From Idea to Investment: How to Raise Capital in the Earliest Stages

Join Richelle Nicols, CEO of the Pollinatr investment fund, for a practical and candid session on navigating the early-stage investment landscape. Designed for pre-revenue and early post-revenue startups, this session will unpack what early stage investors look for, common mistakes to avoid, and how to set your company up for commercial validation and scalable growth.

What To Expect:

• Insights into what early-stage investors really want to see
• Tips for structuring your raise when revenue is minimal or non-existent
• How to leverage traction, partnerships, and validation instead of vanity metrics
• Real-world examples of what works—and what doesn’t.

EVENT DETAILS:

When: 20th of May 2025

Time: 12:00-1:00PM

Where: Level 8/11 York Street 
To note: From the York Street entrance of Wynyard Station you will be able to see glass sliding doors into the lift lobby next door. Take the lifts to Level 8. 

Cost: Free

Call 0490 103 900 or contact kathryn@tankstreamlabs.com with any questions. 

Richelle Nicols, Director & CEO, Pollinatr investment fund

Richelle Nicols is a startup founder, investor, and venture strategist. As CEO of Pollinatr—an early-stage investment fund—she leads founder sourcing and investment selection, bringing both capital and strategic support to the table. Richelle built Pollinatr based on years of navigating the startup journey firsthand: making mistakes, raising capital, and learning what it truly takes to turn a good idea into a fundable, scalable business. Today, she works hands-on with early-stage founders to shape, validate, and accelerate ventures so they’re ready for investment. She splits her time between Australia and the USA, building pathways for Australian ventures to scale globally.

About Pollinatr

Pollinatr is an investment fund focused on early-stage ventures that are either close to generating revenue or already post-revenue. We are industry-agnostic, backing founders from any sector who need both a capital injection and access to a powerful network of advisors and strategic partners, both nationally and internationally. Our goal is to help ventures reach their next stage of growth.