MBA Grad Builds Startup Connecting 500+ Sydney Women

Harshita Sood moved to Western Sydney three years ago from Paris, but making meaningful friendships in a new city proved harder than expected. Instead of accepting isolation, she built a solution that's now helping hundreds of women connect.

Ketch-Up started as a class project at Western Sydney University's Launch Pad incubator during Sood's MBA program. The concept was simple: bring women together in small groups at local cafés and restaurants where real conversations could happen naturally.

Since launching in 2024, the Parramatta-based startup has grown entirely through word of mouth. The platform now serves over 500 women of all ages and backgrounds, hosting more than 40 meetups across Sydney.

"I really think it was a turning point in my life when one of my professors introduced me to the startup incubator at the University," Sood said. The connection gave her both the network and practical skills to turn an idea into reality.

The startup's impact hasn't gone unnoticed. Ketch-Up reached the top five finalists for the Small Business Award NSW/ACT at the Channel 7 Awards and won Launch Pad's Best Pitch Award, earning $10,000 in funding.

Sood juggled building her business while working full-time as a Marketing Manager at a cybersecurity company. The MBA's evening classes made it possible to pursue both career tracks simultaneously.

Her path to entrepreneurship took her from philosophy studies in Delhi to public policy in Paris, then marketing roles across tech and fintech companies. Australia represented a fresh start where professional ambition could meet personal purpose.

The Ripple Effect

Western Sydney's startup ecosystem is creating more than just businesses. By supporting founders like Sood, the region is addressing real social challenges through entrepreneurship.

Loneliness and social isolation affect millions, particularly women relocating to new cities or life stages. Ketch-Up's model proves that sometimes the best solutions come from people who've experienced the problem firsthand.

The university's Business School, celebrating its 50th anniversary, has become a launchpad for practical innovation. Students aren't just learning business theory but building ventures that strengthen their communities.

Sood's advice to aspiring entrepreneurs reflects her journey: be open, network beyond the classroom, and if you believe in something, act on it now. Western Sydney gave her the opportunities, but she created the connections that matter.

Five hundred women now have a place where meaningful friendships begin over coffee.