The STORIES of startmate

Writing

Your go-to source for yarns, insights and advice from the heart of the Startmate Nation.

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Closing the Gap: Why Mature Businesses and Startups Need Each Other
First Believers
Investments
Community
Closing the Gap: Why Mature Businesses and Startups Need Each Other

By

Bell Allen

February 17, 2026

Laura Wedmaier is the CFO at Norco Cooperative, Australia’s last 100% farmer-owned dairy cooperative. After completing First Believers we sat down to discuss her evolving investment framework.
Impact Doesn’t Retire: What translates from boardrooms to early-stage startups
First Believers
Investments
Community
Impact Doesn’t Retire: What translates from boardrooms to early-stage startups

By

Bell Allen

February 17, 2026

After more than 30 years in strategy consulting, including 25 as a partner at L.E.K., Simon Barrett has worked on over 800 projects around the world. His next mountain to climb, startup investing.
From Outsiders to Insiders: How AgTech Is Opening Its Gates
First Believers
Investments
Community
From Outsiders to Insiders: How AgTech Is Opening Its Gates

By

Bell Allen

February 17, 2026

For generations, agriculture has been defined by those born into it. Join us in conversation with Victoria Taylor, First Believer alumni on the next era for the agriculture industry.
Introducing a Social Enterprise Stream in Launch Club
Launch Club
Community
Introducing a Social Enterprise Stream in Launch Club

By

Holly Brooks

February 11, 2026

Launch Club introduces a Social Enterprise stream to back founders building scalable, sustainable solutions to society’s toughest social and environmental challenges.
Inside Pitch Night and Investor Roulette
Launch Club
Inside Pitch Night and Investor Roulette

By

Bell Allen

December 17, 2025

Stop waiting until your deck is perfect 🤌🤌 For founders, where early investor access isn’t always obvious, this kind of exposure is a srs advantage.
The Anti-Lonely Founder Starter Pack
Launch Club
The Anti-Lonely Founder Starter Pack

By

Bell Allen

December 17, 2025

The myth of the solo founder is so silly 🤣🤣🤪🤪 Like the lone genius building products in their bedroom until one day the worlds like OMG THIS IS SO GOOD. Spoiler: this is a very rare case lol
What happens inside Launch Club?
Launch Club
What happens inside Launch Club?

By

Bell Allen

December 17, 2025

Whhhhhhat is Launch Club? Is it for meeeee? If you're asking these questions, fear not 🦹 We are here to answer all your qualms.
WTF is Launch Club? (and do I need it in 2026?)
Launch Club
WTF is Launch Club? (and do I need it in 2026?)

By

Bell Allen

December 17, 2025

Founding is ah lonely (sometimes). In Launch Club you get to build alongside world-class operators, mentors and founders. Learn more about the pre-accelerator (and wtf that means)
A new chapter at Startmate: After 8 mighty years, Batko is stepping down as CEO
GBU
Community
A new chapter at Startmate: After 8 mighty years, Batko is stepping down as CEO

By

Holly Brooks

December 2, 2025

After eight mighty years as CEO of Startmate, Michael Batko (aka Batko) is passing the baton onto Phoebe Pincus (prev COO), effective immediately. 
Rebuilding the Foundations of Play: In conversation with Marina Zmi, Iggy
Launch Club
Rebuilding the Foundations of Play: In conversation with Marina Zmi, Iggy

By

Bell Allen

November 24, 2025

The first time I met Marina Zmi, she had that spark you see in early founders who’ve turned frustration into true momentum. Her startup, Iggy, is a design-led construction system for kids.
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