The Tech Ready Women Investment Ready Program 2025 Cohort 2 is a program to equip women with the skills, network and confidence to raise capital.

What the Tech Ready Women Female Founder Startup Program covers

This 5-month program is focuses on:

• learning practical knowledge and tools to prepare for and navigate the capital-raising process
• warm introductions to investors
• guidance from mentors that invest or successfully raised capital;
• due diligence support
• improving your confidence

The learning modules cover:

• Startup and Capital Funding Strategy
• Setting Up to Raise Capital
• Market and Unique Value Proposition
• Business Model and Financial Forecasting
• Startup and Team Performance
• The Capital Raise

After that, the program provides Q&A, Monthly Group Check-In, and Monthly 1:1 Advisory.

Eligibility

This program is for female founders with innovative businesses that have:

• A scalable solution that solves a problem for one or multiple customer groups;
• Some traction as noted by initial users and/or customer revenue; and
• A company structure, or in the process of undertaking company registration.

Cost of the Program

There are 2 programs on offer. 

One just for Qld residents with 20 part scholarships available which reduce the cost from of $6,295 inc GST to $795.30 inc GST

All other founders can apply for the National Program with 20 openings for at the cost of $6,295 inc GST (there is a 5% discount pre 8 March 2025). 

Note One TRW Investment Ready National Program participant will receive $50,000 in cash and support services from Scalare Partners to help scale their business.  This investment includes at least $25,000 in cash plus $25,000 in support services.

Learn More

Applications are now open.  They close for the National Cohort on 24 March 2025.  The Qld cohort closes on 17 March 2025

Click here to learn more

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

The Tech Ready Women Female Founder Startup Program is a program to help female founders to test and launch their idea in the market.

This program is comprised of online modules delivered over 8 weeks that are taught by experts who have “been there, done that” experience.  There is also weekly mentoring sessions and an online community where you are able to connect and chat with our mentors, industry experts and female founders, who are on their startup journey.

What the Tech Ready Women Female Founder Startup Program covers

Over the 8 weeks the program cover topics such as:

• Customer & Market Discovery
• Business & Financial Modelling
• Developing your MVP
• Tech & Product Management
• Prototyping & UX Design
• Startup Legals
• Pitch Preparation

Eligibility

This program is open to female permanent residents and Australian citizens, who have an idea for a tech startup.  And you also do not have to have prior experience in order to apply.

Cost of the Program

There are 50 part scholarships for NSW residents available reducing the program cost to $723 ex GST, as compared to the full program cost of $2,723 ex GST.

There are 50 part scholarships for non NSW residents available reducing the program cost to $2,000 ex GST, as compared to the full program cost of $2,723 ex GST.

Learn More

Click here to learn more and register your interest for the next round of the Tech Ready Women Female Founder Startup Program

Note there is an online webinar about the program where you can ask questions on 20 March 2025

The key dates for the next round for NSW Residents are:

Applications deadline: 31 March 2025

Program starts: 12 May 2025

Program ends: 7 July 2025

The key dates for the next round for non NSW Residents are:

Applications deadline: 31 March 2025

Program starts: 9 May 2025

Program ends: 4 July 2025

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

Enterprising Me Female Founder Festivals are back for 2025

These are free events, for female founders at any stage of their business life cycle.

Female Founders attending this event will benefit from:

# Supported networking with other female founders, industry peers and experts

# Question time with a panel of female founders

# Industry reps on-site with vital resources for female founders

# tips to help you submit a stand-out entry to their 2025 Kickstarter Challenge, where you could win a part of  we $60K of equity-free funding

# Free professional headshots

Learn More

The Sydney event is on 26 March and I expect it will “sell out” quickly.

Click here to learn more and book your ticket

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

The 2025 Flight Centre Corporate Travel Grant is now open for applications.  Under this, your business could have the chance to claim a share in $40,000 of travel grant “prizes”.

Note it is called a prize as this deemed to be a competition or promotion and not a formal grant application process that you usually see.  It is defined by Flight Centre as “a game of skill and will be judged on the most creative answer”.

Winner gets $30,000+ in prizes including $20,000 in Virgin Australia Travel credits.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must:

• Own or be employed by a Small or Medium business (1-250 employees)
• Sign up (if not already a member) to Virgin Australia’s Business Flyer program by midnight, 17th March 2025
• Answer 3 questions (see below)
• Be an Australian resident over the age of 18.

The 3 Questions

The 3 questions you must answer are:

• Your Business Story – Tell us who you are, what you do and what makes your company great.
• Business Travel Impact – How does business travel fit into your overall strategy and shape the bigger picture of your business?
• Travel Grant Triumph – Imagine the corporate travel grant in hand, what exciting doors do you see opening for your business, and how do you plan to make the most of this opportunity?

Note you are being “judged” or assessed on your creativity in answering these questions.

Learn More

To learn more and apply for the Flight Centre 2025 Corporate Travel Grant click here.

Note applications close 17 March 2025

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

If you are a Food & Beverage business thinking of expanding to South Korea & Japan the NSW Going Global Export Program Food & Beverage to South Korea & Japan program may be for you.

