shared mission. The real culture of a startup lives in what people do when no one’s watching – how they make decisions, handle conflict, support each other and show up when things get tough. A company’s culture is like an iceberg: the visible stuff above the surface may get attention, but the bulk of what matters lies beneath in the shared values, behaviours and assumptions that shape how your team operates. Culture is an invisible force that can either propel your startup forward, or quietly pull it apart. That’s why building a healthy, sustainable team culture can’t be left to chance. Why startup culture matters from day one. Culture isn't a "nice-to-have", it's a critical foundation. Your early team sets the tone for everything that follows. Toxic personalities or bad habits can veer your company off course, sometimes quickly. As the saying goes, ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast’. Even the best business plan falters if the company's culture is misaligned. Studies show founders' cultural choices can actually have more impact on startup success than even the initial idea or funding. A well-cultivated culture inspires motivation, collaboration and resilience. Conversely, a dysfunctional culture leads to miscommunication, low morale and high turnover, potentially lethal for an early-stage company. By prioritising culture from the start, you lay the groundwork for sustainable growth. Practical team-building strategies for startups. Even with just a few team members, you can build a great culture. Here’s how. Hire for values and cultural fit, not just skills: Each early hire has an outsized impact. Look beyond technical talent for people who share your core values and mission. One arrogant "rock star" can drag everyone down, whereas someone passionate and collaborative lifts your culture every day. Foster open communication and transparency: Create a culture of trust and dialogue. Encourage everyone to speak up and share ideas freely. Lead with transparency about goals and challenges. When people feel heard and understand what's happening, they become more invested. Invest in team-building and celebrate wins: Strengthen bonds with simple activities like team lunches, monthly outings, or virtual games. Celebrate small wins by toasting project launches or giving shout-outs.  Encourage personal and professional growth: Support teammates in improving their skills and advancing their careers through online courses, mentorships, or passion projects. When people feel they're growing with the business, they stay motivated. As a founder, be a coach helping each person reach their potential. Recognise and reward contributions: Acknowledge hard work through public compliments, rewards or promotions. Also, give detailed, constructive feedback frequently so everyone knows how to improve. Good feedback is gold. Share ownership and encourage leadership: Give your team real ownership of their work. Set clear outcomes and let individuals find their path without micromanagement. This autonomy speeds execution and develops future leaders. Reward initiative and accountability to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset. Define and maintain your values as you grow. Define your startup's core values early. These guiding principles explain what your company stands for and how team members should behave.   Start by asking, what values do we want to embody? What behaviours are non-negotiable? Brainstorm with your early team, then distill the list to specific, meaningful values rather than buzzwords. For example instead of "Integrity," choose actionable phrases like "Customer first" or "Speak up." Make values a living part of your company. Introduce them during onboarding, weave them into conversations, and use them in decision-making. Be prepared to evolve values as your team grows. Revisit them at milestone team sizes (e.g. 10, 20, 50 employees) to ensure they still resonate. Include newer team members in these discussions to integrate their perspectives. Balance flexibility with accountability. Startup culture typically embraces flexibility – minimal bureaucracy, adaptable processes, flexible working arrangements. This flexibility is advantageous for moving fast, but must balance with accountability. Think of it as being loose and tight in the right places: loose in how people work, tight in the outcomes they deliver. It might not matter what time of day your developer writes code or if your graphic designer works remotely, that's flexibility. But pair it with clear expectations about quality standards, deadlines, and targets. Each team member should understand what they owe the team. Set clear, transparent goals for the company and individuals so everyone knows what they're aiming for. Track progress regularly through brief check-ins or project boards. Empower team members with ownership of their domains, giving them decision-making authority alongside responsibility for outcomes. When mistakes happen, focus on solutions and learning rather than blame. Maintain open communication where anyone can flag concerns early. As a founder, model this balance yourself by demonstrating accountability in your actions while respecting healthy boundaries. Steer clear of toxic hustle culture. The startup world often glorifies "hustle", 80-hour weeks and an always-on mentality. While hard work is necessary, toxic hustle culture ultimately causes burnout. A culture expecting frequent late nights and constant availability might yield short-term output spikes, but isn't sustainable. Chronically overworked employees become less productive and more likely to quit. Instead, cultivate lasting motivation through balance. Emphasise working smarter rather than just long hours. Value results, creativity and wellbeing over time logged.   