Barayamal

We believe that First Nations Entrepreneurship can change the world for the better

Impact

Aboriginal Artwork

Impact

Barayamal strengthens First Nations entrepreneurship through practical support, market-building tools, policy accountability, education and community-led storytelling. Our work connects entrepreneurs, employers, partners, learners and allies who want outcomes beyond symbolism.

Current platforms include the First Nations Job Board, the Indigenous Innovation Map, First Nations entrepreneurship courses, ReconciliACTION resources, research and campaigns that shift attention toward First Nations-defined development.

Impact since 2016

Since launching the world’s first Indigenous accelerator in 2016, Barayamal has built practical pathways for First Nations entrepreneurs, job seekers, mentors, employers and allies. These figures are a current working snapshot drawn from Barayamal program records and public platform data.

  • Entrepreneurs, professionals and learners supported: 1,400+ through accelerators, pre-accelerators, eMentoring and online courses, including 21 Aboriginal-owned businesses in Victoria, 81 eMentoring participants and 1,315 Udemy learners across First Nations entrepreneurship and allyship courses.
  • Jobs listed: 399 live roles currently listed on the First Nations Job Board, with free posting and browsing for Indigenous, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander opportunities.
  • Employers connected: 360+ employers across Australia and beyond through the First Nations Job Board.
  • Mentoring and workshop hours: 100+ hours delivered or facilitated through accelerator intensives, eMentoring, speed mentoring, IBM Lunch and Learn sessions, founder workshops and demo-day preparation.
  • Events and programs delivered: 10+ major initiatives, including Indigenous Startup Weekend, the Barayamal Accelerator, Give Backathon, First Nations Youth Summit, Demo Day and Awards, First Nations Economic Forum, First Nations Allies Summit, CoderDojo First Nations and Mentor Blaze.
  • Research and tools launched: 10+ platforms, reports and resources, including the 3% Pledge, First Nations Job Board, Indigenous Innovation Map, eMentoring, IndigiReviews, ReconciliACTION resources, Mindset Scorecard, Allyship Toolkit, Blakwashing resources and access-to-capital research.
  • Learning validation: Dean Foley’s public Udemy instructor profile shows 1,315 total learners and 19 reviews, adding independent social proof for Barayamal’s practical First Nations entrepreneurship education.
  • Media and community reach: 5,000+ Indigipreneur newsletter subscribers, 28,000+ LinkedIn audience reach, and podcast campaigns that reached 6,272 people from the last two measured episodes.
  • Funding leveraged: LaunchVic support through a $1.37 million Aboriginal entrepreneurship funding round, $50,000 in accelerator grant funding for First Nations businesses, and $2,000+ raised through community crowdfunding for the Indigipreneur podcast.

“I didn’t expect to achieve so much in this Program considering I am based in Darwin and access was all online with self-paced development.”

Jason Davis, Founder & CEO at HoldAccess

Strategy

Despite the promising (re)growth of First Nations Entrepreneurship in Australia, after being locked out of Australia’s economy for almost 200 years, there’s a long way to go. In 2016, we launched the world’s first Indigenous Accelerator program out of frustration with the status quo and quickly realised that just running an accelerator program wouldn’t be enough so our “Impact Strategy” through First Nations Entrepreneurship (not Western Entrepreneurship) focuses on these channels for change.

Capacity Building

We strengthen First Nations Entrepreneurship by supporting entrepreneurs/businesses through coaching, strategic advice, training, mind shifts (Indigenous vs Western Entrepreneurships), or services that further increase First Nations Entrepreneurship which we believe will empower people and deliver a greater impact in our community.

“I have a lot of faith in my idea and Barayamal is helping make it a reality by keeping me grounded and working with me to get my idea into action.”

Phillip Harris, Founder, Artbi

Market Transformations

We build products or services that fulfil an unmet need that will have a positive impact on the community. We aim to solve problems through the power and wisdom of First Nations Entrepreneurship. We might also mess with the status quo or “Indigenous Wealth Managers” in the process by creating new tools & strategies to shift markets that benefit the community, instead of individuals…

Policy Change

We aim to influence policy, regulations and rules in relation to First Nations Entrepreneurship to benefit the community instead of individuals (Indigenous vs Western Entrepreneurship). We are working to change the system that wants us to conform to Western business practices, and nothing less!

Culture and Behaviour Change

We help inform, educate and inspire others to be a part of the solution (First Nations Entrepreneurship), instead of the problem.

“It’s good because it’s teaching me how to get more confidence going up in front of the whole class and speaking.”

Jai Heywood, Indigenous student at Capalaba State College

Barayamal also operates the First Nations Job Board, connecting Indigenous job seekers with more than 360 employers across Australia and beyond.

🔍 Visit the First Nations Job Board – Browse Indigenous Jobs Across Australia