Starting an Online Business

Face to face!!! In-person in Melbourne!!! As the ANZ Australia New Zealand Spring 2026 program gets ready to launch, don't miss this exclusive VIP Meet & Greet with Melbourne Mentors, Portfolio startup founders (Alumni), current founders, future founders, venture partners, and fellow applicants. This invitation-only event gives you the chance to connect, share insights, and access the FI network. Whether you're applying or considering enrolling, engage with local leaders, alumni, and mentors in a focused, high-value setting. Build relationships, ask questions, and get expert advice to accelerate your startup. Space is limited, so secure your spot today. **❯ Guest Speakers include:** * Sameer Babbar (Director, SVB Group) * Alex Sy (Managing Director, ATLAS Business Consulting and Mentoring Services) * Kirstin Schneider (CEO, Product Builder & Tech Founder, Hyfen8) * Vincent Loremia, realboss.ai **❯ What You'll Learn:** * Meet local mentors, alumni, current founders, future founders, and venture partners. * Casual face to face networking to ask any questions about the August 2026 to November 2026 cohort of [Founder Institute ANZ](https://linktr.ee/foundingANZ) * Exclusive details about the local [FI program in ANZ](https://linktr.ee/foundingANZ) * Insights into the Founder Institute accelerator experience from Mentors, Founders, and Alumni * The importance of building relationships within the FI network * Tips for leveraging FI's resources to rapidly grow your startup * An opportunity for personalized feedback and Q&A with key figures from the FI network https://fi.co/event/vip-meet-greet-with-melbourne-mentors-alumni-founders-venture-partners Face to face!!!! **❯❯ Venue details:** Ruby Riviera Taberna Mediterraneo, 53 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf, VIC, Australia \-\-\-\- **Apply to [Founder Institute ANZ](https://linktr.ee/foundingANZ)**

Come join us and practise public speaking! All levels are welcome. Take the first step to overcome your fears, build confidence and learn to speak with impact in a friendly, supportive and encouraging environment. Start you public speaking journey with us now to improve your communications skills and elevate all aspects of your life. Please arrive 10 minutes early so we can settle everyone in for a 5.30pm start. See you soon!

Rebecka Isaksson and Lukas Wünsch will give some impulses on and thereafter moderate a lively discussion to Communities of Practice (CoPs). The goal of the session would be to demonstrate and discuss how Communities of Practices can evolve beyond simple “social clubs” to become engines of strategic value. The impulse outlines the basics of effective CoPs, showing how they enhance innovation, creativity, employee wellbeing, and, ultimately, organisational productivity and profitability. The speakers will make very sure to properly blend the basic input re Communities of Practice with their practical experience from Community work across sectors. **Expected outcomes** Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of what makes Communities of Practice truly effective - and how they can evolve from informal social groups into engines of strategic value. Through a mix of practical impulses and a lively, moderated discussion, the session will unpack how CoPs strengthen innovation, creativity, wellbeing, and organizational performance. Attendees will gain concrete insights grounded in real‑world community work across sectors, leaving with actionable ideas for building and sustaining Communities of Practice that actually make a difference **Speaker Bios** "Rebecka Isaksson is the Founder of KnowFlow Value and a Content AI & M365 Knowledge Strategist who helps organizations cut through content chaos and build knowledge practices that hold up in real‑world collaboration. A Microsoft MVP and former Director of Knowledge Management at Microsoft HQ, she brings more than 15 years of experience in designing governance and knowledge strategies that stay resilient long after the slide decks are closed. She hosts the Knowledge Fika podcast, where she blends Swedish fika with sharp, practical conversations on AI, collaboration, and knowledge in M365. Recognized as a Microsoft MVP in 2024, she continues championing ethical, human‑centric approaches to AI adoption that move organizations forward without losing the plot. "Lukas Wünsch is a Knowledge Strategy and Organizational Development Leader who helps organizations build knowledge ecosystems and communities of practice that actually work in real‑world conditions. At MHP (global IT consultancy and subsidiary of Porsche AG), he focuses on strengthening knowledge flows, maturing communities, and designing service portfolios that scale in dynamic market environments without collapsing under cultural or structural friction. He writes regularly on the dynamics of effective knowledge work - from cultural debt to community leadership to the interplay between strategy and knowledge. Lukas is known for his clear, grounded perspective on what truly enables knowledge to move, grow, and create value inside complex organizations." If you want to get up to speed on this topics before the meeting, jump on the [Knowledge Fika podcast and have a listen here](https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/episode-31-from-knowledge-silos-to-engage-how-communities/id1744394778?i=1000758048806). **Session Details:** * **Date & Time:** 6:00pm AEDST, Fourth Wednesday of each month * **Format:** Virtual session on Teams * **Agenda:** * 6-6:30 pm networking * 6:30-7:45pm exploration of the topic * 7:45-8pm wrap up * 8pm dinner for those interested. KMLF has run monthly, almost uninterrupted since 1998, serving the Victorian Knowledge Management community with close ties to Change Mgt, Records Mgt, Information Governance and Academic communities.

