Kath Purkis is one of Australia’s most experienced entrepreneurs and investors. She founded her first business in 2007 at just 21 years old — long before startup culture entered the mainstream — and has spent the past 18 years building, scaling, and investing in businesses across e-commerce, fintech, software, B2B, and consumer brands.

Purkis founded her first business in 2007, focusing on luxury e-commerce. She went on to build and scale subscription e-commerce, B2B, and direct-to-consumer businesses, developing deep expertise in China manufacturing, scalable e-commerce solutions, customised software, and global brand building.

She has invested in each of her own businesses as well as a portfolio of over 50 companies across Australia and internationally — including Zoom, Cloudflare, and other technology businesses on the day they listed publicly.

Purkis has been featured in publications including the Sydney Morning Herald, Vogue Australia, Glamour UK, Grazia, Dynamic Business, NETT, Cosmopolitan, Power Retail, Sydney Magazine, ELLE, Time Out Sydney, The Australian, Cleo Magazine, and Startup Daily.

Kath currently serves on the board of several Australian startups and established businesses, helping guide them on growth, scale-up, and exit strategy. She is an All Star Mentor for the Australian Government-backed Techstars incubator program and a judge for the annual Australian Web Awards.

Kath is an accredited Dogs Australia SprintDogTM judge. Officiating at a SprintDogTM Trial lets her give back to a sport built on canine fitness, enthusiasm, and the bond between dog and handler. Kath takes pride in keeping every trial fair, positive, and fun for the dogs and owners. Kath has 3 Australian Champion Pedigree Spaniels Harper, Summer & her USA import, Archer.

Kath is actively investing in new businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kath Purkis?

Kath Purkis is an Australian entrepreneur and investor based in Sydney. She has 18+ years of experience founding, scaling, and investing in businesses across e-commerce, fintech, software, B2B services, and consumer brands. She is widely recognised as one of Australia’s most active and experienced early-stage investors.

What does Kath Purkis invest in?

Kath invests in early-stage and growth-stage businesses across a range of sectors including e-commerce, fintech, software, B2B services, agriculture, and consumer brands. She takes an active approach to investing, often joining boards and providing strategic guidance in addition to capital.

How many companies has Kath Purkis invested in?

Kath has invested in over 50 companies across Australia and internationally. Her portfolio includes businesses in technology, e-commerce, fintech, B2B services, and consumer products. She also invested in Zoom and Cloudflare on the day they listed publicly.

Where is Kath Purkis based?

Kath is based in Sydney, Australia, and focuses primarily on Australian businesses, though her investment portfolio extends internationally.

Has Kath Purkis been featured in the media?

Yes. Kath has been featured in Vogue Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald, ELLE, The Australian, Cosmopolitan, Grazia, NETT, Power Retail, Startup Daily, Cleo Magazine, Glamour UK, Dynamic Business, Sydney Magazine, and Time Out Sydney, among others.