The program runs from March to June 2025 and involves exhibit on the NSW stand within the Australian pavilion at Seoul Food 2025. And support for a market research visit to Japan for interested participants.   

What the NSW Going Global Export Program Food & Beverage to South Korea & Japan covers

You get access to:

• Market intelligence briefings
• in-market assistance and logistical support
• Potential partner search and introductions.
• Ongoing advice and follow up.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the overall NSW Going Global Program your business:

• Have headquarters in NSW with a valid ABN
• Be export-capable and export-ready
• Have between 5 and 199 full-time equivalent employees
• The product or service is achieving sales already
• Have a website featuring the product or service
• Be prepared to adapt the product or service for the market
• Have a product or service that is produced primarily in NSW

Additional eligibility requirements for this stream

• Applicant businesses must have a market-ready product with potential appeal for this region

How to Apply

Click here to learn more and apply for the NSW Going Global Export Program Food & Beverage to South Korea & Japan

Note applications close 28 February 2025.

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

If you are a clean technology business and thinking of expanding to Malaysia & Singapore, the NSW Going Global Export Program Cleantech to Malaysia & Singapore may be for you.

The program runs from March to June 2025 and includes attendance at Energy Asia 16-18 June 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Decarbonising Asia, 19 June 2025, Singapore.

What the NSW Going Global Export Program – Cleantech to Malaysia & Singapore covers

You get access to:

• Market intelligence briefings
• in-market assistance and logistical support
• Potential partner search and introductions.
• Ongoing advice and follow up.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the overall NSW Going Global Program your business:

• Have headquarters in NSW with a valid ABN
• Be export-capable and export-ready
• Have between 5 and 199 full-time equivalent employees
• The product or service is achieving sales already
• Have a website featuring the product or service
• Be prepared to adapt the product or service for the market
• Have a product or service that is produced primarily in NSW

How to Apply

Click here to learn more and apply for the NSW Going Global Export Program – Cleantech to Malaysia & Singapore

Note applications close 28 February 2025.

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

Welcome to my series on how successful businesses scale and grow profitably.

This video focuses on positioning yourself for a successful fund raise.  It includes: the key ground work; 4 key questions investors ask; what investors are looking for and how do I value my business.

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

Yesterday Cut Through Ventures released its “The State of Australian Startup Funding 2024” report which contains some great reading for founders.  One thing that caught my eye was some commentary on preference shares value vs valuation.  How shares issued during various capital rounds can distort the view of value of a business to the founders, as distinct to the valuation of the business to the outside world.

The report has an example of a business that has series B investors who acquire 25% of a business for $50m with a fully participating 2x liquidation preference.  Effectively valuing the business at post money valuation of $200m.

The founders and staff hold 60% of the business so in theory their shares are worth $120m.  Doesn’t this look great and make a good headline.

But once you take into consideration, the preferences of the Series B investors, plus the preference for Series A investors (who at the time acquired 20% of a business with a fully participating 1x liquidation preference for $10m for a post money valuation of $50m), the reality is somewhat different.

If the business was sold for $200m, the founders and staff, who own 60% of the business would only receive $54m or 27%.

The value of the business to the founders and staff is $54m even though they hold 60% of a business with a valuation of $200m.    Clearly in this example value is significantly different valuation.

And here is the real kicker.  What if the business did not do the Series B and instead was able to sell the business for $150m – the pre money valuation?  The founders would have received around $72m of the $150m sale.  So immediately after the Series B, the founders and staff have experienced a down round in the value of their shares from $72m to $54m.

Message for founders

Do the deal waterfall to understand the impacts and whether a new capital raising with a headline increase in valuation per share will result in a down round in the value of the shares you and others who invested earlier in your business hold.

If you want to access the full report click here.

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

Did you know that on average 1 out of 8 Businesses close each year?

And the 3 of the top 4 reasons for this has something to do with money and finances.  These 3 are:

• Poor Financial Control
• Inadequate cash flow management
• Poor strategic management of the busines

Poor Financial Control

According to ASIC, over 1 in 3 business failures was due to poor financial control.    And one of the key reasons for this poor level of financial control is a lack of taking responsibility for understanding your finances.

Because what many business owners fail to understand is that real finance is about measuring the business.   It is all about keeping score.

And this is simple, how do you know if you are winning if you don’t the score?

Using the soccer as an example, even if the soccer ball is in the net, do you know if this is a goal you scored or an own goal.

So you can’t leave the responsibility for your numbers to the accountant or book keeper.  You need to take responsibility for the numbers.

And this equally applies to your business and your personal finances and wealth.

As my quote says “No one else gets up in the morning dedicated to your financial future.  You need to be that person!”

So if you don’t take responsibility for understanding your numbers and your business fails, you have no one to blame but yourself.

But how do you do that?  When is the last time anyone sat down and taught you about how to manage the money side of the business.  I bet for many business owners never.  They have had to learn from their experience – which can be an expensive exercise some times.

And that’s where a great CFO can help reduce the risk of failing from poor financial control by.