Of course, there will be crunch times in any startup, for example a late night before a big launch, but ensure everyone knows these are temporary sprints. After intense periods, provide an opportunity for recovery time. This way, people understand that pushing hard is occasional, not constant. Embed equity, inclusion and wellbeing from the outset. Build principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and wellbeing into your culture from the beginning. It's easier to establish inclusive practices early than retrofit them later. Diverse teams bring different perspectives, leading to better problem-solving and innovation. Be mindful in early hires to build a varied team. Inclusion means everyone feels valued and heard, so ensure meetings aren't dominated by the loudest voices and rotate leadership opportunities. Focus on equity and fairness. Use consistent criteria for promotions and raises. Give all team members equal access to opportunities and recognition. Be transparent about stock options or other benefits. Establish zero tolerance for bias or discrimination. Prioritise wellbeing culturally. Encourage reasonable work hours and ensure people take leave and breaks. Support mental and physical health through traditions like "Wellness Wednesday" walks or meditations. Be flexible during personal challenges. Work-life balance fuels sustained performance. Document and communicate your team strategy. As your startup grows, documenting your culture and building a team strategy becomes essential to keeping everyone aligned. This isn't about rigid rules, it's about clarity. Create a culture handbook or team operating manual to capture your mission, values, and working norms in writing. Include your mission statement, core values, key practices, and illustrative stories. Share it externally to attract like-minded talent and inform partners about your company values. Treat this as a living document and revisit it as you grow to ensure it remains relevant. By the time you’ve grown to a certain number of employees (say ten or so), host a workshop to review values and update the handbook. Actively communicate your culture beyond documentation. Share strategic updates openly. Encourage managers to discuss values in one-on-ones. Reinforce cultural messages during onboarding and through varied reminders like newsletters, Slack updates, or workspace posters. Clear communication boosts trust. When your team understands what's happening and why, they're more engaged and accountable. Lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth. Building sustainable culture requires continuous effort, such as constantly listening to your team, refining your approaches, and leading by example. The payoff is a thriving startup powered by a motivated team that believes in what they're doing. Sustainable growth also requires solid operational foundations. Even great culture can be undermined by stress over late payments or messy expense processes. Tools that streamline financial management free you to focus on team and product development.That’s where tools like Zeller for Startups come in. From fee-free business accounts to smart corporate cards with real-time expense tracking to high-interest savings accounts and more, Zeller for Startups has all the financial management tools to help you build a business that lasts. Create a culture that scales with you. A sustainable startup culture doesn't happen accidentally, it's built through deliberate actions and mindful leadership. From hiring and communication to preventing burnout and promoting inclusivity, every choice shapes your company's cultural fabric. Get these fundamentals right early, and you'll create a workplace that attracts talent, maintains passion, and drives growth while being a genuinely great place to work.

When first getting set up, many founders choose to operate out of a coworking space rather than invest in the heavy expense of setting up their own office. It’s a great way to keep expenses low and maintain flexibility before committing to a fixed-term lease. It can also be an excellent opportunity to network with likeminded professionals working across a variety of industries. Australia's coworking landscape has evolved rapidly over the last decade or so, offering you a variety of shared office spaces tailored to diverse needs. When looking for the best coworking spaces in Australia, you'll find everything from eco-conscious hubs to tech-centric workspaces. Whether you're seeking a tranquil studio or a fast-paced innovation centre, there’s something to cater to freelancers and startup entrepreneurs alike. The growing emphasis on wellness, sustainability, and community has shaped these spaces into places where ideas can thrive and businesses can grow. With a great place to work from and the right tools to run your business efficiently, you’re better equipped to focus on growth, not admin. Here’s a curated list of the top coworking spaces in Australia to inspire your next venture. Best coworking spaces in Sydney. Fishburners Positioned on bustling York Street, Fishburners is one of Sydney’s most iconic startup-focused coworking spaces. Fishburners supports early-stage founders with access to a thriving community, regular pitch nights, mentorship from industry experts, and a lineup of workshops and events. The facility features breakout zones, tech-enabled meeting rooms, event spaces, and casual seating areas. Level 2, 11 York St, Sydney NSW 2000 fishburners.org The Porter Located on O’Connell Street in the heart of the CBD, The Porter blends luxury and functionality in a coworking space tailored for digital collaboration and creative work. With event areas, studios, and thoughtfully designed meeting rooms, it provides an elevated experience for members. Signature spaces like ‘The Library’ and ‘The Chalet’ add character and comfort, while premium touches such as onsite catering and concierge-style services create a seamless, hospitality-driven workday.   