Wollongong Entrepreneur Builds Tech Empire From Local Garage Startup

When Sarah Chen opened her first workshop in a modest garage behind the Keiraville shops three years ago, few in Wollongong's bustling business district took notice. Today, her supply chain software firm has grown to 45 employees across two floors of a converted heritage building on Crown Street, becoming one of the city's fastest-growing tech companies.

Chen's journey reflects a broader confidence in Wollongong's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The city's median business growth rate sits at 12.3 per cent annually—well above the national average of 8.7 per cent—according to recent data from the Illawarra Business Chamber. Yet Chen's story stands out for its deliberate commitment to remaining embedded in the local economy.

"I could have relocated to Sydney, but Wollongong is home," Chen explained during a recent visit to the Wollongong Innovation Hub on Burelli Street, where she mentors emerging entrepreneurs. "Our operating costs are sustainable, the talent pool is underestimated, and there's genuine appetite for innovation here."

Her software platform, designed to optimise inventory management for regional manufacturers and logistics firms, now serves more than 200 clients across New South Wales. The company has attracted interest from venture capital firms in Melbourne and Sydney, but Chen has opted for measured growth and local reinvestment instead.

This approach has resonated with Wollongong's small business community. The Greater Wollongong Chamber of Commerce named her business of the month in May, citing her commitment to employing local graduates and partnering with nearby service providers. Her team sources catering from North Beach suppliers and uses the offices of accounting firm Thornton & Associates—also locally based—for compliance work.

The broader context supports her trajectory. Australia's median wealth ranking of third globally, as highlighted in recent financial reports, underscores growing investor confidence and consumer spending power in regional centres. Wollongong, with its diversifying economy beyond steel manufacturing, is increasingly positioned as an alternative hub for knowledge-work businesses.

Looking ahead, Chen plans to expand her team by 20 positions by 2027, with a focus on software developers and customer success managers. She's also exploring a partnership with the University of Wollongong's engineering faculty to develop internship programs.

"The opportunity in regional business isn't being overlooked—it's being underestimated," Chen reflected. For Wollongong's business community, her success is proving that assertion wrong.

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