Moment 25yo made $10mil from business after $10k investment

A Brisbane mum-of-two and her husband started their multi-million dollar business with just $10k in savings.

A young Aussie couple took the plunge and invested $10,000 of their savings into their business idea that ended up turning into a seven-figure jewellery empire.

Brisbane-based couple Makayla and Tom Donovan founded The Moissanite Company (TMC), which sells lab-grown diamond jewellery at an affordable pricepoint, revolutionising the bridal shopping experience.

Before founding their business back in June 2021, Ms Donovan, who is a mum-of-two, said she and her husband were on very different career paths but had a common drive to build something meaningful.

“I had completed a Bachelor of Business Marketing and was working full-time in that industry,” she said. “But before that, I had spent over five years in the world of fine jewellery, where I developed a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship and sentiment behind every piece”.

Mr Donovan, originally a qualified dietitian, had carved out a strong career in business development and sales, bringing with him a natural talent for growth and strategy.

Together, they realised they had the perfect blend of experience and passion to create a brand that reflected their values and vision for modern, ethical fine jewellery.

A Brisbane couple invested $10k of their savings into their jewellery business. Picture: Supplied

The early days

The idea for TMC was simple – to offer couples the experience they once sought when creating their own engagement ring.

“At the time, moissanite and lab-grown diamond options were scarce, and we found ourselves sourcing our own stone,” Ms Donovan explained.

“It also became clear that there was a significant gap in the market for couples like us – those looking for ethical, beautifully crafted alternatives.”

Makayla Donovan is a mum-of-two and co-founded The Moissanite Company. Picture: Instagram

It started as a side hustle, with the pair working on the company alongside their full-time gigs with every spare moment they had.

Then shortly after launching TMC, they welcomed their first daughter, and Ms Donovan knew it was the perfect time to dive head-first and pursue the business full-time.

In the lead-up to that decision, they worked tirelessly to ensure it would continue to scale, laying the foundations for growth.

Around six months later, Mr Donovan left his job to join full-time as well.

Transitioning from a side hustle to a full-time commitment was a big leap, but it was one they felt incredibly compelled to do.

“When we launched, we had a goal to craft 50 engagement rings before Christmas, and we did around 500. So for us, we felt as though we were really onto something and continued to niche down, offering young couples what we refer to as: Attainable Luxury.”

The brand aims to offer young couples “attainable luxury”. Picture: Instagram

The initial investment

The couple invested $10,000 of their savings as well as a significant amount of their time to get their start-up off the ground.

“Bootstrapping becomes a bit of a mindset,” she admitted.

“We launched with six rings designs, we did the entire website and most of the photography ourselves. We negotiated packaging to ensure we could place small order runs so we didn’t have excess.

“Every decision in those early days was made carefully to ensure we were building something sustainable.”

While she notes that the financial investment was important, it was the time, effort, and dedication that truly set the foundation for the brand’s growth.

From there, what was even more critical was the continuous reinvestment back into the brand to improve the packaging, website and imagery.

Challenges along the way

Like any growing business, TMC faced its fair share of challenges.

Navigating supply chains, ensuring consistent quality as they scaled, and balancing the demands of a rapidly growing company with family life all presented obstacles.

But Ms and Mr Donovan assured that the challenges all taught them something valuable and pushed them to refine and strengthen their brand.

Early success

Watching their business grow and gain momentum has been incredibly rewarding.

From seeing their first order roll in (“His name was Jack”) to surpassing $10 million in revenue last year, the pair have been relishing every milestone.

Hitting that impressive sales figure wasn’t just exciting because of the number itself, Ms Donovan said, but for what it represented.

“It meant thousands of couples were choosing our jewellery to mark life’s most important moments, to believe in our mission and the brand we’ve created, and that’s something we’re deeply proud of.”

They have many exciting plans on the horizon. Picture: Supplied

Age is just a number

When asked about what it’s like to be so successful at a young age, they said, “We don’t focus too much on the age aspect. And honestly, the short answer is we feel a lot older than we actually are.

“Running a successful business comes down to hard work, resilience, and staying true to your vision, regardless of how old you are.”

TMC on track to turn over $13.7 million this year

In regard to what’s on the horizon for TMC, they hinted, “We’re about to embark on the most pivotal chapter yet.

“A new era for us as a brand, solidifying all of the groundwork we’ve achieved over the last almost four years.”

“TMC will also be visiting international locations for the first time this year, and placing a huge emphasis on our community events. But with all this said, our main goal still remains the same, creating timeless, ethically crafted jewellery that people are proud to wear as part of their story.”

Originally published as Moment 25yo made $10mil from business after $10k investment