Why We Exist
The barriers facing Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour founders are not individual - they are systemic.
50% struggle to access mentorship and industry networks.
25% experience racial discrimination as a barrier to entrepreneurship.
95% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, yet continue to face systemic barriers to growth and investment.
Source: State of Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour Founders in the Australian Startup Ecosystem Report (2022), supported by the Australian Government WISE Program.
0.03%
of VC funding reached Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour founders
We didn't wait for mainstream institutions to change. We built what we couldn't find.
Our Story
Create a more inclusive startup ecosystem
The CCO begins with the aim to change the extensive systemic barriers faced by Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour (BWoC) by puting them back into the driver’s seat , designing an equitable future through entrepreneurship and innovation. Because BWoC don’t just deserve a seat at the table — they deserve to lead it.
We built what we couldn’t find
We developed and delivered Australia's 1st anti-racism campaign specifically targeting the startup ecosystem. In 2021, we are creating directories of startup founders according to their region and country of heritage. Till date, we’ve listed close to 1148+ founders.
1,148+ founders and counting
Our directory grew to list close to 1,148+ founders across Australia and beyond. We've proven that building inclusive infrastructure for underrepresented founders creates real, lasting impact across the ecosystem.
Leading the change, building the future
Continuing to expand programs, partnerships, and community impact — creating lasting systemic change in how startups are founded, funded, and led across Australia.
Our Story
The CCO begins with the aim to change the extensive systemic barriers faced by BWoC by putting them back into the driver's seat — designing an equitable future through entrepreneurship and innovation. Because Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour don't just deserve a seat at the table — they deserve to lead it.
We developed and delivered Australia's 1st anti-racism campaign specifically targeting the startup ecosystem. In 2021, we began creating directories of startup founders according to their region and country of heritage.
Our directory grew to list close to 1,148+ founders across Australia and beyond. We've proven that building inclusive infrastructure for underrepresented founders creates real, lasting impact across the ecosystem.
Continuing to expand programs, partnerships, and community impact — creating lasting systemic change in how startups are founded, funded, and led across Australia.
Our Founder
Priyanka Ashraf
Founder and CEO of The Creative Co-operative
Priyanka is a Muslim woman of Bangladeshi heritage who has called Australia home for over 20 years. With a career spanning law, technology, and entrepreneurship, she founded The Creative Co-Operative to build the future she knew was possible for Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour.
With two decades of experience, Priyanka leads on growth, strategy, and company vision, and has launched initiatives reaching thousands of First Nations women, Black women, and Women of Colour, including:
• Maya Cares - Australia’s first e-platform with a chatbot + resource library for healing from racism
• Anyone Can - Australia’s first pre-accelerator program for BWoC founders
• #ShareThePlatform — the world’s first initiative sparking a national conversation on systemic racism in the startup ecosystem
What we stand for
Our Vision
To be a catalyst empowering Women of Colour to achieve economic and social equality through equal access to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Our Mission
To help Women of Colour be WELL so they can build financial wellbeing.
Our Goal
To create supportive spaces where Women of Colour in Australia feel seen, build confidence, and access real opportunities to grow and lead.
Our Values
High Performance
We deliver top-quality work because our community deserves excellence, not scraps.
Flexibility
We meet people where they are. Programs adapt to real life — not the other way around.
Community
Empowered teams empowering others. Everything we do is rooted in collective strength.
Accountability
We own outcomes and follow through. Transparent about impact, failures, and learning.
Our Impacts
What we have achieved over the years for Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour (BWoC).
Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour founders supported to enter the startup ecosystem.
Women of colour community members through our Founders Directory.
Average participant satisfaction across our typical programs.
People reached by our Research Report.
Our Program Participants Are:
85
%
Increasing their confidence level in trained skills
100
%
Recommending the program to others
The community was really valuable for me. When I first joined Anyone Can, I was the only founder working full-time on my business and having a community of other women was so empowering for me.
Anyone Can Start participant
What Makes Us Different
Australia's Only “By and For” BWoC Program
Built from lived experience. Our programs are designed by and for Bla(c)k Women and Women of Colour (BWoC)
Research-Backed Impact
We don't just have good intentions. We produced the first-of-its-kind national report on BIWOC founders. Reached 4.4M people. Cited by Deloitte, AFR, SmartCompany.
Proven Track Record of Founder Success
400+ founders supported. Cohort winners entered accelerators, won pitch competitions, secured VC meetings, scaled globally.
Intersectional by Design
We understand that no one has the same experience. That’s why our program, policy, or service is designed from the start to work for people with diverse needs.