Doctor. Mentor. Investor. Catherine Keating on First Believers & supporting early-stage startups
Angel investors come from all walks of life, but the best bring deep subject-matter expertise and genuine passion for helping founders succeed.
Dr. Catherine Keating is one of them.
A clinical occupational therapist, Health Economics PHD holder, mentor and health tech advisor, Catherine joined our First Believers program to learn how to back early-stage founders, not just with capital, but with meaningful support. Since then, she’s become a trusted mentor and investor across the health tech ecosystem. Advising companies such as Ovum AI, Eucalyptus, June Health & More Good Days.
In this AMA, we’ll unpack:
Catherine’s journey into angel investing (and why First Believers was the perfect starting point)
How she evaluates and supports founders in health, medtech and beyond
What it really means to be a first believer in a founder’s journey
📅 When: 26th August, 4 pm
📍 Where: Zoom
🐝 Who: Investors, founders, techies, startup operators, corporate leaders and the tech-curious - join us and invite your friends who fit the bill!
This is your chance to ask anything about early-stage investing and how to become a First Believer in the startups shaping the future.
What else we'll cover:
How to get started with angel investing (even if you’ve never done it before)
What makes an early-stage startup a great investment
How Startmate supports new angels through community, education, and deal flow
🐝 What is First Believers?
A community obsessed with backing and believing in the next generation of great founders.
Through the program, you'll learn the craft of investing from world-class investors through the Startmate network, while simultaneously being exposed to 700+ early-stage startups. This is not about passively learning abstract concepts. It's about learning by doing and making real investment decisions on real companies with real outcomes. Startmate’s First Believers program comprises two parts - theory and practice.
First Believers blends two days of in-person connection and theory with 7 weeks of real, hands-on learning and investing online. You'll be guided by Brady Flockart, Ben Simai, and Sam Monkhouse.
First Believer's questions? Book a time with Ben Simai here.
⭐️ What type of person does the program attract?
Startmate’s First Believers are sophisticated investors, top operators and successful founders, who want to invest in high-potential startups at the earliest stages. You don’t need millions to get started, just the curiosity and conviction to back ambitious founders before anyone else does.
🚀 More dates & details
📝 PART ONE: THEORY
This part is a two-day in-person conference where you will learn the craft of investing, hear from ANZ’s best investors and form your network of investors. These events will take place in two locations:
📍Melbourne (27-28 October)
📍Sydney (3-4 November)
🚀 PART TWO: PRACTICE
This part is all about doing the reps to build your investor muscle. From 4th November to 20th November, you'll be part of an intensive virtual selection process involving hundreds of the most exciting new startups. You'll practice reviewing decks, interviewing, and ultimately helping inform the investment decision.