At just 23, Madison Stefanis has transformed her passion for vintage cameras into a thriving $4 million business.
Founder of 35mm Co, a reusable film camera brand, Madi’s entrepreneurial journey began while she was still studying business at university.
In 2019, during her first year of university, Madi got the idea of starting her line of reusable film cameras after selling an old SLR film camera on Facebook Marketplace.
By 19, Madi used $50,000 of her savings from working at a supermarket to launch 35mm Co. The brand’s debut product, The Reloader, aimed to provide a beginner-friendly, affordable alternative to disposable cameras.
With her business rapidly growing, Madi dropped out of university to focus on 35mm Co full-time.
The cameras, priced from $119.95, are available in seven colours and are now sold in over 200 stores across Australia, with plans to expand to international markets like the UK.
A standout moment in her journey came when she appeared on Shark Tank in October, securing a $300,000 investment offer from two investors. At that time, the brand had already surpassed $4 million in sales.
The exposure led to significant retail distribution deals, including partnerships with major retailers.
Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: “Get close to your customer and understand their key pain points to validate the need for your product.”
She also emphasises the importance of taking risks, saying, “You will only regret the risks you didn’t take.”
Source: 7 News.
