Global Sisters

What Global Sisters does

Global Sisters is a Sydney-headquartered not-for-profit organization founded in 2013 by Mandy Richards to provide free business support programs for women in Australia, particularly those facing barriers to mainstream employment including domestic violence survivors, solo mothers, women 50+, refugees and migrants, and women with disabilities. The organization delivers a sequenced lifecycle of programs through its digital Sister Portal, including My Big Idea (ideation), Sister School (launch readiness), First 10 Customers (one-on-one coaching), and Coaching Circles (peer group coaching), supplemented by Financial Pathways, Legal Advice via MinterEllison referral, Specialised Sister Support, and a national Marketplace for product sales. Operating across Australia and New Zealand with regional hub presence in Geelong and Armidale, Global Sisters has supported over 6,000 women since inception and contributes to 8 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The business model is grant-and-partnership funded rather than fee-based: revenue streams comprise philanthropic grants (Paul Ramsay Foundation, AMP Foundation, Snow Foundation, Citi Foundation, Google.org), corporate partnerships (Visa, Afterpay, Unilever, eBay, Meta, MECCA Brands, THE ICONIC, Bunnings, American Express), and government funding (DSS, NSW Office for Women), with material cost offset from pro bono professional services by MinterEllison, KPMG, dentsu, HubSpot and Optus. All programs are provided free to beneficiaries. The organization is expanding its mission scope through the Little Green Houses initiative, partnering with Aspect Design Studios and Citi Foundation to deliver energy-efficient modular homes on low-interest mortgages as a pathway to home ownership for vulnerable women. Sister Pitch (annual pitch competition) and regional hub events are key engagement mechanisms connecting beneficiaries with corporate partners and investors.

Name

Global Sisters

Legal name

Global Sisters

Website

https://globalsisters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Sisters is a Sydney-based not-for-profit founded in 2013 that delivers free business education, coaching, and marketplace programs to 6,000+ women across Australia and New Zealand, funded by corporate, philanthropic, and government partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women Entrepreneurship Support Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB), Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)

Keywords

• Women entrepreneurship support
• Micro business programs
• Small business coaching
• Nonprofit business training
• Female founder accelerator

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grants and Donations: Funding from foundations and individual donors including Paul Ramsay Foundation, AMP Foundation, Snow Foundation, and others to support program delivery
2. Corporate Partnerships: Support from corporate partners including Google, Afterpay, Unilever, Visa, eBay who provide funding, pro bono services, and in-kind support
3. Government Funding: Funding from federal and state government sources including DSS, NSW Government Office for Women to deliver specific programs
4. Pro Bono Professional Services: Free professional services from partners including MinterEllison (legal), KPMG (accounting), dentsu (marketing) enabling service delivery at no cost to beneficiaries

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Global Sisters is a not-for-profit that provides free business support programs to women in Australia seeking to start or grow micro businesses. The offering spans the full business lifecycle — from ideation workshops (My Big Idea) and launch readiness training (Sister School) to one-on-one coaching (First 10 Customers), group coaching (Coaching Circles), financial education, legal referral advice, and marketplace access via the Back Her Brilliance directory. All programs are delivered free of charge through the Sister Portal digital platform and are funded by philanthropic, corporate, and government partners.

Product overview

Global Sisters is a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive lifecycle of free business support programs for women in Australia. The offering is a platform-plus-modules architecture centered around the Sister Portal, which provides on-demand access to educational programs (My Big Idea, Sister School, First 10 Customers, Coaching Circles, Workshops & Events), specialized support services (Legal Advice, Specialised Sister Support, Financial Pathways), and community connection. Additional modules include the Marketplace platform for national product sales, the BackHerBrilliance directory connecting women-led businesses with corporate buyers, and the Little Green Houses initiative addressing housing insecurity. Programs are available in multiple formats (self-guided, live group, one-on-one coaching) and are delivered digitally nationwide for free.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Back Her Brilliance: A free national directory designed to connect women-led micro businesses with conscious consumers and corporations who want to buy with purpose.
• Little Green Houses

