Pilbara startup wins seed funding

Indigenous skincare business Jummi Factory has gained financial backing from Minderoo Foundation after receiving top prize at the inaugural Dream Summit in Sydney last week.

Under The Minderoo Foundation initiative, more than 80 indigenous Australian entrepreneurs converged at the Sydney Startup Hub for a two-day skill-building and mentoring program.

On day two, entrepreneurs pitched their ideas to an advisory judging panel.

Jummi Factory – owned by Josie Alec and her daughter Adrianna Irvine-Stanes, from Karratha – received $30,000 after claiming top prize in the Minderoo Seed Funding awards.

The mother-daughter duo makes skincare products from the native plants of Western Australia’s Pilbara region, including lip and skin balms, deodorants, insect repellent and perfume.

“To be recognised in this manner and to receive $30,000 for our budding little business is an indescribable feeling,” said Ms Alec, whose mother was the inspiration behind the brand.

Other funding winners were Melbourne-based Jira Models, which received $10,000, and Brisbane-based TJ Accounting, awarded $5,000.

Head of Dream Summit’s Indigenous Advisory Group (IAG) Leslie Delaforce said despite the prizes, the priority was to expose indigenous entrepreneurs to business contacts and allow them to learn from mentors.

“Thanks to our event sponsors and partners – including Wirrapanda Foundation, Stone & Chalk, Melbourne Business School, Tank Stream Labs and Spacecubed – the participants walked away with a full book of contacts and advice on how to grow their ideas or existing businesses,” he said.

Jummi Factory was also joint winner of the EY Growth Accelerator Program – an interactive program Minderoo Foundation said would help the company access its capabilities and deliver growth plans.

Other prizes include the Austrade Landing Pad awarded to Melbourne-based Pearlli and the Wayne Quilliam Art Prize awarded to Yingarna at Coffs Harbour.