If your startup requires significant upfront capital – such as for product development, engineering, technical infrastructure, inventory, or team recruitment – you'll likely need the support of external funding. Still, even a short period of bootstrapping shows investors you're dedicated and know how to responsibly manage your startup finances. Having some traction before raising money can also lead to better terms. Ground Floor, 1 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000 theportersydney.com.au Stone & Chalk Situated on York Street, Stone & Chalk is a pioneering coworking hub dedicated to supporting Australia’s tech and fintech innovators. The space offers flexible desks, private offices, venue hire, and access to a highly engaged community of entrepreneurs, investors, and partners. Its unique value lies in the robust support ecosystem, which includes accelerator programs, growth mentoring, and industry connections that help businesses scale with purpose and confidence. Level 4, 11 York St, Sydney NSW 2000 stoneandchalk.com.au Hub Hyde Park Located just steps from Sydney’s iconic Hyde Park, this coworking space offers a serene yet productive atmosphere with plenty of natural light and greenery. Hub Hyde Park combines stylish interiors with functional amenities like high-speed internet, private phone booths, event areas, and wellness facilities including bike storage and meditation rooms. Its location near cafés and transport hubs makes it a popular choice for professionals seeking both convenience and calm. 223 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 hubaustralia.com The Commons With its design-led interiors and emphasis on creativity and sustainability, The Commons is one of Sydney’s most visually inspiring coworking environments that operates in a range of locations across the CBD. The space includes a mix of hot desks, dedicated desks, and private offices, as well as communal kitchens, libraries, and rooftop gardens. Members enjoy access to wellness classes, panel events, and workshops that encourage both personal and professional growth, all in a welcoming, community-first atmosphere. The Commons also operates multiple spaces in Melbourne, too. 388 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 thecommons.com.au Best coworking spaces in Melbourne. The Cluster Situated on Queen Street in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, The Cluster boasts sweeping panoramic views of the city skyline. It provides a diverse range of workspaces – from hot desks to private suites – as well as numerous meeting rooms, training spaces, and event areas. The space is thoughtfully designed with plush interiors, greenery, and art-filled walls, creating a calm yet energising environment. Members benefit from concierge services, a stocked kitchen, and a program of curated professional development events. Level 17 & 20, 31 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000 thecluster.com.au Central House Located in vibrant South Melbourne, Central House focuses on the holistic wellbeing of its members. The space is equipped with a golf simulator, indoor basketball court, and a fully staffed gym, alongside more traditional office essentials like private offices and meeting rooms. Weekly wellness classes, ergonomic furniture, secure bike storage, and an onsite gourmet café make it ideal for professionals who value health and wellness as much as productivity. 101 Moray St, South Melbourne VIC 3205 centralhouse.com.au WeWork With several prime locations across the city, including Collins Street and Exhibition Street, WeWork Melbourne offers sleek, contemporary coworking spaces suited to teams of all sizes. Members enjoy access to high-speed internet, beautifully designed lounges, private phone booths, and fully equipped meeting rooms. Community managers organise regular workshops, happy hours, and networking events that foster collaboration between freelancers, startups, and enterprise teams alike. Level 22, 120 Spencer St, Melbourne VIC 3000 wework.com Space & Co. Space & Co. provides premium coworking environments in key Melbourne business districts, such as Bourke Street and Southbank. Designed with modern professionals in mind, the spaces offer flexible work areas, quiet zones, tech-equipped boardrooms, and event spaces. The interiors combine industrial design with warm natural tones, encouraging creativity and focus. Space & Co. also supports innovation through partnerships with universities and startups, creating a vibrant, forward-thinking atmosphere. 530 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 gpt.com.au/office/space-co Happy Spaces Located 90 minutes to Melbourne’s west, Happy Spaces in beautiful Torquay offers a relaxed, community-driven coworking environment just steps from the beach. The space is designed to promote well-being and work-life balance, featuring sun-drenched hot desks, comfortable lounge areas, and a breezy outdoor balcony perfect for casual meetings or solo brainstorming sessions.  