Disability worker Storm Menzies, founder of accessible makeup tools startup ByStorm Beauty has won the Kickstarter Challenge, taking home $30,000 in equity-free funding.
Four runners-up also took home $7,500 for their startups following the grand final at Parliament House in Canberra today.
The five-year-old Kickstarter Challenge, developed by Enterprising ME and run in conjunction with The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), is a federal government-funded program supporting women to pursue entrepreneurship.
Menzies, from Newcastle, was on stage at Sydney’s Town Hall last week pitching as part of disability accelerator Remarkable’s Tech Summit and Demo Day.
She was also part of the University of Newcastle’s 2024 I2N accelerator program.
Four months ago, Menzies teamed up with Celeste Barber, founder of Booie Beauty to release ByStorm’s products on the comedian’s online makeup store.
Menzies, who has limited function in her right hand following a stroke at birth, realised “just how inaccessible the beauty world was” after injuring her dominant hand in 2023 and launched ByStorm. In true startup style, created the initial designs and prototypes for her silicone snap-on grips for beauty products in her garage.
Storm Menzies with her Kickstarter Challenge cheque
“ByStorm’s commitment to inclusivity goes beyond functional products; it is about igniting a cultural shift within the beauty industry to value diversity and challenge long-standing norms,” she said.
“At the heart of ByStorm is the vision of a beauty industry where no one is sidelined.”
Menzies said winning the Kickstarter Challenge would help take her business to the next level, including employing people with disability to ensure the brand continues to be shaped by the community.
“This isn’t just a win for Bystorm, it’s a signal to the entire industry that disability-led innovation is worthy of investment, that people with disability are worthy of investment beyond charity,” she said.
“When we back underrepresented founders and communities, we don’t just tick boxes. We shift the standard for the industry and give representation for every little girl watching, of what is possible.
“Real inclusion starts when we stop treating accessibility as compliance and start seeing it as the future of business.”
Runners-up funded
The four runners-up, from across five categories, who also scored $7,500 each are:
Environment and sustainability: CO2 Lab (Lindy Hua) – an ‘AI sustainability analyst’ making emissions reporting faster and cheaper for organisations.
Margie – one of the beauty aids from ByStorm Beauty.
Education: Elevated Educators (Lisa Cohen & Lianne Kady) – supporting teacher wellbeing and classroom management through practical, evidence-based tools including online learning, live coaching, and school workshops.
Community impact: PlayPass (Shehara Pillai) – a tool to transform how parents discover activities for children under five and help providers connect with families.
Technology: Superstat (Cordelia King) – an AI-powered sports analytics platform that automatically turns match footage into advanced player stats and highlights.
Also honoured at today’s event was 11-year-old Ayla Armanwood, winner of the 2025 Enterprising Girl of the Year, for her startup, Grounded Beauty, turning coffee grounds into body scrubs and soaps.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn announced the winners and pledged to “take the stories I hear here all around the country”.
“Your passion, determination and talent bring you to this Grand Final,” she said.
“I’ve seen the progress we’ve made when we come together and amplify care, and that’s what these projects seek to do. I’ll come back every year that I’m the Governor-General.”
Enterprising ME director Fleur Anderson said the Kickstarter Challenge helped the investment drought for female entrepreneurs, as well as showcasing their potential, and praised Menzies amid ongoing interest in the program.
“Her vision and determination exemplify the strength of female entrepreneurs,” she said.
“The record number of entries this year sends a powerful message: women are eager to innovate, to solve real problems, and to create meaningful change.”
The annual Kickstarter Challenge is open to women who have a business or entrepreneurial idea, with entries opening mid-year. Details here.
- Disclosure: Startup Daily’s sister publication, SmartCompany, backed the Kickstarter Challenge and this writer was ByStorm Beauty’s first external investor, when we gave Storm $20 in non-dilutive funding after a practise pitch session at the I2N accelerator.
