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Elevate your business with Stephen Hunt’s success secrets

31 July, 2023
Elevate your business with Stephen Hunt’s success secrets | News | Pause Awards
George Hedon, founder and CEO, Pause Fest & Awards
George Hedon
31 July, 2023
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Get to know Music Health, a venture-backed company that uses Precision Music® to enhance health and well-being. Learn about their growth strategies, the importance of a great team, and the impact of winning the Pause Awards.

In the startup landscape, it’s rare to encounter a venture that seamlessly blends music with health and well-being. Music Health, a company that has done just that, shares insights on business growth, the significance of a great team, and the influence of winning the Pause Awards in this exclusive Q&A with Stephen Hunt, Co-CEO.

Q: How did you grow your business? Any good tips?

It’s really important to identify a problem worth solving that you’re incredibly passionate about and that you are somehow best positioned to solve.  It’s a true needle in a haystack that took me over a decade to find from when I started looking and for me, it ended up being the vision of my Co-Founder Nicc Johnson that stuck the right chord with me.  Having the initial drive to solve a certain problem as a founder is the most important thing as the idea will almost certainly change as time goes on – especially once you get your first customers. 

The other thing to work out as early as possible is whether you require venture capital to make it work. Less than 5% of companies formed are venture-backed and of those that are, most will fail. We needed venture capital to build sophisticated AI technology before we could engage customers so have been forced to grow the company on small capital raises. It’s a really hard and uncertain path to have to rely on external capital to fund your pre-revenue years and I would urge budding founders to try to find a simple way to start with paying customers if at all possible. 

If you do require venture capital down the line, it will be far easier to get investment if you already have revenue traction. It goes without saying that you need to focus on hiring great people and developing them as this will give you leverage to continue growing. Hiring A-grade talent is hard when you can’t afford to pay them what they are worth so you need to go back to the start of this paragraph and have a compelling solution you are trying to bring to a problem worth solving that is strong enough to entice top-talent to believe and follow you in.

Music Health

Q: What does success look like for your business?

We’re an impact business so our mission is focused on impacting as many people as possible rather than spinning up another fin-tech for the sole purpose of making people rich. Our vision is a world where anyone can leverage Precision Music® (personalised sounds that can shift a physiological or emotional state) to improve their health and well being. This means our technology needs to be available to people experiencing a variety of health challenges where music can assist such as dementia, Parkinson’s, depression, anxiety, autism, palliative and disability care. 

Broader than that, we hope to expand into the wellness and fitness sectors over time addressing health from the perspective of prevention right the way through to acute care… and palliative. We actually have a fun prototype kicking around for prenatal care that I hope will see the light of day at some point in the future. I can imagine a world where Precision Music® is supporting a person’s well being from the moment they are conceived all the way until they pass. 

Based on the research available and the anecdotal evidence we are seeing, we believe this life supported by music will have far superior health outcomes and enjoy a significantly improved quality of life. We have a long way to go but are seeing incredible evidence with our current focus on end of life.

Q: Any exciting business plans coming up in 2023?

We’re in beta with our API product which is going to greatly accelerate the mission by delivering reliable, repeatable revenues from our Vera product while also allowing other companies to build Precision Music® experiences. With product market fit now firmly cemented across our VeraPro product in residential aged care and hospital settings, we’re preparing to expand into the at-home setting through care plan providers.

This approach requires some product work but this market will act as a feeder for the current channel focus and is where all the government funding is being focused. Other than that, we are raising our seed round (yay) which is a tough ask in this climate but we feel that we are a unique, de-risked, bluesky opportunity creating a new (but huge) market opportunity that investors are signalling is ready for the next phase. We’re doing a lot of work to build systems and processes to handle the exponential demand our customers are forecasting as we grow with them.

Q: What’s the single most important skill in business? Why?

Hiring! Without great people, you won’t get anywhere. Learn to find, develop and retain amazing people and you will succeed at anything you focus on. It’s really time consuming to do the HR work when you’re small but there is no other element of your day that will deliver a better return for time spent. 

