What Scale Investors does

Scale Investors is Australia's first women-led venture capital fund and angel investor network, founded in 2013 and operating as Scale Investors Pty Ltd (ACN 662 038 968), a Corporate Authorised Representative of True Oak Investments Pty Ltd (AFSL 238184). The firm invests in Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A rounds ($100k-$3.5m per deal) in early-stage companies with at least one woman or gender non-conforming co-founder holding equal equity and C-suite decision-making authority, with up to 20% of capital allocable outside Australia. Core investment vehicles are the Scale Venture Fund 1 (pooled fund), the Scaling Women's Fund (a 2023-launched rolling fund modeled on Golden Seeds), and a syndicate portfolio for individual co-investment. The portfolio spans Care Tech, Climate Tech, Consumer Tech, and AI-driven startups across 47 companies with a combined valuation of $260 million and over $20 million deployed.

Beyond capital deployment, Scale Investors operates a tiered education platform called Scale EducatEd — FoundEd (self-paced, $350), EmpowerEd (10-week cohort, $1,500), and InvestEd ($249) — that converts aspiring founders and angel investors into deal flow and LP pipeline. The firm also maintains Equity Clear, a gender transparency initiative co-created with Giant Leap and Alberts Family Office that tracks gender data across the venture pipeline and was recognized on Fortune's 'Change the World' list. Scale's go-to-market combines direct deal screening (online pitch form, monthly virtual Office Hours, structured two-stage due diligence) with community-led pipeline development through ecosystem partners including PwC, One Roof, Lift Women, 2X Global, and Alice Anderson Fund.

Post an April 2023 management buyout, ownership transitioned from the original four founders (Susan Oliver AM, Carol Schwartz AO, Annette Kimmitt AM, Laura McKenzie) to Co-CEOs Samar Mcheileh and Chelsea Newell and Chief Investment Officer Roo Harris. The lean 1-10 person team is headquartered in Melbourne (The Commons, 55 Collins Street), with secondary operations from Richmond, VIC. Notable portfolio outcomes include a 30x return exit and a NASDAQ listing via Cognition Therapeutics.

Name

Scale Investors

Legal name

Scale Investors Pty Ltd

Website

https://scaleinvestors.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Scale Investors is Australia's first women-led venture capital firm, founded in 2013, investing Pre-Seed through Series A capital in women-led startups via pooled funds, a rolling fund, and a syndicate. The firm also operates the Scale EducatEd education platform and the Equity Clear gender transparency initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital (Gender-Lens Investing)

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Lens / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Funds (FSANAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB), Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Gender-lens venture capital
• Women-led startup investing
• Angel investor syndicate
• Founder education programs
• Pooled venture fund

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Fund Management: Scale Investors generates returns through equity investments in women-led startups. Their flagship product is Scale Venture Fund 1, a pooled investment vehicle where investors pre-commit capital managed by Scale Investors as fund manager. The fund targets minimum 25% IRR returns. They also maintain a syndicate for co-investment opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Scale Investors is a women-led venture capital firm that pools capital from wholesale investors via Scale Venture Fund 1 and the Scaling Women's Fund, and from individual angels via its Scale Syndicate, to make equity investments in women-led startups at Pre-Seed (AUD $100k–$500k), Seed (AUD $500k–$1.5m), and Series A (AUD $1m–$3.5m) stages. The fund is complemented by the Scale EducatEd platform (FoundEd, EmpowerEd, InvestEd), which delivers paid founder-and-investor training and serves as a deal-flow pipeline.