Come along to share ideas, learn together different techniques and Public Speaking, Presentation and Leadership skills. Public Speaking give you confidence and can be used as a marketing tool to attract clients and increase sales to your Business. All skills levels are welcome. People can practice Public Speaking presentations in a safe and nice environment with other members of the group.

Join us every **Wednesday at 5 PM** at the Emporium food court (located behind Grill’d Burger Restaurant in the CBD, not near Melbourne Station) for a dynamic networking event tailored for filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts. Afterward, we continue the evening with Happy Hour drinks at a nearby bar and a chance to grab dinner together. Understanding that schedules vary, feel free to join at any time that suits you. Rain or shine, our community has gathered every week for the past year, maintaining a consistent and welcoming environment. Our group has grown remarkably, with a **weekly turnout of over 50 participants**, blending newcomers with regulars to create a vibrant, diverse community. Feel free to bring friends interested in filmmaking; it’s a great way to introduce new faces to our expanding network. Whether you’re a writer, actor, animator, or independent filmmaker, come share your experiences, discuss current projects, or chat about favorite films. This event fosters connections among like-minded individuals, encourages friendships, and opens doors for collaboration. At **7 PM**, we move to The Carlton Club, a five-minute walk away, where we continue networking in a more formal rooftop setting over drinks and food. This change of venue offers an ideal environment to keep conversations flowing. **RSVP** to help us gauge attendance and become part of a growing network of film professionals and enthusiasts. Though the event begins in the afternoon, the relationships you build here can last well into the night and beyond. **What to Expect:** *Our Wednesday meetup is primarily a large networking event for industry professionals. There’s no set theme, workshop, or speaker. It’s a relaxed gathering where filmmakers, actors, and creatives can connect, discuss projects, share needs, and learn from each other. Conversations flow freely around the table, fostering an environment of growth and camaraderie. Beyond Wednesdays, we also host exclusive events such as table reads, cinematography workshops with Panasonic, member screenings, and more. Each week brings fresh dialogues—some participants discuss their weekend shoots, others exchange insights with seasoned producers and directors, and a few engage in filmmaking exercises. It’s a space designed for creative engagement without strict structure or formal oversight.* *Note: Our community emphasizes collaboration, friendship, and goodwill rather than promotional activities. If you wish to promote a workshop, course, screening, or similar event, please contact the organizers first. Promotional privileges are generally reserved for trusted, long-standing members.

