Ever wondered what it’d be like if the investors had to pitch to you? Well, that’s exactly what went down last month at StartSpace’s brilliant Flip the Pitch event at State Library Victoria - and yes, it was every bit as entertaining as it sounds.
Twenty of Victoria’s startup ecosystem leaders took the mic for three tight minutes to tell founders why they should come to them for support. No pressure… except there was, because if you went over time, you got air-horned off stage (and it happened more than once 😅).
We were thrilled to be part of the line-up, with our incredible venture partner Helen Souness representing Rampersand and absolutely nailing it. If you haven’t caught Helen’s pitch yet, hit play on the video at the top of this post.
It’s worth knowing the people behind the logos.
As a founder, choosing who to work with, whether that’s your first investor, mentor, or coworking community, can shape your startup’s entire trajectory. Events like Flip the Pitch aren’t just good fun; they give you a rare chance to get a feel for the people behind the logos, to see what they stand for and how they show up for founders.
So why Rampersand?
In her pitch, Helen spoke to something we think often gets missed in startup land: it’s not just about the money. Sure, a few hundred grand or a cool million might get you some extra devs and breathing room, but what really moves the needle are the pinch points that pop up on your way to Series A.
Things like:
Hiring your first senior exec when you’ve never done it before
Scaling your go-to-market once you’ve exhausted your network
Figuring out how to break into international markets (like the US, where over 50% of our portfolio has headed)
Rampersand was built to be personal, experienced, and genuinely helpful. When you pitch your startup to us:
You’re not being assessed by a grad with a spreadsheet. A team reviews every submission with at least a decade of experience.
We’ll add value even if we don’t invest. Intros to other investors, advice, ecosystem connections — you don’t have to be a portfolio company for us to care about your success.
If you do join our portfolio, you’ll know us personally. From hiring support to global scaling advice, we’ll be there for the messy, exciting, scary bits. People like Rod Hamilton (co-founder of CultureAmp) on product, Helen on growth and hiring, and the rest of our senior team — all genuinely in your corner.
We back abnormal ambition. This game isn’t for the ordinary, and we love founders who aren’t either. You can find out more about how we invest here.
🔥 Founder questions from the Q&A
One of the highlights was the Q&A session after the pitches (which wasn’t recorded, so here’s a little insider recap):
Q: How early is too early for Rampersand to invest?
A: We invest from pre-seed to seed. Pre-revenue, early product versions — if we believe in the opportunity and the team, we’re in.
Q: What do you think about companies doing both B2B and B2C?
A: It can be done, but it’s tough early on. Focus is key. Most successful startups start with one and expand to the other later. Otherwise, you risk spreading yourself too thin, too soon.
Q: Should I raise funds or launch my product first after the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?
A: Honestly, both. Build relationships with investors early while getting trial customers on board. It gives you a chance to test your product and determine which investors are a good fit for your business in the long term.
A massive shoutout to the StartSpace crew, City of Melbourne, Think & Grow, and Torrens University Australia for bringing this event to life. The energy in the room (and online) was unreal, and the quality of pitches from other ecosystem supporters was next level.
How to get in contact:
If you haven’t already, check out StartSpace. It’s a free community and coworking hub at the State Library Victoria, designed for early-stage founders and entrepreneurs: access resources, mentoring, and a community of like-minded builders. You can apply for a membership here.
And if you want to pitch Rampersand or start a convo, head to our Get In Touch page or subscribe to our newsletter here for founder resources, news, and event invites.
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