Big thanks to all of our amazing partners, sponsors, media and the community for their support, generosity and aligned mission. We encourage you to support them too.
Major partner
Victorian Government
The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions is firmly focused on Victoria’s economic recovery and growth, ensuring it benefits all Victorians – by creating more jobs for more people, building thriving places and regions, and supporting inclusive communities.
Blackmagic has grown rapidly to become one of the world’s leading innovators and manufacturers of creative video technology. And that’s because our philosophy is refreshing and simple – to help true creativity blossom.
Proudly private, Zoho is a technology company that serves over 90 million users who rely on its software to run their businesses daily. With over 10,000 employees in 6 continents, Zoho offers apps in every major business operation: Sales, marketing, collaboration, customer service, accounting, and back-office automation.
Committed to helping graduates connect with innovative teams, Give A Grad A Go is passionate about kick-starting careers (4,000 so far!) and supporting the start-up ecosystem with talented fresh hires. Launched in London in 2009, they made the leap to Melbourne in 2020 and now reside in Collingwood.
Strattic is an all-in-one static site generation and hosting platform that instantly optimizes WordPress by converting it to a static architecture. With Strattic, content managers and marketers can continue to manage content in WordPress as usual, while developers get to bask in the glory (and enjoy the peace of mind) of an entirely headless website.
HEDON is a growth branding and content studio in Melbourne. We work with progressive, smart and evolving brands on cutting-edge projects and products to define new moments and push ideas into new territories.
ActiveCampaign is a cloud software platform for small-to-mid-sized businesses based in Chicago, Illinois. The company offers software for customer experience automation, which combines email marketing, marketing automation, sales automation, and CRM categories.
At Merton Lawyers, we provide strategic, tailored legal services to companies and individuals across all industries, both locally and internationally. Our unique perspective is informed by experience beyond law. Our vast commercial knowledge positions the firm at the dynamic intersection of law and business.
At Pause Awards, we gather founders, CEOs, VCs, and the entire ecosystem of forward-thinking companies to honour their excellence and effectiveness and ask: what’s the next frontier? As a partner, you can help to keep this conversation going.
Thought leadership – Tell your story to the business world and show you’re one step ahead.
Business Development – Join the business club, find answers to your pressing questions, and quality leads.
Brand Awareness – Fuel the innovation industry and position your business among the top companies in Australia.
Networking – Shake hands with only the best people in business at the premium VIP event.
Support the community
Support the independent business and the innovation ecosystem. We work with our partners on bespoke packages to suit their strategic goals and KPIs. Talk to our team about how Pause Awards can help your company meet its goals.
All sponsorship programs are executed by Pause X–Studio, a brand marketing unit of Pause Group. They create content and experiences to communicate your message to champions of our industry and the entire ecosystem.
Creating an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture is essential for success and growth. Entries should demonstrate how this transformation has been achieved across core business functions, that showcase expertise, leadership, and vision in delivering a positive impact and growth for the business, staff, stakeholders and customers.
Recognising outstanding business success in the marketplace, regardless of company size, and celebrating the impact made on the industry. Entries should showcase exceptional expertise, leadership and vision in the execution of business strategies that have left a significant impression.
Showcase a company's commitment to their purpose and mission to create a positive impact on the environment, people and community. The entries should demonstrate ideas intended to change the world; work which sets out to positively impact ingrained gender inequality, social imbalance or injustice.
Only awarded to a single entry in each category track, Grand Prix is the highest accolade in Pause Awards. To win the Grand Prix, the entire Judging Board must unanimously agree that the entry deserves the accolade of being the best in class.
Focusing on the productivity and elegance of execution to deliver impactful ideas to a market with the power to cut through the noise. Entries should demonstrate how the innovation and optimisation of the customer journey led to scaled consumer engagement and commercial success.
Elevating every voice in the ecosystem is crucial for the collective success and growth of the industry. The entries should demonstrate ingenuity which leads to the creation of new products and services, through leadership, by elevating the internal culture and communities they serve.
Categories
Culture champion (new)
For the best in Culture Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have created a thriving culture.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Culture.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
Diverse Co.
For nurturing an inclusive environment. This award recognises a workplace that has successfully and intentionally encouraged innovation among diverse employees.
WHO: Diversity and inclusion managers, HR professionals, company founders, team leads, and talent acquisition specialists.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate a purposeful, innovative approach to nurturing an inclusive environment and empowering diverse employees.
Large team culture
For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with over 1000+ employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation.
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, COOs, HR directors, and team leads in organisations with 1000+ employees.
WHAT: Judges seek evidence of a workplace that has excelled at fostering a culture of innovation, surpassing peers in the large team cohort.
Medium team culture
For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with 21-999 employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation.
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, COOs, HR directors, and team leads in organisations with 21-999 employees.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight the company's success in fostering a culture of innovation that outperforms others within the medium team cohort.
Small team culture
For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with less than 20 employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, COOs, HR directors, and team leads in organisations with less than 20 employees.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate exceptional success in fostering a culture of innovation, outpacing their small team cohort.
Work sweet work
For a great workplace culture. This award recognises a company that has managed to improve or attain outstanding levels of employee engagement, retention and satisfaction.
WHO: HR directors, employee engagement managers, company founders, and team leads.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that show significant improvement or attainment of outstanding levels of employee engagement, retention, and satisfaction.
Company of the Year
For the best company. This award recognises a company leadership, success, ambition to excel against all odds with the solid future development plans.