🎉 **Melbourne AWS User Group – May Meetup** 🎉 📅 **Wednesday, 27 May** 📍 **NAB Events Hub – 395 Bourke Street, Melbourne** ⏰ **Food at 6:00 pm, talks from 6:30 pm (with live stream)** We're fresh from the excitement of **AWS Summit Sydney**, and the energy is still high! This month, we’re keeping that momentum alive by bringing a piece of the Summit back to Melbourne, alongside an inspiring journey of a cloud newcomer. This month, we’re following the path from a first-ever cloud deployment to managing complex, event-driven IoT systems. Whether you’re just starting your cloud journey or looking to refine how you monitor production-scale data platforms, there’s something here for you. **This month’s lineup features:** * **Nolan Cui**, sharing his authentic "From Zero to First Deploy" journey, highlighting the lessons learned and mistakes made during his first steps into the cloud. * **Matthew Gillard**, presenting an extended version of his **AWS Summit Sydney** talk on data observability, specifically focusing on practical patterns for event-driven IoT platforms. A huge thank you to our sponsors: 🥇 **Mantel Group** – Gold Sponsor, 🥈 **Cevo** – Silver Sponsor, 🏛 **NAB** – Venue Sponsor. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube as always. 🗓️ **Agenda** * **6:00 pm** – Food & Socialising * **6:30 pm** – Introductions * **6:40 pm** – What’s New in AWS * **6:55 pm** – **From Zero to First Deploy: My AWS Beginner Journey** (Level 100); Speaker: **Nolan Cui** * **7:20 pm** – **Data Observability Without the Pain** (Level 200); Speaker: **Matthew Gillard** * **7:55 pm** – Marketplace (Who’s Hiring) * **8:00 pm** – Networking + Close 🎤 **Talk Details** **From Zero to First Deploy: My AWS Beginner Journey** **Speaker:** Nolan Cui **Level:** 100 Nolan is still quite new to AWS, but his passion for cloud tech has led him from "just exploring" to building his first working cloud setup. In this lightning talk, he walks through his first hands-on experiences, the mistakes he made, and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. Nolan will also briefly touch on how he plans to apply these lessons by moving oward a fully serverless design for his upcoming real-world projects. **Data Observability Without the Pain: 3 practical patterns from a production IoT platform** **Speaker:** Matthew Gillard **Level:** 200 Modern IoT platforms are inherently data platforms. When events flow through APIs, queues, Lambda functions, and device networks, tracing a single event can become a nightmare. This fast-paced talk provides three practical observability patterns drawn from building and operating a production healthcare IoT platform that processes tens of thousands of events daily. Using **OpenTelemetry**, **AWS X-Ray**, and **Honeycomb**, Matt will explore techniques for gaining visibility into asynchronous event pipelines and correlating activity across distributed services. You’ll leave with concrete patterns you can apply immediately to your own event-driven systems. > **Note:** This is an extended, deep-dive version of the talk Matt is presenting at **AWS Summit Sydney**! 🙌 **Want to Speak at a Future Meetup?** We’re always looking for new speakers and believe everyone has an interesting talk waiting to be shared. If you’d like to present at a future event, reach out at the meetup or via our website: 👉 [https://melb.awsug.org.au/speak/](https://melb.awsug.org.au/speak/)

**Meet Me Here - Real Connection Night** ***Step out of the noise and into something real.*** Meet Me Here is a relaxed, guided evening for genuine human connection. No pressure, no performance, just presence. Through simple partner practices, you will gently connect with different people in a grounded and respectful space. Expect a mix of depth, lightness, and a playful yoga laughter. 📍 Wednesday 27 May, 7:00pm to 8:30pm 📍 West Beach Pavilion, St Kilda 📍Ticketed Event - $15pp online or $20 cash on the night [Tix: Meet Me Here, Real Connection Workshop](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988302343834?aff=oddtdtcreator) Open to men and women No experience needed Stay after and socialise If you are craving real connection beyond small talk, you are warmly welcome here. Come as you are. Just bring openness and curiosity. This is intended as a friendship gathering only.

