Invest Rural Brings Investors to Regional Australia
A five-day roadshow will connect regional business owners with investors across Tamworth, Goondiwindi and Toowoomba beginning in November.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Investing
Live Poll
Do you think local businesses in your area can easily get outside investment?
Invest Rural is organising a five-day investor roadshow through Tamworth, Goondiwindi and Toowoomba, beginning on 10 November 2026. The initiative follows Bathurst brewery Reckless Brewing raising $513,068 through an equity crowdfunding campaign on Birchal.
Why it matters
Regional business owners have often built sizeable workforces on bank debt without meeting an investor, and access to capital rather than a shortage of ambition is the constraint the roadshow aims to address. Backing from Investment NSW, the Queensland government and Westpac signals institutional interest in closing that gap.
Reckless Brewing's $513,068 equity crowdfunding raise on Birchal is the headline figure cited for the initiative. Seven funders will join the roadshow, and the source does not yet report how many businesses will attend or what funding will result.
The players
Invest Rural
Invest Rural is a regional investment initiative founded by Jo Palmer, Claire Bull and David Lillo-Trynes to connect rural businesses with investors.
Birchal
Birchal is an equity crowdfunding platform through which Reckless Brewing raised its funds.
Reckless Brewing
Reckless Brewing is a Bathurst brewery, bar and restaurant that raised $513,068 through equity crowdfunding.
The details
Invest Rural brings investors to regional business owners on a coach, with founders from the UNE SMART Region Incubator pitching over dinner at Goonoo Goonoo Station in Tamworth. Last year's Bathurst event sold out with 50 businesses and seven investors, and several businesses secured R&D Tax Incentive financing afterwards.
Timeline
November 2025: Reckless Brewing met Birchal CEO Kirstin Hunter at a regional NSW investor event.
10 November 2026: The roadshow begins with dinner pitches at Goonoo Goonoo Station, Tamworth.
12 November 2026: A Goondiwindi workshop and dinner is held at O'Shea's and Border Brewing.
13 November 2026: An investor panel over coffee takes place at Toowoomba's Wellcamp Airport.
Market Dynamics
The roadshow extends the Bathurst event, where several businesses secured R&D Tax Incentive financing afterwards, to new regional centres. It indicates a growing effort to channel investor capital into regional Australia through an established format.
Regional business owners gain direct access to investors who may fund growth without relying solely on bank debt. Investors may find new opportunities in regional enterprises through in-person pitches and panels.
The takeaway
Access to investors can be as decisive as ambition for regional businesses. Owners considering growth capital may benefit from attending local investor events and preparing a clear pitch.
What happens next
The roadshow runs from 10 to 13 November 2026, with stops in Tamworth, Goondiwindi and Toowoomba.
Further reading
Explore more on Investing to see how regional capital raising fits into broader market trends.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Startup Daily.
Live Poll
Do you think local businesses in your area can easily get outside investment?
