A former manufacturing engineer at Holden is the headline attraction at a global forum in Adelaide aimed at helping people start new businesses.

Jo Schneider, 30, took a voluntary redundancy package from Holden five years ago to finance the launch of three businesses, one of which focuses on the conveyance that Holden replaced – the horse.

Schneider is the guest speaker at the latest event for Adelaide’s new chapter of global startup community Startup Grind, part of the global community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs.

She fits the bill of the modern entrepreneur.

With an honours degree in manufacturing engineering, she started out with Holden where she says she learned many of the process skills that she applies today.

Her new business is called DVE Business Solutions, which helps other businesses work more effectively and efficiently.

Jo also owns Animal Therapeutics Online which sells high performance equine equipment to the equestrian community.

Her business pitch is simple: “We are animal owners, competitors and breeders so we face the same troubles you do. We’ve brought you the best products from around the world since 2006 and now we’re teaming it with the most comprehensive therapy site online.”

On Monday 26 May, Jo kick-starts a week of events in Adelaide showcasing the best of the best of women entrepreneurs in South Australia as part of Google’s #40forward week, challenging organisations to increase the representation of women in tech communities.

The organisers claim that women-led tech companies achieve 35 per cent higher return on investment, and, when venture-backed, bring in 12 per cent more revenue than male-owned tech companies.

“I’m looking forward to telling my personal story, how I achieved 300 per cent growth in three years and giving highly practical advice on building businesses by using technology to achieve growth, developing relationships and goal setting.”

The business event is sponsored by Adelaide law firm Piper Alderman.