Forbes Australia picks out three Australian entrepreneurs who are making waves in the startup space right now.
This story was featured in Issue 16 of Forbes Autralia. Tap here to secure your copy.
Wable
It was just another day in lockdown for Holly Fowler when, while on the couch watching Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, a wave of inspiration struck.
“I realised there was a huge gap in the market,” she says. “Social and dating apps weren’t built with neurodivergent users in mind, and I knew there had to be a better way.”
Determined to bridge the gap, Fowler spent the next three years creating a platform tailored to the needs of neurodivergent individuals. Her efforts came to fruition in February 2024 with the official launch of Wable, a social networking app designed to help neurodivergent users form meaningful connections and access tailored resources.
“I never envisioned being a tech entrepreneur,” the 26-year-old admits. “I’ve always been a creative person, but launching a tech start-up was a huge leap.” But the belief that Wable could be a truly meaningful venture fuelled her.
Wable has amassed over 10,000 downloads across Australia and New Zealand and secured $300,000 in pre-seed funding. With plans to expand into the US and UK, Wable has entered its Series A funding round, aiming to raise $1.5 million at a $6.5 million valuation.
“I got involved with Wable because it is not only a highly scalable business, but I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact it’s having in the neurodivergent community,” says Craig Mason, non-executive chairman and investor in the company. “We’re already improving the lives of thousands of neurodivergent people.”
8seats
For seasoned entrepreneur Iain McDonald, creating the next big thing is nothing new. A creative director, he played a key role in founding one of Australia’s first digital agencies.
But the idea for his latest venture, 8seats, started in a much more familiar setting – a dinner table talk between friends. Noticing how conversations naturally shifted between different people, McDonald wondered why messaging apps couldn’t replicate the same fluidity. It wasn’t easy. With just eight people, there were 255 possible conversations to manage; with 20, that number jumped to over 2 million. No existing user interface could handle that.
Partnering with long-time collaborator Sandor Moldan, the pair sought to design a messaging platform that mimicked real-life conversations. The result was 8seats – a system that facilitates seamless, dynamic conversations without the clutter of traditional group chats.
“In a world dominated by legacy platforms, we’re here to give businesses a smarter, simpler way to connect and collaborate,” says McDonald.
Since its launch in 2021, 8seats has secured $2 million in funding from investors, including venture capital firm Black Nova, former Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci, and former Prezzee CEO and David Jones executive Anthony Karp.
“8seats solves the problem for ‘whole of business’ communications where you need your entire workforce to be connected,” says Karp. “8seats bridges this gap, and its team is world-class.”
Hyphen Health
James Sneddon grew increasingly frustrated when he was stuck in a doctor’s waiting room for 90 minutes just to get a routine script. “I remember sitting there thinking there has to be a better way,” he recalls.
As he explored opportunities in the healthcare industry, Sneddon was introduced to Dr. Mitchell Tanner. The two bonded over a shared vision to make healthcare more accessible and saw a clear opportunity in sexual health.
“When it comes to sexual health, many people avoid seeing a doctor, whether out of embarrassment or a desire to skip the awkward conversation,” Sneddon says.
In 2015, the pair launched Hyphen Health, a digital-first platform that removes the need for in-person STI testing, allowing patients to get tested quickly and discreetly. The company has since grown to become Australia’s largest sexual health service, conducting 5,000 tests every month and diagnosing more than 1 in 20 STIs nationally.
In 2024, Sneddon bought out his co-founder and welcomed Dr Cris Quitral and Luke Fuller as new co-founders through its merger with rival company Hey Fella. With an annualised revenue of over $3.5 million and $140,000 raised in angel investment, Hyphen Health continues to scale while remaining largely bootstrapped.
“Backed by an exceptional team, Hyphen Health isn’t just a company – it’s a movement that is disrupting outdated models and reshaping the future of digital healthcare,” says Dany Gruosso, CEO and founder of StickyTickets and an angel investor in Hyphen Health.
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