As part of our commitment to building financial literacy programs that are relevant and impactful, we recently had an online consult with Kyah Bell, founder of the Black Excellence Fund and Director at First Australians Capital.

Kyah has a background in marketing, branding, and global investment, and today she’s focused on making sure First Nations businesses get the capital and support they need to thrive. Through her work, she has helped create more than 800 jobs, backed 80 new entrepreneurs, and supported hundreds of Indigenous-led businesses—many based in regional and remote communities.

In our conversation, Kyah highlighted the structural barriers that hold Indigenous businesses back: rigid bank processes, lack of generational assets, and limited digital or geographic access. She also spoke about the need to shift perceptions.

A strong theme that came through was the role of financial literacy. Many Indigenous entrepreneurs start without a clear understanding of investment, equity, or venture capital. Kyah encouraged us to focus on early education in schools, alongside programs that empower women and close the gender gap in financial literacy.

She also shared practical advice for us as a youth-led organisation: tell the story of the problem before presenting solutions, keep our presentations sharp and simple, and connect with mentors and foundations who can help us grow in the right way.