Top Tips from 3 Women Realising Their Business Goals

What does it take to start a new venture? For 3 alumni of our Empower Women’s Pre-Accelerator Program, the answer is a mix of courage, curiosity, and community.

We spoke with Jenna Donnelly, Saara Jamieson, and Kym Cooper to learn how they turned bold ideas into growing ventures, and the lessons they collected along the way.

Jenna Donnelly – Founder of Lilo Living

For Jenna Donnelly, entrepreneurship was always a dream waiting for the right idea. That idea came in 2024 when she launched Lilo Living, a resale platform tackling the growing problem of furniture waste.

But turning an idea into a business on her own wasn’t easy.  “I joined Ventures Empower because I realised I couldn't continue building my startup in isolation."

She continued, " I knew I needed to be sitting alongside early-stage founders and to gain access to the network of brilliant entrepreneurs living and operating right here in South East Queensland.”

Empower helped Jenna find the confidence, and clarity she needed. “The Empower program was instrumental in building my confidence to fully embrace the role of a founder.’ Jenna reflected. “It challenged me and my business model in crucial ways, and as a result, I emerged with a better business and became a better founder.”

Since Empower, Jenna has achieved major milestones, including securing a pilot program with a leading Australian furniture retailer within 12 months of her launch. Her advice for aspiring founders is simple: “Stop overthinking and just start. Take that first small step forward, trust in your ability to figure it out as you go, and back yourself. Confidence will follow.”

Looking ahead, Jenna has her sights set on a big goal. “Our mission is to prevent furniture from ending up in Australian landfills. As for how we get there, well, you'll have to follow along and see!”

Saara Jamieson – Founder of Cool Beans Underwear

Saara Jamieson’s journey began with a deeply personal challenge: starting a family. After struggling to conceive, her research into fertility uncovered a surprising truth: testicular heat damages sperm, and no one was talking about it.

When she couldn’t find a solution to this problem, she created one. “My husband Jordan began wearing the first version of Cool Beans, and within 4 months, we conceived naturally. That moment changed everything.”

From that breakthrough came Cool Beans, the world’s first Therapeutic Goods Australia (TGA)-registered medical device underwear designed to reduce testicular heat.

“Cool Beans was born not from ambition, but from necessity and it’s now helping men around the world reclaim their health, their confidence, and their chance to become fathers.”

Joining Empower gave Saara the tools and confidence to lead in a space where she was often the only woman in the room. “The program helped me sharpen my pitch, clarify my vision, and back myself.”

2025 was a game-changing year for Sarra and Cool Beans: national media coverage, global distributors, clinical partnerships, and even a book sharing her story. Her advice for women founders? “Don’t wait for permission, especially if you’re building something the world hasn’t seen before.”

As for the future, Saara is just getting started. “We’re now working more broadly in men’s health, from hormone and fertility optimisation to post-operative recovery and elite sport. Long term, I want Cool Beans to become the go-to brand for male preconception health and recovery, and to lead a global movement that transforms how we support men, families, and future generations.”

Kym Cooper – Co-Founder of East Forged

For Kym Cooper, entrepreneurship started with curiosity and a love of tea.

“I didn’t set out to become a founder, I just got started. Tania {my co-founder} and I began meeting up to explore what East Forged could be, and one idea led to another.”

That early exploration led to East Forged’s bold new take on tea: cold brew tea blends made with Australian-grown teas and whole plant-based ingredients that skip the sugar but keep the flavour. 

From beginnings at market stalls gathering customer feedback and insights, East Forged has grown into a national brand stocked in independent grocery stores across Australia. 

One proud milestone stands out for Kym: “Attracting strategic investment, not just the capital, but the belief in our brand, vision, and ability to scale.”

Empower helped Kym refine East Forged’s business model and prepare for growth. “It sharpened my clarity and confidence: especially when it came to articulating our business model and pitching it with intention.”

Her advice for women starting out is practical and encouraging: “You don’t need to have it all figured out...none of us do. The key is to start. Take action quickly, ask the questions, take the meeting, and stay open. Take advice, but don’t be afraid to assess it with a critical eye - and back yourself when it counts.”

Looking ahead, East Forged is building momentum. They're launching new products, reaching new customers, and stepping into new markets. "Long term, we see East Forged as a category-defining beverage brand that puts tea back in the spotlight — modern, convenient, and proudly brewed in Australia.”

Ready to begin your own venture?

Jenna, Saara, and Kym demonstrate that there is no single path to entrepreneurship—just a shared willingness to start, learn, and keep moving forward. And it helps to have a supportive community around you. 

That’s what Empower is all about: giving women founders the tools, confidence, and connections to turn bold ideas into thriving businesses.

Ready to take the first step? Join the next Empower Women’s Pre-Accelerator Program and start building your future today.