Back in early 2024, we watched too many promising Australian startups fail not because their ideas weren't good enough—but because they approached fundraising like a task to check off rather than a skill to develop.
lumarithen came from a frustrating pattern we kept seeing. Founders would spend months building their product, then suddenly realize they needed funding and rush through pitch decks in a weekend. The result? Rejection after rejection, not because the business was weak, but because the story wasn't ready.
We started lumarithen because fundraising shouldn't feel like a mysterious process reserved for those with the right connections. Our six-month programs launching in mid-2026 take a different approach—treating capital raising as a learnable discipline with clear frameworks and practical milestones.
What makes our perspective different is honesty about timelines. We don't promise quick wins or guaranteed outcomes. Instead, we focus on building genuine fundraising capability that serves founders through multiple rounds, not just their first pitch meeting.
Our team has seen the Australian startup landscape from multiple angles—as founders who've raised capital, as advisors who've guided early-stage companies, and as educators who understand how people actually learn complex business skills. That combination shapes everything we teach.
Our approach comes from what we've learned works—and what definitely doesn't—when teaching founders about raising capital.
We don't believe in fundraising hacks or magic formulas. Instead, we teach systematic approaches that work across different business models and investor types. It takes longer to learn properly, but the capability you build lasts through multiple funding rounds.
Our programs run for six months because that's how long it actually takes to develop solid fundraising skills. Anyone promising faster results is either oversimplifying the process or setting unrealistic expectations. We'd rather be upfront about the commitment required.
Fundraising advice from Silicon Valley doesn't always translate to the Australian market. We focus on what works here—understanding local investor expectations, regulatory frameworks, and the specific challenges of raising capital in smaller markets.
We structure learning around repeated practice with meaningful feedback. You'll pitch dozens of times in our programs before you approach actual investors. That might sound tedious, but it's how you develop the confidence and clarity that investors respond to.
Our small team brings different perspectives on fundraising—from direct startup experience to years spent helping founders navigate capital raising. We're not trying to be everything to everyone. Instead, we focus on doing one thing well: teaching practical fundraising skills to Australian startup founders.
Program Director
Kirsten spent five years advising early-stage companies through two successful funding rounds before joining lumarithen. She's particular about teaching pitch structure because she's seen how small communication gaps can derail promising conversations with investors.
Curriculum Lead
Fionnuala designs our learning pathways based on eight years of experience with startup education programs. She's focused on breaking down complex fundraising concepts into manageable skills that build on each other progressively.