An Evening with Christie Whitehill: Breaking Barriers in Capital Raising

About this Event

Join us for an inspiring evening with Christie Whitehill, Founder of Tech Ready Women and INTU Wellness, as she shares her journey in capital raising as a female founder.

Women-led businesses receive less than 5% of venture capital funding, yet female entrepreneurs are driving some of the most innovative and impactful startups. Christie will share hard-won insights on navigating the funding landscape, overcoming challenges, and the key strategies that helped her secure investment. Plus, two of our alumni will share their experiences with capital raising.

This special International Women’s Day event is also an opportunity to hear from past and current participants of the Tech Ready Women's Investment Ready Program. These incredible founders will share their experiences, challenges, and how this program has helped them refine their fundraising strategy, prepare financial forecasts, and pitch with confidence.

Agenda

6:00 PM - Welcome

6:05 PM - Christie Whitehill

6:25 PM - Participants of TRW Investment Ready Program Share their Experiences

6:45 PM - Q&A and closure

7:00 PM - Close

About the Speakers

Christie Whitehill, Founder of Tech Ready Women and Co-Founder of INTU Wellness

Christie Whitehill, founder of Tech Ready Women, launched an award-winning program to bridge the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship, leveraging her 15 years of experience to upskill female founders. Her program quickly gained industry recognition, winning Accelerator of the Year 2017 and securing government funding, before being sold to Scalare Partners in 2024. A thought leader in tech, Christie has led the development of over 20 products, co-founded INTU WELLNESS, and established partnerships across various sectors. She also balances her entrepreneurial ventures with raising her two children, Zac, 6, and Ava, 3.

Clarissa Yates, CEO & Co-Founder at Ketim Technologies

Dr. Clarissa Yates is a scientist and entrepreneur with over ten years of experience developing molecular tests for various medical fields, including neuroscience, infections, cancer, stem cell therapies, and mRNA vaccines. In 2024, she founded Brisbane-based Ketim Therapeutics, leading research into blood-based biomarkers to improve screening and treatments for perinatal mental health. Inspired by her own experience with postpartum depression, she is dedicated to advancing women's health through innovative science. Dr. Yates also fosters collaborations and digital solutions to address gaps in mental health care and beyond.

Nicole Graham, Founder of Kinba

Nicole Graham, the founder of Kinba, started the company to make financial education easier for kids and parents. She saw the struggles families face with traditional money lessons and wanted to create a fun, accessible way for young people to learn. With a passion for financial literacy, Nicole is committed to giving her daughters—and children everywhere—the skills to manage money confidently. Through Kinba, she aims to break down barriers and help raise a generation of financially savvy kids.

Hayley Middleton, Founder of It's Thanks To

Hayley Middleton is the founder of It’s Thanks To, a platform that helps businesses connect with their communities in a meaningful way. With nearly 20 years of experience in business development, sales, and community initiatives, Hayley saw that many businesses were spending on repetitive marketing tactics without real impact. She created It’s Thanks To to change this, allowing businesses to sponsor school excursions, events, and activities while receiving recognition through permission notes, newsletters, and social media. This approach not only gives every child access to enriching experiences but also helps businesses build strong, lasting relationships with local families.

Event Details

📅 Date: Wednesday, 5th March 2025 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm AEST

📍 Venue: The Precinct (Room: Dimbin Mil). Level 2/315 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006

🎟️ Free

🍸 Light refreshments will be provided.

👶🏻 Children are welcome to attend.

About the TRW Investment Ready Program

The TRW Investment Ready Program is designed to equip founders with the knowledge, connections, and confidence needed to successfully raise capital. This five-month program (6 weeks of intensive weekly workshops + 4 months of monthly advisory) offers learning and mentoring sessions tailored to address the specific challenges women face in securing funding, including grants, equity investments, proof of concept partnerships and loan finance.

The Queensland cohort of the TRW Investment Ready Program is supported by Advance Queensland.

For more information and to apply, head to our website.

We look forward to welcoming you to this event!

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