Atto

Atto is a Melbourne, Australia-based tech entrepreneurship school and online community dedicated to empowering female founders. Established in 2019 by serial entrepreneur Kate Kendall, Atto was created to bridge a critical gap in the startup education landscape, providing practical, action-oriented programs for first-time female founders. The organisation champions an "indie way" of building businesses, focusing on sustainable growth, purposeful Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and early customer relationships and revenue, which sets it apart from the conventional "growth at all costs" Silicon Valley ethos. Atto's mission is to democratise entrepreneurship, making it accessible to all.

Atto serves a diverse group of aspiring and early-stage female entrepreneurs from around the globe, including recent university graduates, full-time workers, and parents. While open internationally, participants are encouraged to have time zone overlap with Australian Eastern Time to benefit fully from live sessions. Atto offers a tiered educational pathway: the 8-week Atto Aspire Pre-Accelerator for idea validation, the 12-week Atto Accelerator for achieving product-market fit and scaling, and the Atto Academy, a year-round membership community offering ongoing support and resources. Its programs are meticulously designed to be equity-free, allowing founders to retain full ownership of their companies and explore various funding pathways beyond traditional venture capital, such as equity crowdfunding or bootstrapping.

Since its inception, Atto has supported over 100 women founders in launching and growing their tech startups. The accelerator program is endorsed and backed by LaunchVic, the Victorian Government's startup agency, and AWS in New Zealand, underscoring its credibility and impact within the startup ecosystem. Atto is distinct in its approach by welcoming emerging founders who may not yet possess traction or technical skills, preparing them for more advanced stages or alternative growth strategies. Kate Kendall founded Atto to directly address common challenges faced by female founders, such as navigating unproven tech investments or dealing with dilutive investment terms often found outside major tech hubs.

Leadership at Atto is spearheaded by its Founder and CEO, Kate Kendall, who brings over a decade of startup experience, including co-founding Aussie Founders Network in Silicon Valley. She is supported by a dedicated team including Program Manager Lana Weal and Community Advisor Siân Simpson. Atto's emphasis on flexibility and remote delivery, having been a virtual accelerator pre-COVID-19, highlights its forward-thinking and inclusive operational model. The organisation regularly culminates its Accelerator programs with online Demo Days, providing a platform for founders to showcase their progress and connect with a broader audience. Atto is building a pipeline of ambitious, skilled, and confident female founders who are equipped to build global, scalable, and sustainable tech companies.