Being Wear named a Top 30 startup in The Ventures 2026 Australian Start Up Awards

Top 30. Just 14 months in. Plenty to be proud of.

From hundreds of applications, Being Wear was named one of the Top 30 startups in The Ventures 2026 Australian Start Up Awards.

For a young Australian business that started with a family’s search for comfortable underwear, it’s a milestone worth pausing to appreciate.

From a family need to three countries

Being Wear began with my child Mads, who is autistic and has ADHD. Finding underwear they could comfortably wear was much harder than it should have been. Fabrics, seams and tags could turn an everyday essential into a daily struggle.

When they wanted boxers, and later a chest binder instead of a bra, we realised that comfort and freedom of choice weren’t always easy to find together.

That experience led my co-founder Linc and me to create Being Wear: gender-free, sensory-friendly underwear made for all human beings.

Since launching in August 2025, we’ve grown from an idea shared between two families into a brand serving customers across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Recognition for what we’re building

Being named in The Ventures’ Top 30 recognises the work that has gone into bringing Being Wear to life. It also means our business has been shared with The Ventures’ network of more than 460 VC funds and investors.

For a business funding its own growth, opportunities to build awareness and introduce our story to potential investors matter.

We’re working to make underwear shopping more welcoming, with choices based on your body, comfort and preferences. This recognition gives us another opportunity to share that vision.

A moment to appreciate the progress

Would we have loved to make the final 12 and present Being Wear to investors? Absolutely.

But building a business takes patience. As someone who’s naturally impatient, I’m learning that looking towards the next milestone needs to leave room for appreciating the progress already made.

In 14 months, we’ve developed our range, entered three markets and built a community that continues to encourage us, challenge us and help us grow.

Every customer who tries us, recommends us or tells us what they need helps shape what comes next. Being recognised in the Top 30 is a moment to acknowledge all of that.

Our next goal? Top 12 in 2027.

Thank you to The Ventures for the recognition, and to everyone who has backed Being Wear so far.

Our goal for the 2027 awards is clear: Top 12, with another year of progress behind us.

For now, we’re proud of this milestone. Back to building.

Explore Being Wear’s gender-free, sensory-friendly underwear.