Scale Investors

Scale Investors, a venture capital firm based in Melbourne, Australia, is dedicated to bridging the entrepreneurial investment gender-gap by investing in high-growth, early-stage, women-led technology companies. Founded by a group of visionary women in 2013, it holds the distinction of being Australia's first and only network of angel investors focused on female founders. The firm operates with a dual mission: to generate strong financial returns for its sophisticated high-net-worth investors and to create positive social impact by empowering diverse founding teams. Scale Investors actively challenges the prevailing venture capital landscape, which historically has seen only a small percentage of funding allocated to all-female teams, despite evidence suggesting that female-led and co-led businesses often generate higher revenues and returns.

What sets Scale Investors apart is its unwavering commitment to gender-lens investing. Their mandate stipulates that all investee companies must have at least one woman or gender non-conforming co-founder who possesses equal equity and C-suite decision-making power. This inclusive approach extends to mixed-gender teams, ensuring that the unique insights and "lived experience" of women as innovators are leveraged for broader benefit. Scale Investors is recognised as the only fully female-owned fund in Australia specifically investing in women-led startups. The firm's ethos is encapsulated in its ambitious vision that "The world of venture funding is in for Supernova Scale Revolution Founders ...are finally in capable, competent hands," reflecting a belief in the transformative potential of their investment model.

Since its inception, Scale Investors has made significant contributions to the Australian startup ecosystem, having invested more than $12 million in private capital into women-led businesses by March 2021. A 2022 study by Deloitte indicated that Scale Investors contributed over a billion dollars of economic impact and nearly 5,000 jobs to the economy over a ten-year period. The firm further solidified its position in November 2025 with the announcement of its Scale Venture Fund 1, which is targeting a $100 million close and has already secured $75 million in commitments from cornerstone investors, including Breakthrough Victoria. Additionally, in December 2021, in partnership with Artesian, The Female Leaders VC Fund was launched, targeting $100 million for Series A and B women-led and co-led startups across the Asia Pacific.

The leadership team at Scale Investors comprises seasoned professionals dedicated to their mission. Samar Mcheileh serves as Managing Partner, bringing over 15 years of experience in investment management and financial services, where she pioneers a new era of venture capital in Australia. Roo Harris is a General Partner, recognised as a leader at the intersection of venture capital and diversity, actively advocating for neurodivergent and disability communities. Chelsea Newell, also a General Partner, specialises in founder-investor relationships and deal origination, playing a crucial role in formalising the firm's due diligence processes. Catherine Robson holds the position of Chair of Scale Investors and hosts the "Connect to Capital" podcast, further extending the firm's reach and influence within the investment community.