From the Blue Mountains to National Growth: Cooee’s Journey and the Power of First Nations Venture Capital

In February, both the Indigenous Business Review and the National Indigenous Times profiled an incredible story of determination, community support, and the transformative impact of the right kind of capital. At the centre of that story is Wiradjuri entrepreneur Terri‑Ann Daniel, founder of Cooee Native Superfoods—and one of the standout portfolio companies supported by Ochre Ventures.

What began as a simple act of generosity—donating Cooee Cookies to a bushfire fundraiser—set off a chain of opportunities. Encouraged by a local volunteer firefighter, Terri‑Ann applied for a Minderoo Foundation entrepreneurs grant, a process she completed within 24 hours. That grant became the turning point that eventually connected her to Ochre Ventures and unlocked the next phase of Cooee’s growth journey.

Unlocking Growth Through the Right Support

Like many early‑stage Indigenous businesses, Cooee had strong demand but faced familiar barriers: high operating costs, limited access to capital, and little exposure to commercial mentorship. The rapid rise of the brand during COVID‑19 showed the product-market fit was real—but scaling required something more structured and more strategic.

That’s where Ochre Ventures entered the picture.

Through our investment, Terri‑Ann accessed not just capital, but operational guidance, leadership support and the strategic capability required to turn a passionate founder‑led venture into a nationally scalable business. This included making key executive hires, strengthening financial management, and building a long‑term growth plan.

The Commercial Impact

The outcomes speak for themselves:

• Qantas partnership: Cooee signed a major one‑year agreement, with its products served across both economy and business class during the recent peak travel season.

• National distribution: Bunji Pet Foods—Cooee’s pet food subsidiary—secured national distribution through Bunnings.

• Supply chain expansion: The acquisition of Creative Native Ingredients strengthened Cooee’s ability to control and scale its production pipeline.

These achievements demonstrate what becomes possible when early promise is combined with capital and capability-building that prioritises commercial success and long-term sustainability.

More Than a Single Business—Building an Ecosystem

A theme Terri‑Ann reflected on in recent media coverage is one at the heart of Ochre’s investment philosophy: when First Nations businesses grow, the impact extends far beyond a single balance sheet.

Cooee’s growth is generating new opportunities for Indigenous growers, suppliers, and producers. It is strengthening participation in high-value markets and contributing to the expansion of a vibrant Indigenous business ecosystem.

This is exactly why Ochre Ventures exists—to back strong founders and, in doing so, help strengthen the broader economic foundations that support community wealth and long-term prosperity.

Ready to Grow? Let’s Yarn.

Cooee’s story is one of many emerging examples of what First Nations businesses can achieve with the right partners and the right capital at the right time.

If you're a First Nations founder preparing to scale—or if you’re running a business with strong potential but need support to take the next step—we’d love to yarn about your journey and how Ochre Ventures might be able to help.

Reach out. Let’s build the next generation of strong, investable First Nations businesses together.