* Join us for an evening of professional networking and valuable insights at our Entrepreneur & **Small Business Networking Mixer**. Connect with fellow small business owners, entrepreneurs, and like-minded professionals to share business strategies and exchange ideas for startup success with a drink. * * We have carved a deal with the restaurant of 10% Discount of all Menu items & drinks if you mention the staff "**Friday Business Meetup Deal**" * * We will delve into the power of integrating feminine wisdom with masculine energy for enhanced business strategies and entrepreneurial success. Discover the importance of positive human collisions in fostering innovation and growth, while expanding your network in a dynamic and supportive environment. * * Don't miss this opportunity to meet new contacts, exchange knowledge, and take yourself to the next level! * * **About Host:** Host of the event Sash (Sachin) is qualified accountant in practice. Mostly he is present in the event but it is subject to his prior commitment. However everybody is still invited to chat & socialise whether he is present or not. The place is a platform for everyone to gather,meet & help each other. * * **Address & Timings :** from **6-8 PM** at **500 Victoria Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 (This event will be on every Friday same time same day unless otherwise advised)** * * Join us to meet new friends, hang out and have some laughs. New people are always welcome 😊🍺🍺 * * Come along to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend. * * **Liability Waiver:** The organizer of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or accident to participants or their property at this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your safety and well-being.

**🍻 The Entrepreneur Club – Last Friday of the Month Drinks** **Not your average knock-off drinks.** Join us for a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, builders, creatives, and self-starters who believe business is more than just work, it’s a personal growth journey. Whether you're scaling something or just starting out, this is a space to meet others who think like you do. **💬 What to Expect** ✅ Real convos with people building something ✅ A place to bounce ideas, swap challenges, and share wins ✅ Opportunities to give value and get it in return ✅ Chill vibes, no pitches, just smart people in good company You don’t need a title or a polished pitch, just curiosity and the willingness to connect. **🗓 Format** **6:30pm** – Arrive, grab a drink, join a convo **8:30pm** – We wrap, or roll on elsewhere 📍 **The Oxford Scholar** We take over a corner of the bar (Back Bar or Atrium), look for the crew with ideas in one hand and a drink in the other. **🎯 This is for you if** * You want more entrepreneurial people in your life * You’re building something, or want to be * You care about growth, not just small talk Bring a question. Bring a challenge. Bring your curiosity. Last Friday of every month. Let’s make it count.

Step into the room, not just to read, but to experience what happens when curious, learning minds gather in the same space. There’s something unexpectedly powerful about people arriving with different ideas, perspectives, and questions, then discovering what unfolds when they pause, explore, and reflect together. This isn’t a traditional book club—there’s no assigned reading, no pressure to perform—just a simple rhythm: 60-Minute Flow: **👋 0:00–0:15 \| Arrive & Introductions** **📖 0:15–0:30 \| Quiet Reading Time** Settle in with your book, article, or notes. Highlight something that stands out—a line, an idea, or even something you disagree with. This is your space to explore. **💬 0:30–0:45 \| Sharing & Insights** We come back together to share what we picked up. It can be a quote, a question, a new perspective—anything that sparked your thinking. Expect a mix of ideas and thoughtful discussions. **🤝 0:45–1:00 \| Open Networking** A wrap with relaxed conversation. Swap recommendations, continue discussions, or simply connect with others

☕ **Girl Who Boss Coffee Catchup!** ☕ Join us for a relaxed and casual coffee catchup, where like-minded women come together to connect, chat, and share ideas! Whether you're a career professional, entrepreneur, or creative, this is the perfect chance to meet other inspiring women in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. *** **Here’s the agenda:** 🕚 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Welcome & Mingle 💬 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Casual Conversations & Coffee 🤝 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Networking & Wrap-Up No formalities, no pressure—just a space to enjoy great company, share experiences, and make new connections over coffee. ☕💖 These meetups are a great way to ease into networking while building friendships in a laid-back setting. Looking forward to catching up with everyone! 🌟 Feel free to message me if you have any questions. See you there! 😊 Wondering why our events are sometimes ticketed, or have questions about our pricing? We've written about it [here](https://open.substack.com/pub/girlswhoboss/p/accessibility-sustainability-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4apm4h).

