Where PurposeMeets Opportunity
A not-for-profit community uniting small and medium-sized businesses across Melbourne. We promote each other, negotiate together, pursue grants collectively, and grow through shared knowledge and events.
Rise & Thrive Business Community is a not-for-profit network where local small and medium-sized businesses come together to support, promote, and grow alongside each other. We are not a directory, a subscription service, or a passive listing platform. We are an active, engaged community that works.
Founded on a simple but powerful principle: when businesses lift each other, the whole community rises. Too many great businesses are operating in isolation, missing out on opportunities that are far more achievable when businesses stand together.
Members cross-promote each other's brands, collaborate on government grant applications, negotiate collectively with suppliers and vendors, and access workshops and events designed to sharpen their skills and expand their networks.
Promotion & Visibility
We actively promote member businesses across channels so your brand gets seen by the right people.
Government Support
We pool our collective voice to seek grants and government support on behalf of the community.
Group Negotiations
We negotiate collectively with suppliers and vendors so members secure better terms than any individual could.
Workshops & Events
Educational sessions, seminars, and networking events that equip you to grow and scale with confidence.
Rise & Thrive welcomes any registered small or medium-sized business owner who shares our values of community, integrity, and mutual support.
Solo Operators & Freelancers
Running a business alone is hard. If you're a sole trader or freelancer who wants referrals, visibility, and a community that has your back, this is where you belong.
Small Business Owners
You've built something real. Now it's time to amplify it. Whether you have 2 or 20 employees, Rise & Thrive gives you access to a network that multiplies your reach and influence.
Emerging Entrepreneurs
Just starting out? There's no better time to surround yourself with experienced operators, mentors, and peers who can help you avoid mistakes and accelerate your path to growth.
Every dollar of your membership works harder here than anywhere else. Here is what being part of RTBC means in practice.
Cross-Promotion
Your business gets promoted across community channels, social platforms, and at every event we run. Rotating features, shout-outs, and referrals from people who know your work.
Grant & Government Access
We apply for government funding and support collectively, giving individual businesses far greater reach and credibility than any single SMB could achieve on its own.
Group Buying Power
Negotiate with suppliers and vendors as a block, not as an individual. Our community secures discounts and terms that simply aren't available to businesses operating alone.
Workshops & Events
Access to community workshops and events covering growth strategy, financial management, marketing, legal basics, and beyond.
Trusted Referral Network
Members actively refer each other before looking externally. Being known as a community builder attracts inbound business because people do business with people they trust.
Collective Advocacy
Your voice as part of a unified community carries weight with government, councils, and industry bodies that no individual business can match on its own.
Photos from member events, workshops, and community gatherings.
Have photos from an RTBC event? Send them to contactrtbc@riseandthrive.au
“Being part of the RTBC NFP community from day one has been an incredibly rewarding journey. The founders are generous leaders who create a truly collaborative environment and offer outstanding support for women-led businesses. Through productive events and high-quality business referrals, RTBC provides a constructive network that drives real business results. I look forward to continuing my support for the community.”
Bahara Amini
Google Review
“Every business is a story of courage & hard work. RISE & Thrive ensures no one walks that journey alone. Genuine support, real connections. 💙”
Maryam Rezawi
Google Review
“RTBC is an excellent initiative. We need more community leaders like them!”
Sahar Amini
Google Review
Send us an email
Drop us a line at contactrtbc@riseandthrive.au with your name, business name, and a brief line about what you do. No lengthy forms, no gatekeeping.
Attend an introductory session
Come along to one of our upcoming community events or introductory meetups to get a feel for who we are and how we operate. No obligation, just good conversation.
Complete your registration
If it feels right, download and fill out the membership application form and send it to contactrtbc@riseandthrive.au. Once your membership is approved, our team will reach out with the next steps.
Let's grow together
Reach out today and take the first step toward a community that genuinely has your back. We respond to every email personally.
Victoria, Australia · Open to all registered Australian SMBs · Not-for-profit community initiative