4 Gilbert St, Torquay VIC 3228 happyspaces.com.au The Commons The Commons offers beautifully designed coworking spaces across Melbourne, including prime locations like South Melbourne, Collingwood and Cremorne. Each space blends stylish interiors with world-class amenities such as private offices, breakout lounges, podcast studios and rooftop gardens. With a strong focus on community and collaboration, The Commons hosts regular events and workshops that bring entrepreneurs, creatives and growing businesses together. 80 Market St, South Melbourne VIC 3205 thecommons.com.au CreativeCubes.co CreativeCubes.Co offers vibrant coworking spaces designed to energise and support entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. With multiple locations across Victoria – including South Melbourne, Carlton, Collingwood, East Melbourne, Hawthorn, Richmond, Melbourne CBD, Geelong, and an upcoming site in Balaclava – each space provides flexible office solutions, meeting rooms, event spaces and a focus on fostering a thriving, supportive community. Members enjoy premium amenities and regular networking opportunities designed to help businesses grow and succeed.​ Various locations across Melbourne and Victoria creativecubes.co Best coworking spaces in Brisbane. WOTSO Fortitude Valley Nestled in the heart of Fortitude Valley, WOTSO offers a vibrant and inclusive workspace with a range of amenities including bookable meeting rooms, communal kitchen areas, and flexible desk options. The space fosters creativity and collaboration through regular networking events and social activities. Its 24/7 access, pet-friendly policy, and month-to-month memberships make it a great solution for freelancers, small teams, and remote workers. Level 1, 76 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 wotso.com Fishburners Located in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, Fishburners is a renowned startup hub that has played a key role in the growth of the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Members enjoy access to expert mentorship, educational workshops, pitch practice sessions, and a supportive community of like-minded innovators. The space includes breakout rooms, conference areas, casual lounges, and an onsite café, creating an ideal environment for productivity and collaboration. Level 3, 155 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000 fishburners.org River City Labs Situated in Fortitude Valley, River City Labs has become a cornerstone for Brisbane’s tech and innovation community. It offers a collaborative environment featuring hot desks, private offices, event spaces, and tech-enabled meeting rooms. Members benefit from accelerator programs, investor connections, and a strong focus on scaling tech ventures. The welcoming atmosphere and strategic support make it a go-to space for growing startups. Level 3, TCB Building, 315 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 rivercitylabs.net The Cove Located in Newstead, The Cove blends functionality with style. The coworking space features underground parking, a business concierge service, on-site technicians, and soundproof phone booths. The interior reflects a calming, ocean-inspired theme with Nordic accents, helping to create a serene work atmosphere. The Cove regularly hosts mindfulness sessions and member breakfasts, adding to its appeal for professionals seeking a well-rounded work experience. 59 Doggett St, Newstead QLD 4006 covecowork.com.au Mobo Co Mobo Co is a cutting-edge coworking space situated in the striking MOBO building in South Bank. With sweeping views of the Brisbane River, this premium space offers high-speed internet, private suites, meeting rooms, and wellness amenities like yoga classes and a gym. Members enjoy a concierge service, rooftop bar access, and curated networking events that build a strong community of ambitious professionals. 88 Tribune St, South Brisbane QLD 4101 mobocowork.com Best coworking spaces in Adelaide. The Innovation Factory Located in Adelaide's CBD, The Innovation Factory supports entrepreneurs and small businesses with resources like high-speed internet, unlimited printing, and several meeting rooms. It also offers tailored business mentoring, a calendar of industry-specific events, and collaborative workshops. The space is designed to encourage networking, with open-plan layouts and breakout zones perfect for exchanging ideas. 217-219 Flinders St, Adelaide SA 5000 innovationfactory.com.au MÂCHÉ Situated on Pulteney Street, MÂCHÉ is an eco-conscious space designed for creativity and collaboration across various industries. Features include sound-insulated media rooms, phone booths, and shared amenities, all within a sustainably built environment. Members also benefit from regular events focused on sustainability and design. 451 Pulteney St, Adelaide SA 5000 machecoworking.com.au Little City Coworking Little City Coworking offers modern office spaces in Prospect, surrounded by cafes and shops. The environment is warm and professional, featuring private offices, dedicated desks, multiple meeting rooms, and call booths. The space fosters a close-knit community feel, with member-driven initiatives like lunchtime meetups, monthly socials, and skill-sharing sessions. 