Incapacity employee Storm Menzies, founding father of accessible make-up instruments startup ByStorm Magnificence has gained the Kickstarter Problem, taking dwelling $30,000 in equity-free funding.
4 runners-up additionally took dwelling $7,500 for his or her startups following the grand remaining at Parliament Home in Canberra right now.
The five-year-old Kickstarter Problem, developed by Enterprising ME and run along side The Council of Small Enterprise Organisations Australia (COSBOA), is a federal government-funded program supporting girls to pursue entrepreneurship.
Menzies, from Newcastle, was on stage at Sydney’s City Corridor final week pitching as a part of incapacity accelerator Exceptional’s Tech Summit and Demo Day.
She was additionally a part of the College of Newcastle’s 2024 I2N accelerator program.
4 months in the past, Menzies teamed up with Celeste Barber, founding father of Booie Magnificence to launch ByStorm’s merchandise on the comic’s on-line make-up retailer.
Menzies, who has restricted operate in her proper hand following a stroke at delivery, realised “just how inaccessible the beauty world was” after injuring her dominant hand in 2023 and launched ByStorm. In true startup model, created the preliminary designs and prototypes for her silicone snap-on grips for magnificence merchandise in her storage.
Storm Menzies along with her Kickstarter Problem cheque
“ByStorm’s commitment to inclusivity goes beyond functional products; it is about igniting a cultural shift within the beauty industry to value diversity and challenge long-standing norms,” she mentioned.
“At the heart of ByStorm is the vision of a beauty industry where no one is sidelined.”
Menzies mentioned profitable the Kickstarter Problem would assist take her enterprise to the following degree, together with using folks with incapacity to make sure the model continues to be formed by the group.
“This isn’t just a win for Bystorm, it’s a signal to the entire industry that disability-led innovation is worthy of investment, that people with disability are worthy of investment beyond charity,” she mentioned.
“Once we again underrepresented founders and communities, we don’t simply tick bins. We shift the usual for the trade and provides illustration for each little woman watching, of what’s doable.
“Actual inclusion begins once we cease treating accessibility as compliance and begin seeing it as the way forward for enterprise.”
Runners-up funded
The 4 runners-up, from throughout 5 classes, who additionally scored $7,500 every are:
Atmosphere and sustainability: CO2 Lab (Lindy Hua) – an ‘AI sustainability analyst’ making emissions reporting sooner and cheaper for organisations.
Margie – one of many magnificence aids from ByStorm Magnificence.
Training: Elevated Educators (Lisa Cohen & Lianne Kady) – supporting instructor wellbeing and classroom administration by sensible, evidence-based instruments together with on-line studying, reside teaching, and faculty workshops.
Group influence: PlayPass (Shehara Pillai) – a device to rework how mother and father uncover actions for kids below 5 and assist suppliers join with households.
Know-how: Superstat (Cordelia King) – an AI-powered sports activities analytics platform that routinely turns match footage into superior participant stats and highlights.
Additionally honoured at right now’s occasion was 11-year-old Ayla Armanwood, winner of the 2025 Enterprising Lady of the 12 months, for her startup, Grounded Magnificence, turning espresso grounds into physique scrubs and soaps.
Governor-Common Sam Mostyn introduced the winners and pledged to “take the stories I hear here all around the country”.
“Your passion, determination and talent bring you to this Grand Final,” she mentioned.
“I’ve seen the progress we’ve made when we come together and amplify care, and that’s what these projects seek to do. I’ll come back every year that I’m the Governor-General.”
Enterprising ME director Fleur Anderson mentioned the Kickstarter Problem helped the funding drought for feminine entrepreneurs, in addition to showcasing their potential, and praised Menzies amid ongoing curiosity in this system.
“Her imaginative and prescient and willpower exemplify the power of feminine entrepreneurs,” she mentioned.
“The file variety of entries this yr sends a robust message: girls are desperate to innovate, to unravel actual issues, and to create significant change.”
The annual Kickstarter Problem is open to girls who’ve a enterprise or entrepreneurial concept, with entries opening mid-year. Particulars right here.
Disclosure: Startup Day by day’s sister publication, SmartCompany, backed the Kickstarter Problem and this author was ByStorm Magnificence’s first exterior investor, once we gave Storm $20 in non-dilutive funding after a practise pitch session on the I2N accelerator.
