Press Play Ventures

Press Play Ventures is a Melbourne-based pre-accelerator dedicated to empowering women as they transition from traditional employment into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship. Recognising the systemic underrepresentation of women in the startup ecosystem, where they constitute only one in five founders and receive less than two percent of venture funding, Press Play Ventures actively works to redress this imbalance. Their mission is to provide ambitious women, particularly those with a background or affinity for technology, with the essential tools and support needed to launch high-impact tech startups. The program serves as a crucial bridge for individuals looking to move from corporate, startup, or scale-up roles to become confident and successful founders.

The core offering of Press Play Ventures is a comprehensive 12-week pre-accelerator program designed to guide participants from the initial spark of an idea through to early customer validation and the establishment of a viable business. This experience-led program combines practical education, facilitated workshops, and expert coaching to help founders clarify their vision, refine their strategies, and execute with confidence. A distinguishing feature of Press Play Ventures is its commitment to an equity-free model, meaning participants retain full ownership of their intellectual property and businesses. Furthermore, the program is structured to be accessible, requiring only four to five hours of commitment per week, allowing women to participate without needing to quit their current day jobs.

Under the leadership of its founder, Sangeeta Mulchandani, Press Play Ventures has made significant inroads since its inception. In the past year alone, the pre-accelerator has supported over 125 founders, with some successfully raising substantial funding rounds and others securing major enterprise clients within a year of completing the program. In the last 18 months, they have assisted 120 women in their entrepreneurial transition. Their impactful work was recognised with a TechDiversity Awards 2025 win in the Business Category, highlighting their innovative approach to fostering a more inclusive and diverse startup landscape. This dedication has also contributed to a 12% uplift in Victoria's women founders. Press Play Ventures is proudly supported by key partners such as LaunchVic and Natural Velocity, further enhancing its capacity to connect founders with vital resources, investors, mentors, and a supportive community that understands and champions their journey.

The program emphasises mindset, strategy, and execution, blending operational intelligence with purpose-driven decision-making to build sustainable businesses. It fosters a strong sense of community, connecting participants with a network of like-minded women, as well as broader startup ecosystem players. Notable alumni, such as Michelle Chen of Mental Jam, Yesha Patel and Nehal Jain of After, and Aliet, exemplify the diverse range of impactful businesses emerging from the program. Press Play Ventures is not just building businesses; it is rewriting the rules of the startup ecosystem to ensure it is more equitable and accessible for women, proving that inclusive leadership drives tangible impact and opportunity.