Building Financial Futures Through Practical Education

We started velquastoria in 2018 because too many talented people were stuck—not from lack of ambition, but from missing the practical financial knowledge needed to start something real.

Most education felt disconnected from actual business. So we built something different. A place where entrepreneurial finance isn't theory—it's the stuff you need to know before you open shop.

7+ Years Running

1,200+ Students Trained

89% Completion Rate

Our Beginning

What Happens When Good Ideas Meet Bad Financial Planning

Back in 2017, I watched three friends close their businesses within eighteen months. Different industries, same problem—they couldn't read their numbers. One was turning profit on paper but ran out of cash. Another couldn't price services properly. The third never separated personal and business finances.

These weren't failures of work ethic or market fit. They were knowledge gaps. And the education options? Either academic theory with no practical application, or expensive consultants who didn't teach—they just told you what to do.

We opened our Nowra location in early 2018 with one goal: teach financial skills in plain language, using real scenarios from actual Australian small businesses.

Modern collaborative workspace with natural lighting and open discussion area

What We Stand For

These aren't corporate values written in a boardroom. They're principles we built through seven years of watching what works—and what doesn't—when teaching people to handle money in business.

No Jargon Barriers

If you need a finance degree to understand what we're teaching, we've failed. Complex concepts can be explained simply. When we use terms like "cash flow" or "equity," we break them down until they make sense.

Real Numbers, Real Businesses

Every case study comes from actual businesses in Australia. We change names and industries, but the financial scenarios? Those are pulled from real situations—because textbook examples skip the messy parts.

Tools You'll Actually Use

We don't teach complex Excel formulas you'll forget. We focus on practical tools and simple frameworks that work whether you're running a cafe or a consulting practice. You need systems that survive Monday morning chaos.

The People Behind velquastoria

We're former business owners, accountants who got tired of just filing taxes, and educators who believe financial literacy shouldn't be gatekept. Small team, big obsession with teaching well.

Torvald Ekström

Founder & Lead Instructor

Ran three businesses before turning 32—one success, two expensive lessons. Now I teach the financial stuff I wish someone had explained to me back in 2011. Former CPA who escaped audit season for good.

Siobhán Byrne

Curriculum Director

Spent twelve years teaching economics before joining velquastoria in 2019. My specialty is taking complicated concepts and making them stick. If you've ever wondered why business textbooks are so boring—I have theories.

How We Got Here

Seven years of learning what actually helps people start and run financially healthy businesses. Some milestones mattered more than others.

2018

The First Workshop

Started with six people in a borrowed office space. The topic was cash flow forecasting. Three became paying clients, one became our first success story, two realized entrepreneurship wasn't for them—which is also valuable to know early.

2020

The Pivot Year

Pandemic forced us online. Turned out remote learning worked better for working adults anyway. Expanded reach from Nowra to students across NSW, then nationwide. Also learned which teaching methods don't translate to video—plenty.

2022

Building the Library

Launched our resource collection—templates, calculators, and guides built from student questions. Now the most-used part of our program. Sometimes people need answers at 11pm on Sunday, not during office hours.

2025

What's Next

We're refining our advanced program for established businesses—financial strategy beyond survival mode. First cohort starts September 2025. Also working on something for younger entrepreneurs, but that's still in development.

Explore Our Programs