Your culture gets less and less controllable as you grow so be extremely deliberate in establishing the structure around it that you want early on and recognise that after the first 10 people (your cultural seeds), you will largely lose control of it and it will evolve on its own within the frameworks established. So it goes without saying that those first 10 hires need to be bloody incredible as they will dictate your future success more than anything else.

Q: What have you learned in the past year that you can share as advice?

If your business plan relies solely on raising capital, you’re playing with a high degree of risk. The markets have turned this year and it’s now much harder to raise so the focus on fundamentals of revenue and true growth become paramount.  

Like most companies, we are now operating as lean as we possibly can which is putting a huge strain on the team to do more and more with less and less as we grow. This has led me to focus on my own health and make some personal sacrifices to operate at the highest level I can. I’ve spent most of the year abstaining from alcohol to ensure my sleep (which often gets hammered) is as effective as possible and I can perform at my best every day. I’ve had to miss a load of family and social events (definitely not sustainable) to deliver for my team and my customers.  

But I firmly believe that the companies that survive the next 12-24 months will thrive on the other side. Getting there requires superhuman effort from everyone in the team. An old friend used to always say that it takes incredible pressure to make diamonds and this is the test for those of us trying to build a sustainable, long term business right now.

Q: How did the Pause Awards impact you/ your business?

Winning in the fashion we did gave us a great deal of confidence that what we are building truly matters and had the added benefit of building awareness in the investor community and beyond. We were thrilled to be a double-winner and are working hard to impress the judges again this year.


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Category tracks



The Culture track seeks entries that exemplify the development of an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture, crucial for organisational success and growth. Submissions should illustrate transformative strategies implemented across core business functions, reflecting expertise, leadership, and a clear vision. These strategies should demonstrate a positive impact on the business, its employees, stakeholders, and customers, showcasing how a nurturing culture contributes to overall growth and innovation.

The Excellence track celebrates businesses that have demonstrated remarkable success and impact within their industry, regardless of their size. Entries for this category should illustrate how the business's strategic execution, guided by visionary leadership and exceptional expertise, has significantly influenced the industry. The focus will be on the tangible outcomes of these strategies, highlighting the company's ability to innovate, lead, and leave a lasting impression in its field.

The Good track is focused on recognising companies dedicated to their mission of creating a positive societal impact. Entries should highlight innovative solutions aimed at addressing global challenges such as environmental sustainability, social equity, and community well-being. Successful submissions will demonstrate how their initiatives contribute to significant changes, tackling issues like gender inequality, social imbalance, and injustice, thereby setting a precedent for responsible and impactful business practices.

Awarded to a single entry in a category, Grand Prix is the top accolade in that category. To win the Grand Prix, the entire Judging Board must unanimously agree that the entry deserves the accolade of being the best in that category.

The Growth track is about showcasing how businesses have enhanced productivity and execution to make a significant impact in their market. Entries should highlight innovative strategies that have optimised the customer journey, leading to increased engagement and commercial success. This track is for those who have effectively used their understanding of the market and customer needs to scale their business and achieve notable growth.

The Operators track seeks entries that showcase leadership in fostering innovation within their ecosystems. Ideal submissions will highlight how your initiatives have catalysed the creation of new products or services, bolstered by a culture that uplifts internal teams and the wider community. This track celebrates those who drive progress by empowering voices and forging transformative connections in their industry.


Categories


  • Always Evolving New

    Acknowledges a culture of continuous learning and improvement within a company, encourages employee development, and always looks for ways to optimise and innovate operations.


  • Big & Mighty Culture New

    Recognises companies (51-1000 employees) for their exceptional efforts in cultivating a culture that champions innovation.


  • Diverse Co.

    Celebrates workplaces dedicated to fostering innovation through a vibrant tapestry of diverse talents and perspectives.


