2022 alumni stories - She's a Crowd - Telstra Best of Business Awards

A data-led approach to safer cities for women and gender-diverse people

With over six years experience across data activism and gender advocacy, Zoe committed herself to finding a solution for gender-based violence and becoming a leader in the social change sector.

“We are a small feminist tech start-up with a social mission, and for us, winning this award signifies the huge progress we have made in the last four years. To win such a prestigious award in the world of business is testament to the way that a social impact model and a business model, if designed well, can go hand in hand.

She's a Crowd and its team of data analysts, marketers, gender experts and business advisors deliver data insights via their dashboard, and through custom reports and consulting to decision-makers and businesses who are looking to promote the safety of women and gender-diverse people in their communities. The goal is to create safer cities, housing options, lifelines, and online emergency response services for victims.

Over 100,000 reports in its database makes She's a Crowd the only 'always-on' crowdsourcing platform for the prevention of gender-based violence in Australia. Committed to long-lasting change, She’s a Crowd envisions a world where everybody can report their experience, with data as a powerful tool to understand and tackle the root causes of gender-based violence. "I envisioned She's a Crowd to have a sustainable business model so that we could make systemic level social change. I hope that this award can show others that it is possible to run a good business with a social purpose."

She's a Crowd gives marginalised communities a voice

As with all systemic issues, addressing these problems takes an approach that's both nuanced and meticulous. Zoe reflects on the last three and half years, “[we have] built a trusted brand with our audience, which allows us to speak to and access survivors in a way our customers often find challenging.”

Whilst there are other organisations working to address these issues, She’s a Crowd's unique model bridges the gap between survivors and legislators.

Addressing the gender-data gap using data-driven methodology and a technical approach, our social impact model can be scaled to create impact across Australia and eventually, the world.

"To win such a prestigious award in the world of business is testament to the way that a social impact model and a business model, if designed well, can go hand in hand. I hope this award can show others that it is possible to run a good business with a social purpose."