Products and services

• My Big Idea A workshop program to find or test the 'big idea' for starting a business, available in self-guided and live formats including 'Find Your Business Idea' and 'Test Your Business Idea' workshops. For women at the ideation stage of business.
• Sister School A business launch readiness program that guides women through creating a business plan, providing tools, knowledge and confidence to launch and reach first customers. Offered in facilitated and self-guided formats.
• First 10 Customers A 12-week online program providing one-on-one business coaching with a dedicated business coach to help refine products or services, test market fit, and define business models. For women who have launched and want to acquire their first customers.
• Coaching Circles Small group coaching delivered over 4 weeks, focusing on specific business areas or industries with weekly meetings and an expert coach.
• Workshops & Events Online workshops and events designed for women at all stages of business, offering business insights, expert tips and engaging topics.
• Tailored Programs Exclusive partner-funded programs including Solo Mums in Business and Inclusive Programs, offering specialized support for specific groups of women such as solo mothers and women with disabilities.
• Marketplace A national online marketplace connecting women-led micro businesses with consumers and companies committed to ethical purchasing. Provides national product exposure for Sisters.
• Financial Pathways A 2-week live group program focusing on understanding business finances, articulating financial goals, and developing financial roadmaps. Includes financial products and services designed for micro business.
• Legal Advice Free legal business referral advice for Sisters through a legal referral helpline, connecting women with specialized free legal support via trusted partner network.
• Specialised Sister Support Tailored business support connecting Sisters with specialized support through a trusted partner network based on specific needs.
• Back Her Brilliance A free national directory linking Australia's women-led micro businesses with companies committed to better buying practices, providing full support from enrollment to delivery.
• Little Green Houses A groundbreaking housing initiative offering energy-efficient modular homes through low-interest mortgages to help women achieve home ownership and financial independence. Purpose-built modular homes for vulnerable women, produced at scale.
• Sister Pitch An annual pitching event connecting women-led micro businesses with established companies for mentorship, funding, and business support opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6000 Australian women supported since inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• UnilevermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting women entrepreneurs through mentoring, market access, and promotional opportunities.
• eBaymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketplace partner providing platform access and support for women-led micro businesses to reach customers.
• MinterEllisoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal partner providing free legal business referral advice through their legal referral helpline for Sisters.
• KPMGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono professional services partner supporting accounting, audit, and advisory services.
• dentsucoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMarketing and communications partner providing pro bono services and supporting Sister Pitch events with brand development and creative support.
• HubSpotminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnology partner providing marketing and CRM tools to support Global Sisters operations.
• OptusminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnology and communications partner providing pro bono support.
• MECCA BrandsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty retailer partnering with Global Sisters through Kip&Co collaboration to elevate women in business with free coaching accelerator.
• MetamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner pledging support at Sister Pitch 2024 for women-led micro businesses.
• THE ICONICmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFashion e-commerce partner supporting women entrepreneurs at Sister Pitch events.
• BunningsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail partner providing stockist opportunities for Sisters at Sister Pitch 2024.
• Aspect Design StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture partner co-designing modular homes for Little Green Houses initiative, purpose-built for vulnerable women that can be produced at scale.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• YWCA Australia: Australian not-for-profit focused on women's empowerment and economic participation through advocacy, housing, and support services. Directly comparable mission addressing similar barriers facing women including domestic violence, homelessness, and economic insecurity.
• Opportunity International Australia: Australian microfinance organization providing financial services and training to women entrepreneurs in developing countries. Direct peer in women-focused economic empowerment with similar program architecture and beneficiary profile; notably Global Sisters' COO Heather Thomson previously worked here.
• Many Rivers Microfinance: Australian microfinance organization providing small business loans and support to disadvantaged entrepreneurs, particularly women. Comparable in supporting micro-business creation with mentoring and capital access; co-founded by Global Sisters' COO Heather Thomson.
• First Australians Capital: Indigenous-led impact investment and business support organization in Australia. Direct peer sharing the $1M AMP Foundation grant with Global Sisters; comparable focus on entrepreneurship for underrepresented populations and parallel funding ecosystem.
• Cherie Blair Foundation for Women: International foundation supporting women entrepreneurs in low and middle income countries through mentoring, training, and market access. Comparable comprehensive lifecycle support for women-led micro businesses with global footprint and corporate partner ecosystem.
• Global Fund for Women: International foundation supporting women's rights and economic justice through grants to women-led organizations. Comparable in funding model and gender equality mission; similar grantmaking role but operating more as a funder than direct service provider.

Emerging players

• Counted: Australian-based impact platform enabling businesses and consumers to support women through counting purchases and donations. Comparable Australian women's economic empowerment focus with tech-enabled marketplace model overlapping with Back Her Brilliance.
• Female Founders Fund: Organization supporting female entrepreneurs through community, education, and capital access. Comparable in ecosystem-building approach for women entrepreneurs but more venture-capital focused versus Global Sisters' micro-business and humanitarian focus.

Broad incumbents

• Women for Women International: Global nonprofit supporting women survivors of war and conflict through vocational training, mentoring, and economic empowerment. Comparable comprehensive lifecycle support model and women-focused economic empowerment mission at larger scale.

Others

• Save the Children Australia: Major international NGO operating in Australia with women's and children's programs. Indirect peer with comparable vulnerable population focus; Global Sisters' National Programs Lead Jo Audley previously worked with newly arrived women and children at Save the Children.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/globalsistersau
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChsi8nZBK8m7GmC91igkFpA
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobalSisters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-sisters
• Instagraminstagram.com/globalsisters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Sisters