Founder Stories - Mika Koelma

You've seen them before but where are they now? Hear the highs, lows, wins, mistakes and inside story from someone who's lived it.

You've seen them pitch. You've watched them grow. But where are they now?

Mika Koelma shares the unfiltered reality of building a FemTech startup from scratch with complete honesty.

From her kitchen table in 2023 to 900+ Woolworths stores nationwide, Mika co-founded Hey Zomi - Australia's first reusable menstrual disc brand - with her sister Zoe Fehlberg. But what does hyper-growth in a stigmatised category actually look like?

The Real Story:

Mika and Zoe combined their expertise across business, product development, creative industries, health and education to create a new standard in Australian FemTech. Two years on, Hey Zomi leads the charge in menstrual health innovation with a product made from 100% medical-grade silicone, featuring design-registered ergonomics and built to last five years.

But the stockist numbers don't tell the full story. Building in FemTech means challenging stigma, rewriting conversations around menstruation and navigating a market that's underfunded and overlooked. Every decision-from material selection to market positioning-is driven by mission, not just margin.

So what does it take to scale a purpose-driven product in an industry fighting for legitimacy? How do you land major retail while staying true to your mission? What are the trade-offs between growth and values?

Agenda:

• Hear from Mika
• Followed by a curated Q&A session
• Networking

Whether you're in the early stages of building or curious about what scaling with purpose actually demands, this is the founder story that shows you what it takes to turn mission into market traction.

* Part of a series of special events throughout 2026 honouring a decade of supporting founders and innovation in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.

🚀 Why I2N?

The University of Newcastle's Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) is Australia's #1 Most Recommended Accelerator and Incubator by Startup Muster, 2025 - the country's biggest startup survey. By harnessing The Hunter and Central Coast regions' unique resources and innovation ecosystem, I2N empowers the most promising innovators and entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into high-impact, sustainable global businesses. Through our enterprise skill-building programs and dedicated spaces, I2N is creating the foundation for startups to thrive and driving economic diversity across our region.