Visiting San Franscisco in 2015, ex-Telecom CEO and entreprenuer Theresa Gattung was intrigued about an idea promoted by fellow entrepreneur and mentorship expert, Canadian Vicki Saunders, who had created SheEO, described as a "disruptive economic model". The model brings together 500 women in a cohort of 'activators', each of whom contribute $1100 to a pool and loaned out at no interest to five women-led ventures. Loans are paid back into the fund over five years and then loaned out again to five new ventures. Gattung decided to bring the model to New Zealand - the first creation of a SheEO model outside North America - and launched SheEO here in October. Theresa Gattung is the co-founder of My Food Bag and World Women and serves on numerous boards, including the National Board of the SPCA.