AFC Presents: Brand That Means Business - How founders are using brand to differentiate, grow, and lead markets
AFC Presents: Brand That Means Business - How founders are using brand to differentiate, grow, and lead markets
Strategic storytelling, brand identity & positioning that help startups stand out, scale up, and stay top of mind.
🗓 Date: Thursday, 26th February
🕠 Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm
📍 Location: 2/39 Little Collins St, Melbourne – Hosted by Everest Engineering
🍕 Food & Drinks: Provided by EverestEngineering
Event Overview:
In 2026, brand isn’t just what you look like - it’s how you show up, what people say about you, and why anyone should care.
This month’s Aussie Founders Club meetup is all about the big question: Who are you, really?
We’re bringing together founders, creatives and strategists to explore how startups can build brands that actually resonate - the kind that spark connection, drive conversion, and stick in people’s minds long after the first touchpoint.
This isn’t just for early-stage - whether you're rethinking your positioning, scaling your identity, or tightening up how you communicate, this panel will help you cut through the fluff and focus on what matters.
Who Should Attend:
Startup founders, marketers, product people, and anyone looking to sharpen their brand - whether you're building it for the first time or evolving it for what’s next.
The Panel:
Simon Hakim - CEO & founder of Hunter, a branding agency for Start-Ups, Scale-Ups and businesses in need of a Reboot.
Emily Carlstrom - Founder & Director of SolBiome, a brand led supplement business for gut, skin, mood & immune health.
Rajan Kumar - Co-Founder of The Lumery (acquired by Accenture) a marketing and technology focused collective
What You’ll Take Away:
You’ll walk away with:
Real-world examples of startup branding done right
Tips on building consistency across voice, visuals and messaging
Ways to create emotional connection without corporate cringe
And a better understanding of how to turn brand into a growth asset
Big Thanks to Our Sponsors:
🛠 Our Venue & Catering Sponsor: EverestEngineering
We’re stoked to be hosted by EverestEngineering, a world-class product development partner that helps startups build, scale, and accelerate their software dreams. With a sharp focus on engineering excellence and collaboration, EverestEngineering takes the hassle out of product delivery - so founders can stay focused on what matters most.
🤝 In-Kind Event Sponsor: Kairos Recruitment
Another shout out to Kairos, my recruitment company that has continued to make these events possible. Through running AFC and working deeply with startup clients, we help companies scale their teams with the right people, at the right time. Whether you're hiring your first engineer or your next Head of Growth, we knows how to match startups with standout humans who thrive in the chaos.
Proudly Supported by LaunchVic
This event is proudly supported by LaunchVic, Victoria’s startup agency. Their role is to fuel the growth of Victoria’s startup ecosystem by building the confidence and capability of Victorians to create, scale, and invest in startups.
Established by the Victorian Government in 2016, LaunchVic is helping shape the future of the state’s innovation economy by:
Driving improvements in the startup investment landscape
Supporting programs that build founder, investor, and talent capabilities
Continuing to raise awareness and advocate for startups across Victoria
We’re grateful for their continued support in helping make events like this possible.
RSVP Now
RSVP now to grab your seat and join us for a night of sharp ideas, startup stories, and a few slices with great company.
Let’s up the anti, building bloody brilliant startups in Australia 🚀