  • Small & Mighty Culture New

    Applauds small teams of fewer than 50 employees for their remarkable ability to foster innovation and set new benchmarks in their domain.


  • Work Sweet Work

    Acknowledges companies that have achieved extraordinary employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention, creating an exemplary workplace culture.


  • Company of the Year

    Honours an outstanding company that not only showcases exemplary leadership and resilience but also demonstrates a clear, quantifiable impact over the past year.


  • Customer Obsessed New

    Applauds prioritisation, understanding and meeting the needs and expectations of their customers, including feedback, personalised services and ensuring high satisfaction.


  • Defiant Ones

    Recognises firms that lead technological innovation, setting new standards and defining the future of their industries.


  • Hammer

    Celebrates companies that have not only defined success on their own terms but have also concretely demonstrated their triumphs over the past year.


  • I Wish I'd Done That

    Applauds ingenious, simple solutions in niche markets that spark a universal sentiment of admiration.


  • On the Rise

    Celebrates early-stage startups, under 4 years, that have shown remarkable progress and success in their initial years.


  • Prodigy

    Recognises young visionaries under 30 with outstanding talents and achievements, setting them apart in their fields.


  • Singularity

    Highlights AI-driven companies that are pioneering new services or integrating AI to create innovative products.


  • Women in Business

    Celebrates female entrepreneurs and leaders who are forging paths for future generations by creating more equitable opportunities.


  • B-Good

    Recognises businesses that redefine commercial success by positively transforming our economic system for the benefit of all stakeholders.


  • Circular Pioneer

    Celebrates companies at the forefront of circular economy practices, making substantial and sustainable differences.


  • Ethical Leadership New

    Commends companies exemplifying leadership in environmental and social governance, setting standards in corporate responsibility and ethical practices.


  • Going Green

    Acknowledges companies leading large-scale sustainable initiatives, addressing critical areas like clean energy and environmental justice.


  • Collab New

    Honours strategic partnerships and alliances with other businesses to leverage complementary strengths, access new markets, and share resources for synergistic growth and innovation.


  • Design First

    Celebrates companies where design is the heartbeat of innovation, engaging the whole team in crafting groundbreaking products.


  • Going Global New

    Applauds companies that have expanded their reach globally, showcasing exceptional growth and international success.


  • Great Pivot

    Acknowledges companies that adeptly navigate change, leveraging insights to pivot towards delivering outstanding products.


  • Movement

    Recognises unforgettable event experiences that resonate emotionally, drive social change, or achieve viral status.


  • New Model

    Honours businesses revolutionising markets with elegant and disruptive business models.


  • Next Level New

    Applauds companies which had successful strategic acquisition and integration of another entity, staff or an asset that allowed them to further grow and scale their services.


  • Wildfire

    Celebrates companies that have rapidly and significantly impacted their marketplace, online and offline, setting new standards for success.


  • Angel

    Honours visionary angel investors who've significantly contributed to early-stage startups, guiding them toward success.


  • C-Suite

    Recognises exceptional leadership qualities in high-ranking executives, showcasing their management and interpersonal excellence.


  • Creative Maverick New

    Honours unconventional thinkers with exceptional abilities to execute typically unimaginable initiatives, expertly coordinate teams, secure funding or successfully launch multiple ventures.


  • Ecosystem Star

    Celebrates individuals who energise and nurture their communities, fostering engagement and advocacy.


  • Future Builder

    Recognises the determination and resilience of founders who've embarked on the challenging journey of starting their own ventures.


  • Quiet Achiever New

    Applauds the unsung heroes whose behind-the-scenes efforts have led to flawless project executions and exceeded expectations.


  • Splash Down Under New

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  • TopCoder

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  • Venture Cap

    Salutes venture capital firms with a track record of backing transformative businesses, contributing significantly to Australia's economic growth.


  • Visionary New

    Recognises effective leadership by setting a clear vision, motivating the team, and making strategic decisions that guide their business towards its goals.

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