118 Prospect Rd, Prospect SA 5082 littlecity.com.au Hub Adelaide Found at 89 Pirie Street, Hub Adelaide combines contemporary flair with a heritage façade. It offers a bustling ground floor café, high-tech building services, and is surrounded by Adelaide's best galleries, as well as Rundle Mall. Hub members enjoy access to professional development events, wellness programs, and curated networking opportunities. 89 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000 hubaustralia.com Majoran A well-established coworking space in the Adelaide CBD, Majoran is perfect for startups and tech companies. It provides a collaborative environment with various amenities to support innovation, including pitch nights, mentoring opportunities, and access to a community of like-minded entrepreneurs. With a strong focus on technology and innovation, Majoran continues to be a launchpad for emerging businesses in South Australia. 14 Grenfell St, Adelaide SA 5000 majoran.co CreativeCubes.co (Coming June 2025) CreativeCubes.Co is soon to expand into Adelaide, bringing its vibrant coworking culture to South Australia for the first time. Known for creating inspiring spaces that fuel productivity, community and business growth, CreativeCubes.Co offers premium amenities, flexible office solutions and a strong focus on member happiness. With multiple successful locations already across Melbourne and Geelong, their Adelaide site promises to deliver the same energy, support and entrepreneurial spirit for startups, small businesses and remote teams alike. 30 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000 creativecubes.co Best coworking spaces in Perth. WeWork Located in the iconic Central Park Tower, WeWork offers a premium coworking experience in the heart of Perth’s CBD. The space features expansive, light-filled lounges, ergonomic workstations, and fully equipped conference rooms designed to foster productivity and collaboration. Members benefit from high-speed internet, on-site support staff, and thoughtfully designed common areas, ensuring a seamless work environment. ​WeWork in Perth accommodates teams of various sizes, offering flexible solutions from hot desks to private offices and full-floor suites. With its strategic location and comprehensive amenities, it's an ideal choice for WA businesses seeking a dynamic and supportive workspace. 152 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 wework.com Spacecubed Also situated in Perth’s CBD, Spacecubed is a flagship coworking hub supporting startups, entrepreneurs, and change-makers. The space offers everything from hot desks to private offices, event venues, and innovation programs. Members benefit from mentorship opportunities, funding initiatives, and access to a large network of founders and professionals. Spacecubed also runs incubators and accelerators, making it a go-to destination for those looking to launch or scale their ventures in Western Australia. 45 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 spacecubed.com Riff Located in the vibrant Northbridge area, Riff is a stylish and modern coworking space under the Spacecubed umbrella. It combines a sleek industrial aesthetic with practical features like tech-ready meeting rooms, high-speed internet, and comfortable breakout areas. The space is known for its inclusive, collaborative culture, and is home to creatives, social enterprises, and startups. Regular community lunches and professional events foster deep connections among members. 45 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 riffcoworking.com Flux Located on St Georges Terrace, Flux is a dynamic coworking space tailored for entrepreneurs and professionals seeking flexibility and connection. It features open-plan desks, dedicated offices, cutting-edge meeting rooms, and collaborative breakout zones. Members enjoy access to events, workshops, and investor networks, all within a stylish, architect-designed setting. The rooftop terrace adds a unique touch, perfect for casual chats or after-work events. 191 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 fluxperth.com fSpace Located just under 20km from Perth in the heart of Fremantle, fSpace offers a relaxed yet professional coworking environment ideal for creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Set within the historic Princess Chambers building, the space boasts abundant natural light, sea breezes, and a vibrant community atmosphere. Amenities include high-speed fibre optic internet, meeting rooms, shared kitchen facilities, and flexible membership options. Its central location provides easy access to cafés, boutiques, and public transport, making it a convenient choice for professionals seeking a dynamic workspace.​ 18/27 Market Street, Fremantle WA 6160 fspace.me Let’s get you working. Whether you're a freelancer or a startup entrepreneur, these coworking spaces offer environments that go well beyond just desks and Wi-Fi. The diversity of offerings means you’ll find something to suit almost every working style and industry. But there’s a lot more to starting a thriving business than just finding a great place to work from. Among the many things to take care of is finding the right tools to make running the financial side of your business as efficient as possible.  We’ve designed Zeller for Startups to give founders an all-in-one financial solution that offers everything you’d expect from a traditional bank, and so much more. From fee-free business transaction accounts and smarter business debit cards to high-interest savings accounts and exclusive founder rewards from the likes of Xero and Employment Hero, there’s everything you need to get your startup off the ground – fast.