With our next EUXMELB meetup on the 28th of May, I'm excited to announce that **Natalie Ellis, Partner and COO at The Product Bus, will be presenting 'Your skills *are* the product'.** According to Harvard Business School 95% of new products launched every year *fail.* Natalie is here to argue that the reason for these failures isn't a lack of talent or tools, but because no one stops to ask whether the market actually wants or needs these things before shipping them. Online rhetoric discusses how AI is transforming the design, product and engineering worlds, but from her perspective, Natalie believes AI is actively multiplying the rate of failure because it's now possible to build something no-one asked for in an hour from your Mac mini. Natalie is here to tell us why evidence-based, commercially focused product thinking is more critical than ever for countering the wasted time and resources spent shipping products no one asked for. She will explain why the skills designers and researchers already possess are the real commercial asset and how people in these roles can start treating them as such. Natalie has spent her career turning consumer insights into product and commercial decisions across startups, enterprise, government digital services and institutional programs. Following a decade rising through a global market research agency, she jumped ship to an early-stage market research startup before spending several years as a product strategist designing and delivering national digital health services. As Partner & COO at The Product Bus she is passionate about helping founders, teams and businesses make real progress through evidence based decisions and passionate about helping them stress-test ideas before they commit to building. She escaped the city for rural life in the Alpine Shire several years ago where she has become an accidental pumpkin farmer and enjoys crocheting while watching crime drama. Event will start at 5:30pm with Pizza, Drinks and networking with the talk starting at 6pm. We are at Stone and Chalk in the space just past where you sign in. This event is sponsored by [askable](https://www.askable.com/) ([https://www.askable.com/](https://www.askable.com/)) and Experience Design "UX" Agency [blueegg](http://www.blueegg.com.au/) ([http://www.blueegg.com.au/](http://www.blueegg.com.au/))

Join us for Art Club in Fitzroy - A relaxed 3hr no pressure art meet up perfect for beginners or artists! BYO Art & Craft Project. Use the time to catch up on your current art project along with other local artists. Be inspiring, or take inspiration from our monthly meets. Drawing supplies provided for those without a project to bring. B.Y.O. Food & Drinks

Jewellers can hire a desk in our workshop to make or finish off their own pieces. This workshop is self run, you need to attend a health and safety induction before working daily unattended. Basic jewellery making tools are provided and some consumables such as flux, borax, tumbling polish, lathe polish and some drill bits. Aprons and safety glasses are provided, tie up loose hair, wear enclosed shoes. Please email claw.creative.studios@gmail.com for any questions or inquiries. Clara Carija, Director CLAW CREATIVE.

Free monthly networking for Columbus business owners. Real conversations, real connections, no forced formats. Space is limited. RSVP now. Most owners leave networking events with a stack of business cards and no plan. The best leads quietly slip through the cracks. Networking Night is a monthly meetup for Columbus business owners who want to build real local relationships, not just trade contact info. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no awkward speed-networking. **This month** We are focused on referral relationships. Walk in with a clear idea of who refers people like you. Walk out having met a few owners whose work fits next to yours. **What to expect** Doors open at 6 PM. You get real conversation with other local owners, time to actually connect, and a short marketing lesson woven in. The room is reserved through 7:30 PM. **Who this is for** Any local business owner who wants to grow through relationships, not just paid ads. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community. **Not the right fit if** You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM. **Details** * Last Thursday of every month * 6:00 to 7:30 PM * COhatch Easton * Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited **About the host** Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing, including tracking the referral relationships built in rooms like this one. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-marketing-networking-night-tickets-1988510112275](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-marketing-networking-night-tickets-1988510112275)

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

Please reserve your spot by registering on the below link : **Reserve** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-biggest-community-investors-founders-columbus-online-tickets-1988563717610?aff=meetup **QUESTIONS ?** Pls Reach out to; Ridhi - +971504724873 ( WhatsApp Only)

