Madison Stefanis’ journey to building a multi-million dollar business

·

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.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Greek film festival turns 30 with a Stellar Line-Up of Award-Winning films

The Greek Film Festival is celebrating a major anniversary this year - 30 years of bringing Greek stories to Australian screens.

Summer School for Greek Language teachers in Australia

For the first time in Australia, a specialized online summer school will be held for teachers of the Greek language in the diaspora.

Children’s week at the Greek Community of Melbourne

As part of Children’s Week the Greek Community of Melbourne Schools are taking part in the celebrations organised by the Victorian Government

Get Online Week at the Greek Community of Melbourne

As part of Get Online Week 2025, the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria will proudly join Good Things Foundation’s national campaign.

St Benedict School in Mt Torrens rejects screens, embraces ancient Greek philosophy

Established in early 2024 by members of the Catholic Church of the Holy Name, St Benedict has grown to around 50 students.

You May Also Like

Paris Olympic Games come to an end with star-studded closing ceremony

The Paris Olympic Games came to an end on Monday with a star-studded closing ceremony in front of around 71,500 spectators.

Dutch journalist in heated exchange with Mitsotakis flees Greece amid safety concerns

Dutch journalist, Ingeborg Beugel, has confirmed that she has left Greece after allegedly facing attacks and bullying.

Grand Dishes: A book about grandmothers’ recipes and intergenerational relationships

What started as a personal mission for Greek British travel writer Anastasia Miari, ended up with the award-winning Grand Dishes project.