• Taking a mass of numbers and turn them into a simple to understand personalised score card
• Educating you on how to interpret and analyse your business performance
• Using their experience to provide insights

Cashflow

Now let’s move onto cashflow.  According to ASIC, inadequate cash flow management is responsible for over 50% of business closures.

I spoke about keeping score and most people think about their profit and loss.  Now I can tell you being CFO of many companies, including two companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, I can manipulate a business’s profit and loss statement by doing many accounting tricks.

But you can’t manipulate cash.  Cash is what it is.  So the most important area to keep score is cash. If you want to grow your business, you need to understand your cash flow.  If you don’t, you face the risk of running out of cash to fund the business growth and you actually end up in a worse cash position than when you started.

And not only do you keep score on what has happened with your cash, but also by what is going to happen with your cash.  Are you projecting clear blue skies or thunderstorms. If you are forecasting thunderstorms isn’t it better to be pre warned and you start to get your umbrella ready now rather than trying to find it when it is too late?

And that’s where a great CFO can help reduce the risk of failing from poor cash management by.

• Working with you to develop the most appropriate cash flow reporting and forecasting. This could be daily, weekly, monthly, or all 3 for different periods
• Highlighting cash pinch points and what can be done to deal with these

Poor Strategic Management

Now let’s move onto poor strategic management.  Over 2 in 5 business closed because of poor strategic management.

And one of the key reasons for this strategic management is the lack of educating business owners.  Business owners are typically great at their core skill set, but often this is not finance or money.  And with no one educating them, they don’t understand what I call Business 101.

The rules of business are simple.

If the lifetime value of your customer is more than the acquisition cost per customer you are doing profitable customer acquisition.

If the acquisition cost per customer is more than the lifetime value of the customer, you are not adding new business profitably.  You are growing broke and you need to change your strategy.

Here is simple example of my Business 101 using a mobile prepaid plan.

$40 in monthly revenue and your costs to deliver the service and retain the customer are $35 per month.  Leaves you with a monthly contribution of $5 a month.

If the customer stays active for 10 months on average, the value of the customer is $50.

What if you are spending $60.  You see revenue growing but profit falling.  You are now growing broke.  And that is a very simple demonstration of why a business closes because of poor strategic management

And that’s where a great CFO can help reduce the risk of failing from poor cash management by.

• Working with you to develop and document a simple and effective strategy for your business
• Implement systems to enable you to see if you a profitably growing (this is my Bucket Accounting System
• Using their experience to provide insights

How to Afford a CFO

So how does a small business owner afford one?  A full time resource is not cheap and for many business owners they can spend this money on other things.

Just like you outsource your legal work, you can outsource the work of a CFO and only pay for what you need.  In my case for as little as $1500 a month you can get access to a fully qualified and widely experienced CFO.

So how do you pick and outsourced CFO.  To me (and I may be biased), the order is simple

• Have they actually worked as a CFO before they started being an outsourced CFO
• Do they have the necessary qualifications and experience a professionally qualified person will have education standards they need to maintain
• Do you like them – no point working with someone you don’t like
• What do their clients say
• Are they willing to share their knowledge

And if that is all ok then start talking about the cost.  And remember, the cheapest may not be the best value for you.

My background

• Over 24 years as an outsourced CFO
• I have been a fully qualified Chartered accountant for over 35 years
• CFO of many companies including 2 companies listed on the ASX
• Always sharing tips and advice on LinkedIn and www.aRealCFO.com.au

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052

The City of Sydney Innovation and ideas grants program supports innovative projects that address local and global issues across key sectors that contribute to a sustainable city, thriving economy, vibrant communities and cultural life.

Funding can support:

• research and feasibility studies relating to the funding priorities listed below
• pilot projects that test new approaches for addressing local and global issues
• demonstration projects that promote market awareness and adoption of innovations
• development and implementation of best practice approaches and toolkits
• new technologies and platforms that support sector development.
• ideas that explore the circular economy.

What funding is available?

Cash matched funding from $10,000 to $50,000 per year is available, for a one-year program or multi-year funding (up to 3 years). 

Funding priorities

The City of Sydney Innovation and ideas grants program will prioritise innovative projects that contribute to making Sydney a city:

• that is a leading environmental performer
• that is equitable and inclusive
• with resilient and diverse communities
• with a thriving cultural and creative life
• with a transformed and innovative economy.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants (both for profit and not for profit) must:

• operate within the City of Sydney’s local government area or be able to demonstrate significant benefits for the area’s residents, workers and/or visitors
• have acquitted any previous City of Sydney grants or sponsorships and met all contractual obligations
• demonstrate the grant will be used for a purpose in the public interest
• demonstrate capacity to deliver the project
• be financially viable.

The project must not duplicate existing services or programs and must be for future expenditure.  Will not cover existing overheads of the business.

How to apply

Note applications for the 2025 Summer City of Sydney Innovation and ideas grants program open 4 February and close 11 March 2025.  This covers projects starting from 1 July 2025.

To learn more and apply online click here

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

Click on the below buttons to access free Resources developed by Wayne Wanders, A Real CFO to help your business scale and grow profitably

Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052