Storm Menzies injured her hand and couldn’t open a mascara tube. Now her snap-on grips for beauty products have won $30,000 in funding.
What’s happening: Newcastle founder Storm Menzies has won $30,000 in equity-free funding at the Kickstarter Challenge Grand Final in Canberra for ByStorm Beauty, her accessible beauty brand.
Why this matters: Government-backed initiatives like the Kickstarter Challenge address this funding gap whilst showcasing how disability-led innovation can reshape entire industries. Menzies’ win demonstrates that accessible design is becoming recognised as a business necessity rather than compliance.
Storm Menzies started ByStorm Beauty after a 2023 injury to her dominant hand revealed a harsh reality about the beauty industry.
The Newcastle disability worker, who has limited function in her right hand following a stroke at birth, couldn’t open a tube of mascara, let alone apply it.
“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 began crafting initial designs and prototypes for silicone snap-on grips in her garage, addressing challenges faced by people with upper limb mobility issues, grip strength limitations, or fine motor skill difficulties.
Her products have already attracted attention from comedian Celeste Barber, who is collaborating with ByStorm Beauty for her label Booie Beauty.
At the Kickstarter Challenge Grand Final at Parliament House on 20 November, Menzies secured $30,000 in equity-free funding after impressing judges in the health, wellbeing and care economy category. “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,” Menzies 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.”
The funding will help Menzies employ people with disability to ensure ByStorm continues to be shaped by the community it serves. Four runners-up also received $7,500 each: Shehara Pillai of PlayPass, Lisa Cohen and Lianne Kady of Elevated Educators, Lindy Hua of CO2 Lab, and Cordelia King of Superstat. Governor-General Sam Mostyn delivered an address and announced the winner, pledging to share the stories nationally.
“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.”
Enterprising ME director Fleur Anderson said the Kickstarter Challenge was crucial to addressing the investment drought facing female entrepreneurs.
“Her vision and determination exemplify the strength of female entrepreneurs,” Anderson 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.” Australian startups raised $1.9 billion in the first half of 2024, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year, though gender diversity in funding continues to be a challenge.
Funding drought persists
Enterprising ME research found financial barriers, uncertainty and self-doubt continued to hold women back, underscoring the need for support, mentorship and better access to funding.
The Kickstarter Challenge is an initiative of Enterprising ME, an Australian Government-funded programme designed to support women aged 18 and over in pursuing entrepreneurship. The programme is delivered in partnership with the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia.
COSBOA Deputy Chair Christine Pope noted the competition’s growth in just five years. “Not only did we recognise five outstanding finalists this year, but we celebrated an Enterprising Girl of the Year, and made strides towards the future with the launch of Carla, one of Australia’s first AI mentors built specifically for women in business,” she said.
For Menzies, the win reinforced her belief that inclusive design is not a niche concept but a necessity.
“Real inclusion starts when we stop treating accessibility as compliance and start seeing it as the future of business,” she said.
The founder’s journey from garage prototypes to securing major funding demonstrates how lived experience combined with determination can create meaningful change in industries that have traditionally overlooked diverse needs.
