Women in Tech

Two local Melbourne mums, Katrina McCarter of Bubbler Deals and Megan Iemma of Tech Coach HQ, have been nominated for the 2014 AusMumpreneur Awards.

The 2014 AusMumpreneur Awards presented by The AusMumpreneur Network celebrate and recognize Mums in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business, product development, services and innovation in businesses from Australia and New Zealand.  The awards are designed to recognize the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.

Both Katrina and Megan are both passionate about operating businesses within the online world and want to encourage other women to join them.

Megan started Tech Coach HQ as a business technology coach to help people just like her mum (who is based in Tasmania, while Megan lives in Melbourne). She identified a need earlier last year to help professionals and businesses become ‘digitally literate and savvy’ especially in the areas of using mobile devices in business. She is known on FB groups as the ‘App Pharmacist’ solving the questions of which apps to use in certain instances. Megan is also a digital productivity and social media specialist helping those in the real estate, finance industry, lawyers and business/lifestyle coaches. She is currently writing a book for SME’s and those in the corporate workplace how to successfully use mobile devices in business.

Whilst Katrina created Bubbler Deals, an online family deal site, after being dismayed by the lame, irrelevant deals hitting her inbox each morning. She is committed to delivering value to families and help their community too. 5% of every voucher purchased is donated back to an approved local primary school or playgroup the customer decides.

Katrina and Megan have tapped into the opportunities that the new digital economy and social media revolution has provided for women to launch low-cost start-up businesses and market them cost-effectively through social media. According to the AMIA Yellow Social Media Report⁴ released in August 2012, the proportion of small businesses with a social media presence has increased from 14% to 27%, with Facebook being the dominant platform. The research also found that 21% of social media users now access group buying sites, up from 12% last year¹.

“Bubbler Deals has grown to a community of 100,000 families. Facebook has been a big part of our growth. We’ve been able to develop strong relationships with mums around the country as well as connect with other mum focused businesses.” Katrina says.

It can be challenging to be a successful business woman whilst raising a family and Megan gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise. ”There are great online tools now available to establish and streamline systems in your business to save you time. Embrace them!”.

Finalists will be selected by a public vote at www.ausmumpreneur.com with voting closing at midnight on Monday 6 October 2014.  The winners of the 2014 AusMumpreneur Awards will be announced at a glamorous Awards dinner in Melbourne in October 2014.