Product overview

Scale Investors is Australia’s first women-led VC fund and angel investor network focused on backing women-led startups. The company operates as a fund manager with two primary investment vehicles: the Scale Venture Fund 1 (a pooled investment fund) and the Scaling Women's Fund (a rolling fund), alongside a syndicate portfolio for co-investment opportunities. Beyond capital deployment, Scale Investors offers a comprehensive education platform called Scale EducatEd comprising three distinct programs: FoundEd (self-paced online fundamentals), EmpowerEd (10-week cohort-based investment readiness), and InvestEd (angel investing 101). The company also operates Equity Clear, a gender transparency initiative for the venture ecosystem, and produces two podcasts—Pitch to Scale and Connect to Capital—providing open access to investor insights. Monthly Office Hours sessions support founder engagement throughout the capital-raising journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scale Venture Fund 1 Scale Investors' inaugural pooled investment vehicle deploying capital into women-led startups at Pre-Seed (AUD $100k–$500k), Seed (AUD $500k–$1.5m), and Series A (AUD $1m–$3.5m) stages, with a target minimum 25% IRR. Intended for wholesale investors.
• Scaling Women's Fund A rolling fund product providing ongoing deployment into women-led startups, modelled on the Golden Seeds approach in the US. Launched to accelerate Scale Investors' transition into dedicated funds management.
• Scale Syndicate Portfolio A group of individual angel investors who co-invest on Scale-led opportunities; each syndicate member makes independent investment decisions and receives allocation where capacity remains or where conviction is highest.
• FoundEd An online, self-paced program for founders at the very early stages of capital raising, covering basic investment terms, the Australian investment landscape, and pitch deck essentials.
• EmpowerEd A 10-week cohort-based investment-ready program for women founders combining online learning, weekly facilitated sessions, mentorship, and networking to decode angel investing and venture capital.
• InvestEd A self-paced digital online course exploring the rewards and risks of angel investing in startups, providing insider perspectives and best practices for those beginning their angel investing journey.
• Equity Clear A gender transparency initiative compelling venture investors and family offices to track and report gender data across pipeline, portfolio, and investment decision-makers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Women-led startups outperform male counterparts by 63%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Equity ClearcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGender transparency initiative co-created by Scale Investor's partner Samar Mcheileh, in conjunction with Giant Leap and Alberts Family Office. Seeks to compel venture investors and family offices to track and report gender data across pipeline, portfolio, and investment decision makers. Recognized on Fortune's 'Change the World' list. Noga Edelstein leading initiative into next chapter via 'Show Us the Data' creating national roadmap for common data standard.
• T-EDI Standards (Tech Council of Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech Council of Australia standards designed to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the technology sector. Scale Investor's Partner Roo Harris sits on the advisory board. Provides evidence-based certification framework assessing organizations against ten equity, diversity, and inclusion markers including hiring practices, parental leave policies, pay transparency, and flexible work arrangements.
• 2X GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal gender finance standard directed to scaling the field of gender finance. Scale Investor's Partner Roo Harris serves as Australian Ambassador for 2X Global.
• PwCmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding sponsor partner of Scale Investors, led by Sean Gregory and more recently Adam Pascoe.
• One RoofmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity of entrepreneurial women who support each other. One Roof hosts events like 'Women Scaling Startups' featuring founders and investors. Active cross-referral relationship with Scale Investors.
• Lift WomenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCrowdfunding and support platform for women in business. Part of gender-lens investment ecosystem with cross-referral to Scale Investors.
• ApropelaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Connections for Change. Provides networking and connection services for women founders. Part of Scale's ecosystem referral network.
• March CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic support for Women Founders. Part of Scale's ecosystem referral network for supporting women entrepreneurs.
• HEXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth Business Entrepreneurship Programs. Part of Scale's ecosystem referral network.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Golden Seeds: US-based gender-lens angel network and venture fund explicitly cited by Scale as the model for its Scaling Women's Fund. Most direct comparable given similar focus on women-led startups, angel-to-fund evolution, and pooled investment vehicle structure.
• Female Founders Fund: US-based early-stage venture fund exclusively backing female founders across consumer and enterprise tech. Highly comparable thesis, fund stage, and ticket size to Scale Investors' Pre-Seed/Seed focus.
• SoGal Ventures: Global gender-lens VC investing in diverse founding teams with operations in US and APAC. Direct peer given gender-lens mandate, early-stage focus, and international footprint that overlaps with Scale's expansion ambitions.
• BBG Ventures: US-based early-stage fund backing female founders with consumer and enterprise focus. Comparable in stage (Pre-Seed/Seed), gender-lens mandate, and education/community ecosystem approach to deal sourcing.
• Giant Leap: Australian impact VC fund with 60% women-led portfolio, co-creator of Equity Clear with Scale Investors. Closest Australian peer given shared impact mandate, gender portfolio composition, and joint advocacy initiatives.
• SheEO: Global gender-lens funding ecosystem combining zero-interest loans to women-led ventures with community activator model. Comparable mission and community-driven approach to gender-lens investing, though different funding instrument (loans vs equity).

Regional players

• Artesian Capital Management: APAC-focused alternative investment manager with the Female Leaders Fund ($100m for Series A/B in Asia Pacific). Comparable APAC focus on women-led ventures though at later stage than Scale, and a Scale ecosystem partner.

Broad incumbents

• Blackbird Ventures: Australia's largest homegrown VC fund investing broadly across early-stage tech. Comparable Australian market focus and Pre-Seed through Series A stage, but generalist rather than gender-lens, making it both a competitor and a benchmark.
• AirTree Ventures: Leading Australian generalist VC investing from Seed to Series A+. Competes for many of the same Australian founders and represents the mainstream alternative Scale positions against for LP capital and high-quality deal flow.

Others

• 2X Global: Industry body for gender finance with Scale's CIO Roo Harris serving as Australian Ambassador. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but materially shapes the gender-lens investing category in which Scale operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scale_investors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3204979
• Instagraminstagram.com/scaleinvestors

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments58 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Scale Investors