The Content Dump, Vol 5: 10 Female Founders You Need To Follow
A bumper female founder round-up you don't want to miss.
Welcome to a special edition of The Content Dump. We’re coming to you on the Sunday evening of a long weekend (well, here in Sydney at least) and let’s be honest: the last thing you really want to read or think about is work.
So, we’re mixing things up and adding in a bit of sugar this week! This is a bumper female founder spotlight, rounding up ten of the most intelligent, creative, and inspiring women in business that you need to follow on TikTok.
Promise we’ll be back to regular programming next Sunday. In the meantime, let’s dive in! ✨
🔍 Female Founder Spotlight
⭐ Lauren Kennedy - High End
Follow for a raw, unfiltered insight into the realities of running a startup with a newborn.
If building a fashion tech startup from the ground up wasn’t enough, Lauren (Founder of fashion resale marketplace, High End) has thrown in motherhood and newborn life for good measure. We love her honesty and vulnerability, as she shares the unglamorous side of founder and startup life — from fundraising to building in public, launching new products, and beyond.
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⭐ Alexa DaFonte - Sizzle
Follow for creative, founder-led storytelling at its best.
There’s no shortage of founders building in public on TikTok. But Alexa (Founder of Sizzle, a next-gen cooking app) has nailed the art of engaging, social-first storytelling. From sleek editing to compelling hooks, every single video she produces is worth watching to the very last second. We love her vision to build a food tech empire, her clarity on why Sizzle should exist (and why now) and the way she clearly articulates how her product is going to revolutionise cooking.
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⭐ Kristine Locker - Want Locker
Follow for a best practice example of how to get behind-the-scenes content right.
What makes you tune into a DIML vlog? For us, having enough context on who the person is, what they do, and what they’re building makes behind-the-scenes content 100 times more engaging. Kristine Locker (Founder of fashion tech platform, Want Locker) gets this formula just right.
Her TikTok feed offers everything from daily vlogs to engaging AMA-style Q&A videos breaking down why she started Want Locker and what’s ahead for the app.
Bonus points for her incredibly brave posts about the realities of being a female founder (and soon to be mum!) navigating societal expectations about balancing business with motherhood.
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⭐ Gab Waller - Sourced By
Follow for a dose of high-end fashion inspiration and curated vintage finds.
Speaking of fashion tech founders, we couldn’t write this list without a mention of Gab Waller (global fashion sourcing expert and founder of Sourced By). Her TikTok feed is a fashion lover's dream: a mix of incredible vintage pieces she’s sourced, fashion shows she’s attending around the world and new designer collections she’s loving. Hit follow to add a dose of luxury fashion inspiration to your FYP.
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P.S. We’d highly recommend tuning into Gab’s recent interview on Female Founder World as she discusses how she has organically grown her business from 1,000 followers on Instagram to become the global go-to for fashion sourcing.
⭐ Lauren Meisner - Centennial World
Follow for a brutally honest insight into what it takes to launch a new media company.
What does it take to build a millennial media company? Lauren Meisner (Founder of Centennial World) is sharing the inner workings of growing a media brand from the ground up. We’re loving her latest series on 14 Days of Failures, where she shares some of the biggest mistakes, challenges and learnings she’s encountered running her company over the past five years. A must-watch for any founders!
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⭐ Liv Koennecke - Maison Essentiele
Follow for business tips and practical advice from one of the most exciting creative directors in Australian fashion.
Want to start a business or turn your side hustle into your main gig? Liv Koennecke (Founder and Creative Director of Maison Essentiele) is one of our favourite voices to follow. She openly shares the highs, lows, wins and lessons of bootstrapping her fashion brand (no gatekeeping here). Her content is equal parts honest, inspiring and practical, packed with tangible tips and sound business advice you can use to fuel your own journey as a founder.
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P.S. We’d highly recommend tuning into Liv’s recent interview with Arielle Thomas for Process The Podcast, chatting all things risk, realness and ready-to-wear.
⭐ Sophie Hood - Seoul Tonic
Follow for invaluable insights into launching in new markets internationally.
Ever dreamt of launching your brand overseas? Sophie Hood (Founder of Seoul Tonic) is documenting her journey living in NYC and expanding her hangover prevention tonic across the US and UK. Her content offers a real-time glimpse into the realities of scaling a brand into a new market, her observations of doing business as an Aussie in the US and her advice for founders when it comes to launching and funding businesses.
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⭐ Alice Bugeja - Mile Off
Follow for a top-notch example for how to build hype prior to launch.
Thinking of launching a fashion or apparel brand? Alice Bugeja (Founder of activewear brand, Mile Off) shows the realities of bringing each design to life and preparing to launch her first collection. We love that Alice has carved out a niche for her brand (running gear and vests specifically designed for women) and lifts the lid on the challenges and roadblocks she’s faced during the design, development and production process. Plus, her content is such a smart playbook to follow if you want to build hype and anticipation ahead of a big launch!
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⭐ Sophie Marcoux - Ficifolia
Follow for an unconventional example of personal branding content.
Think all your content as a founder needs to be spruiking your brand or product? Absolutely not! When it comes to building a memorable personal brand, showcasing who you are, what you love, and your passions outside of business can be just as effective. Sophie Marcoux (Founder of Australian-inspired perfumery, Ficifolia) has nailed this approach, documenting her favourite travel destinations, must-see Melbourne dining spots, and even her latest fashion finds,
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⭐ Kelsie Grace - Gracie's Wine Room
Follow for a glimpse into the realities of launching a hospo venue.
Last, but certainly not least, is Kelsie Grace (Founder of Melbourne wine bar, Gracie’s Wine Room). Unlike every other founder we’ve featured, Kelsie has launched a very different kind of business: a hospitality venue and private event space. It’s an entirely different beast to secure and renovate a space, build relationships with suppliers, hire an A team of staff and keep all the plates spinning as the owner of a wine bar. But Kelsie is killing it and capturing her journey as she navigates one of the most demanding industries to survive in as a founder.
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And that’s a wrap! See you next Sunday for another dose of all things content. ✨