Raising capital is one of the biggest challenges facing Australian startups. In fact, in a recent survey by Zeller , 94% of local tech founders cited fundraising as their top hurdle, followed by financial management.   If you're an early-stage founder wondering how to secure funding in Australia, you're not alone. The good news is that these days there are more funding options available than ever, from government grants and accelerators, to angel investors and VCs. This guide outlines the different paths to fundraising for your startup, along with tips to make the most of each option. Bootstrapping and self-funding. Bootstrapping simply means using your own money – whether that’s your savings, income from a day job, or early sales – to fund your business. It’s the most straightforward way to retain full control and ownership as you don’t have to give up equity or answer to external investors, making it ideal if you want to build on your terms. But bootstrapping demands discipline. You’ll need to stretch every dollar as far as you can, track your expenditure closely to ensure you’re keeping costs down, and focus on reaching profitability fast. This often involves launching with a minimum viable product (MVP), finding low-cost marketing strategies (such as referral programs or leveraging social media), and maintaining a lean operation. Many successful startups begin this way. That said, bootstrapping isn’t ideal for every business.  If your startup requires significant upfront capital – such as for product development, engineering, technical infrastructure, inventory, or team recruitment – you'll likely need the support of external funding. Still, even a short period of bootstrapping shows investors you're dedicated and know how to responsibly manage your startup finances. Having some traction before raising money can also lead to better terms. Pro tip: Document your early wins. Investors like to see founders who’ve achieved progress with limited resources as it signals resilience and vision. Fundraising from friends and family. Once personal funds start running low, founders sometimes turn to friends and family for limited initial capital raising. These people already believe in you, so they might accept a higher level of risk than a VC or professional investor. It’s a common early-stage funding step, especially if you require modest capital to develop a prototype or reach your first customers. Still, it should be approached with care. Even though the relationship is personal, you should treat it like a business deal. Be clear about whether the money is a loan, a gift, or an investment, and formalise everything in writing. Using tools like SAFE notes (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) or convertible notes allows informal investors to gain equity later, once you raise a proper round. Raising money from loved ones can strain relationships if things don’t go well. Only take what you truly need, and make sure everyone understands the risks. Some startups go years before returning capital to early investors – and some never do. Government grants and support programs Australia offers a wide range of government support for startups. Unlike loans or investment, most grants are non-dilutive and don’t require repayment, making them a valuable source of early-stage funding.​ The most well-known is the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive , which refunds up to 43.5% of eligible R&D expenses. If your startup is working on new technologies, this can significantly reduce burn. Another popular program is the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) , which helps cover international expansion costs.​ There are also many state-level grants and startup challenges. For instance, LaunchVic in Victoria offers funding and support for innovation-focused businesses. In New South Wales, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Ventures Program provides grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 to help startups commercialise innovative products or processes. ​ These grants often require businesses to meet criteria around location, industry, or stage.​ If you haven’t already, check out the government’s Grants and Programs Finder to see if there could be something suitable for you. Applying can be time-consuming, but the payoff is often worth it. Be ready to justify how the funds would be used and how they’d contribute to your growth. Startup accelerators and incubators. Accelerators and incubators support early-stage founders through mentoring, resources, and often seed funding. Accelerators typically run structured programs over a few months, ending in a pitch event or demo day. In exchange for equity, they may offer anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000, alongside  intensive business dev elopment support. Well-known Australian accelerators include Startmate, muru-D, and BlueChilli. These programs are competitive, but graduating from one can significantly boost your credibility and access to investors. Incubators are less structured and may not offer funding but provide office space, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Some are affiliated with universities or corporates and help commercialise research or develop early-stage ideas. The non-monetary benefits of these programs – exposure, mentorship and networking – can be just as valuable as the funding itself. Crowdfunding. Crowdfunding has grown as a legitimate funding path for startups, and there are two main types: Product crowdfunding: Platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo let you pre-sell a product in exchange for future delivery or rewards. It’s ideal for consumer goods, gadgets, or creative projects, and helps validate market demand, but it requires a strong campaign and careful fulfillment planning. Most platforms are all-or-nothing – if you don’t hit your goal, you get nothing. Equity crowdfunding: Since 2018, Australian startups can raise up to $5 million per year from retail investors in exchange for equity, using platforms like Birchal, Equitise, and OnMarket. This opens up your funding to the general public, and is especially effective if your brand has community appeal. Crowdfunding is a marketing effort as much as a fundraising one. You'll need a compelling story, strong visual assets, and a plan to engage directly with supporters to maximise your investment potential. It can be a good option if you want to build brand awareness while raising capital. Angel investors. Angel investors are high-net-worth individuals who fund startups, usually in early stages, with investments ranging from $10,000 to several hundred thousand dollars. Australian groups like Sydney Angels and Melbourne Angels are actively investing in startups across various sectors. Angels are often former founders or industry veterans, and many provide mentorship and strategic guidance in addition to capital. They typically invest via SAFE notes or convertible notes, which delay equity valuation until a future round. To attract angels, have a solid pitch deck, an early product or traction, and a clear growth plan. Research angels who align with your sector or business model. Getting an angel on board can lend your startup credibility and help you reach larger investors down the track. Venture capital. Venture capital funding in Australia is competitive, but thriving. Firms like Square Peg, Apex Capital Partners, Blackbird Ventures, and AirTree back high-growth companies with multi-million-dollar investments across a longer-term partnership. VCs (venture capitalists) are looking for businesses with large addressable markets, scalable models, and traction – not just ideas. You'll need a proven team, a strong product, and revenue or growth metrics (be it firm projections, or realised figures). The VC process includes extensive due diligence, so be ready to share your financials, projections, and cap table. VCs may sometimes also take a board seat and expect a say in key decisions. While they can accelerate growth, VC funds come at a price – dilution and control. Be sure that venture funding aligns with your company’s goals before pursuing it. If you’re looking at getting VC investment, warm introductions through other founders, angels, or accelerators can significantly improve your chances of getting a meeting. Business loans for startups. Loans offer a non-dilutive path to funding, which can be attractive to startup founders who want to retain full ownership and control.   Traditional lenders may require a trading history, collateral, or a personal guarantee. These hurdles can make loans difficult to secure early on. However, if you have existing revenue, purchase orders, or assets, you might qualify. Alternative and fintech lenders, like Prospa or Capify, offer faster application processes and unsecured options. Be cautious – interest rates can be higher, and repayments start immediately. Some founders use credit cards or overdrafts to manage short-term cash flow. While risky, it can work if the borrowed funds drive growth that covers the debt. Only borrow what you can realistically repay, and make sure any debt supports revenue-generating activities. Pitch competitions and startup events. Startup pitch events can be a great opportunity to refine your pitch, build visibility, and meet investors. Across Australia, competitions range from university challenges to major events like StartCon or SXSW Sydney, where prize pools can reach six figures. You might not win every contest, but participating builds your confidence, sharpens your story, and connects you with the ecosystem. Winning smaller awards can also add up and provide early, non-dilutive capital. If you decide to compete, make sure to tailor your pitch to the judges and practice until it’s smooth. Use any prize money strategically to hit meaningful milestones, like launching your product or scaling up your marketing. Set yourself up for financial success. Raising capital is only half the equation. Once you have funds, managing them wisely is equally crucial. Many founders struggle with outdated banking tools and disjointed systems when they simply don’t have to. Modern platforms like Zeller for Startups provide banking, payments, and expense management all in one place, streamlining the finance side of things considerably.   Pro tip: Be sure to open a dedicated business account, like a Zeller Business Transaction Account , to keep your personal and business separate. Plus, you can integrate it with accounting tools like Xero or MYOB to streamline your tracking and reporting. Make it work for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to raising funds. Most startups use a combination of bootstrapping, grants, investors, and competitions to grow. Stay flexible, persistent, and realistic. Every rejection is an opportunity to learn something – about your pitch, your timing, or your market. Finally, remember that the end goal isn’t securing funding, it’s building a successful, sustainable business, so make sure your capital is always fuelling progress, not just buying time.