[ECDI Pop-Up Market Official Registration Site --> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ecdi-pop-up-market-tickets-1986071755083](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ecdi-pop-up-market-tickets-1986071755083) Celebrate Small Business Month by shopping local for food, drinks, and handcrafted gifts! Join us for the ECDI Pop‑Up Market, a celebration of local entrepreneurs during Small Business Month. Explore delicious food and drinks, discover handcrafted goods, and shop unique items from small businesses in your community. Whether you’re looking to support local makers, discover new favorites, or pick up a thoughtful gift, this market has something for everyone. **What you’ll find at the market:** * Local food and beverage vendors * Handcrafted goods and unique gifts * A chance to meet and support small business owners in your community * An easy, fun way to discover new local favorites [SCORE Central Ohio](https://www.score.org/ "https://www.score.org/") will also be on site to talk about their small business mentorship program. **Market Vendors:** Baked Goods * Shante Makes Body Care * [Bellas Natural Beauty Products](https://www.facebook.com/Bellasnaturalbeautyprod/ "https://www.facebook.com/Bellasnaturalbeautyprod/") Clothing & Accessories * [The Krafted Kollection](https://www.thekraftedkollection.com/ "https://www.thekraftedkollection.com") * [Loayza Elegant Jewelry](https://www.loayzaelegantjewelry.com/ "https://www.loayzaelegantjewelry.com/") * [Swahili House 254](https://www.swahilihouse254.com/ "https://www.swahilihouse254.com") Food/Beverage * [Aqua Pure Central Ohio](https://aquapurecentralohio.com/ "https://aquapurecentralohio.com") * [Better Beverage](https://betterbevshop.com/ "https://betterbevshop.com") * [Cherays Banana Pudding](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567527322952 "https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567527322952") * [Dr. May's Thai Kitchen](https://www.drmaysthaikitchen.com/menu "https://www.drmaysthaikitchen.com/menu") * [Kronchy LLC](https://www.kronchys.com/ "https://www.kronchys.com") * [Terra Mezcal Mexican Grill](https://terra%20mezcal%20mexican%20grill/ "https://Terra Mezcal Mexican Grill") Packaged Food * [Grow to Eat, Eat to Live](https://growtoeattolive.com/ "https://growtoeattolive.com/") * [Underworld Feast](https://underworldfeast.com/ "https://underworldfeast.com/")  Since 2004, ECDI has assisted Ohio’s entrepreneurs through their one-stop-shop business services model, suited to meet the needs of all entrepreneurs, regardless of what business stage they’re in. From providing capital to entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses, to providing focused, business-specific educational opportunities to enhance entrepreneurial skill sets, ECDI works with their clients to meet their specific needs. Whether you merely have a business idea or are opening up your fifth location, we have helped more than 15,000 entrepreneurs to take advantage of the services we provide.

Join Voice Over Pros Of Ohio for an exciting morning of networking, and exploring opportunities in the world of voice acting. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is perfect for expanding your network, learning how to start a VO business, and for honing your skills. Connect with fellow voice actors and VO experts, that will help you succeed in your voice over business. This event will feature discussions on professional development, entrepreneurship in the voice over industry, with tips for navigating the world of voice acting. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from others, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and take your voice over career to the next level. Join us Saturday, May 30, from 10am - 12pm and learn how to start or grow your voice over business. Let your voice be heard! The $10 fee covers refreshments and door prizes.

Join us for lunch and meet our very successful group. We are each others sales team...always looking for referrals for our members. If you are looking for new clients, let us help you out! Bring your business cards and brochures to share with us. We have a speaker each week so that we can learn about their business. Because we have only one member per business, we have many of the spots filled. However, we are specifically looking for an estate attorney, a handyman/electrician, and an event planner. We have referrals for you! All visitors are welcome. Any questions contact [pmarchio@farmersagent.com](mailto:pmarchio@farmersagent.com)