Founders After Hours Event Recap – 2nd of October 2026

Founders After Hours brought together a room of ambitious women in Melbourne for an afternoon of meaningful conversation, genuine connection, and the kind of interactions that feel less like networking and more like finding your people.

Held at Hannah St Hotel, the afternoon was designed to create space away from the usual pace of business and everyday life. A chance to pause, meet women who understand what it means to be building something of their own, and have conversations without the pressure to perform.

This was not your typical networking event. There were no awkward introductions, no forced small talk, and no expectation to have the perfect elevator pitch. Instead, the focus was simple: real conversations with women you genuinely wanted to see again.

As the afternoon unfolded, women shared ideas, experiences and different seasons of building, growing and figuring things out. Conversations moved naturally, creating opportunities to discover common ground and connect beyond the surface.

What made the afternoon special was the sense of ease in the room. Women could show up as themselves, talk openly about where they were at, and connect with others who understood the realities of ambition, business and life.

Sometimes, the most valuable thing you can take away from an event isn't a business card, a collaboration or a new strategy.

Sometimes, it's a conversation that stays with you.

A woman you wouldn't have otherwise met.
A shared experience that made you feel understood.
A new friendship that began simply because you happened to be sitting in the same room.

Founders After Hours was a reminder that meaningful connection doesn't always need to be planned or complicated. Sometimes, you simply need the right room, the right people, and the space to talk.

For Her Seat, that's what these gatherings are about: creating spaces where ambitious women can connect beyond the surface, find their people, and build relationships that extend beyond the room.

Because sometimes, you don't need another networking event.

You just need to leave with a new friend. 🤍