The village rules.
Updated October 2026
Welcome to the village. Building something before anyone believes in it can be lonely. Blenda is where early-stage founders across Australia and New Zealand come so they don't have to do it alone. Experts and investors are here too, because founders are better off with them in the room.
Whoever you are, there are only a few things we ask, so it stays a good place to be. These guidelines apply in our Slack community and at Blenda sessions and events, online and in person.
Who's here
Everyone's role shows on their profile, so you always know who you're talking to.
Founders
The reason the village exists.
Most haven't got real traction yet, and that's the point. You don't need it all figured out to belong.
Experts
Applied and vetted.
Here to share what they know and help founders get unstuck.
Investors
Registered and vetted.
Here to get to know founders early, in the open.
Six things. That's it.
01
Be honest about where you're at.
"I've had 12 conversations and nobody wants to pay" gets far better help than "things are going well". Nobody's judging your progress.
02
Give as well as take.
Everyone here has something to offer, whether it's a skill, a contact or a lesson learned the hard way. When you ask for help, look for somewhere you can help too.
03
Be kind, be straight.
Challenge the idea, never the person. Say what you think the way you'd want to hear it on a bad week. Harassment, discrimination or bullying, in channels or DMs, means you're out.
04
Keep it in the village.
No screenshots or reposting without permission. Someone's idea is theirs, so don't build on it or pass it on. Don't add people to lists or CRMs from Slack.
05
Share, don't sell.
Talk about what you're building, ask for testers, share your wins. Just don't push at people: no cold pitches, no posting the same promo everywhere, no hidden affiliate links.
06
Ask before you DM.
Especially about anything commercial. "No thanks" ends the conversation.
A bit more for
Experts
You're here to help founders on their journey. If work comes out of it, great, but that's a bonus.
Share what you know in the open. Answer questions, post something useful or run a session, at least once a month.
Show up. Reply, comment and react when founders post.
Mention your services when it fits. If someone asks or it's clearly relevant, go for it. Overselling, "quick calls" that turn into pitches and uninvited DMs about paid work aren't okay.
We review expert spots each quarter.
A bit more for
Investors
You're here to meet founders early and help where you can.
No silent observers. If you're in the community, your profile shows you're an investor.
Ask before you DM a founder, and don't ask for decks or data rooms in public channels.
Founders owe you nothing. Talking to you never commits them to anything, and saying no never costs them anything here.
How we use what you share
We use themes from the village to shape our sessions, content and Blenda Signals. Anything we share is grouped and anonymous. We never name you, your company or your numbers without asking first.
Read our Privacy Policy →Slack isn't a vault, though.
If something would really hurt if it got out, keep it to a DM with someone you trust.
If something goes wrong
Most slips are honest mistakes, so we start small.
First
1
A friendly word.
We'll message you about what happened and may remove the post.
Then
2
A clear warning.
Some access may be paused.
Then
3
Removal.
If it keeps happening, you're out of the village.
Straight to removal
Harassment, sharing confidential material, scams, and experts or investors taking advantage of their access to founders.
Something feels off?
Message anyone on the Blenda team in Slack, or email us. You don't need proof. We'll keep it private and get back to you within 2 business days.
hello@blenda.au →We'll update these guidelines as the village grows, and tell everyone in Slack first.