Naomi Simson
Founder of RedBalloon.
Founding story
Simson founded RedBalloon in 2001, initially working from a spare room in Balmain, Sydney. The company’s account describes a slow beginning, with its first sale arriving after 64 days.
Business model
RedBalloon built a marketplace for experience gifts rather than physical gift products. Its catalogue connected customers with providers of activities and other experiences.
Growth
The company’s published history follows the business from its early online operation into a larger Australian experience-gifting business. The founding details come from the company’s own account.
Shark Tank Australia
Simson also appeared as an investor on the Australian television program Shark Tank. RedBalloon’s media biography records that role separately from her work founding the experience business.