WHO: CEOs, COOs, CTOs, company founders, and general managers.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to demonstrate exceptional leadership, success, ambition to excel, and solid plans for future development.
Defiant ones
For new tech breakthroughs. This award recognises a company that defines the future of the industry they play in.
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, company founders, product managers, and innovation leads.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that showcase groundbreaking technology that redefines the industry they operate in.
Excellence champion (new)
For the best in Excellence Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have executed to a highest standard.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Excellence.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
Hall of fame
For a lifetime achievement. This award recognises a game-changer who paved the way by breaking new grounds and inventing new categories.
WHO: Judging Board will privately nominate and pick the winner.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner to award for their lifetime achievement.
Hammer
For nailing it. This award recognises a company’s success – on their own terms – in the market.
WHO: CEOs, COOs, company founders, sales directors and market strategists.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight the company's unique success in the market on their own terms.
I wish I'd done that
For sheer brilliance. This award recognises a company’s simple and clever idea in a niche market.
WHO: Company founders, CEOs, CTOs, product managers and niche market strategists.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that showcase a simple, clever, and innovative idea within a niche market.
New & first
For new and First Peoples. This award recognises a successful company with its founders from indigenous, migrant or ethnic heritage in Australia.
WHO: Indigenous, migrant, or ethnic heritage founders, CEOs, company founders and entrepreneurs.
WHAT: Judges seek entries from successful companies led by founders from diverse backgrounds, making an impact in Australia.
On the rise
For early stage mavericks. This award recognises an early stage startup that has done well in its first three years.
WHO: Early-stage startup founders, CEOs, CTOs, and entrepreneurs.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to demonstrate significant success within the first three years of operation.
Prodigy
For being exceptional. This award recognises an under 30 year old person with exceptional qualities or abilities.
WHO: Under-30 entrepreneurs, CEOs, CTOs, COOs and innovators.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that showcase exceptional qualities or abilities of individuals under 30 years old.
Singularity (new)
For an artificial intelligence business. This award recognises a company for developing ai services or those who have successfully integrated ai in their systems to deliver new products and services.
WHO: AI company founders, CEOs, CTOs and product managers.
WHAT: Judges are looking for companies developing AI services or successfully integrating AI into their systems to deliver new products and services.
Trendsetter (new)
For influencer led business. This award recognises a person that has built their own business or a product through their followers' reach in social media.
WHO: Social media influencers, content creators, entrepreneurs, and company founders.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that demonstrate successful businesses or products built through the reach of their social media followers.
Women in business
For levelling the playing field. This award recognises a successful female leader and entrepreneur who is paving the way forward for the future generations.
WHO: Female entrepreneurs, CEOs, company founders and business leaders.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight the achievements of successful female leaders paving the way for future generations.
B-Good
For a good business. This award recognises a company that has done well to change our economic system to positively impact all stakeholders through their commercial practice.
WHO: CEOs, company founders, corporate social responsibility managers and sustainability directors.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that demonstrate positive impact on stakeholders through ethical and sustainable commercial practices.
Circular Pioneer
For making a real difference. This award category recognises a company that is pioneering their circular efforts.
WHO: CEOs, company founders, sustainability directors, environmental managers and circular economy strategists.
WHAT: Judges are looking for companies that excel in implementing and pioneering circular economy efforts.
Fame for good (new)
For a celebrity driven social impact. This award recognises a company that broke into the market by a famous person using its fame for the right cause and purpose.
WHO: Celebrity-founded companies, CEOs, social impact leads and philanthropic entrepreneurs.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that demonstrate the effective use of fame for driving social impact and purpose.
Going green
For delivering impact at scale. This award recognises a company that is actively leading and delivering impact and scale through sustainable efforts in clean energy, climate change, healthy environment, social and economic justice etc.
WHO: CEOs, COOs, company founders, sustainability directors and environmental managers.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to showcase leadership in sustainable efforts in clean energy, climate change, healthy environments, social, and economic justice.
Good champion (new)
For the best in Good Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have displayed great impact in society.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Good.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
You've got ethics
For leadership in environmental social governance. This award category recognises a company that is promoting accountability, good governance, leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility and solving societal problems.
WHO: CEOs, COOs, company founders, CSR managers and sustainability directors.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that highlight leadership in environmental social governance, accountability, and solving societal problems.
Design first
For design led products. This award recognises a company that is using design to drive product innovation with the entire company onboard.
WHO: CEOs,CTOs, company founders, design leads and product managers.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to showcase how design drives product innovation within the company.
Growth champion (new)
For the best in Growth Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have displayed incredible success.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Growth.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
Movement (new)
For an event experience. This award recognises a company that has delivered an innovative event, conference, campaign or brand activation that emotionally moved people, delivered great social impact or vent viral.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate innovative events or campaigns that have emotionally moved people, created significant social impact, or went viral.
New model (new)
For the new business model. This award recognises a company that has developed an elegant business model which is eating up the market itself.
WHO: CEOs, company founders, COOs, business strategists and innovation leads.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight an elegant business model that is transforming the market.
Out of the garage
For scaling globally. This award recognises a company’s global growth, expansion, and success.
WHO: Company founders, CEOs, CTOs and international expansion leads.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that showcase successful global growth, expansion and impact.
Pioneer (new)
For the first to market. This award recognises a company that has broken into the market with a new product line never seen before, creating a new category.
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, company founders, product managers and innovation leads.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate groundbreaking, first-to-market product lines that created a new category.
Wildfire
For conquering a marketplace. This award recognises a company that has made a significant impact on the marketplace in the shortest amount of time.
WHO: CEOs, company founders, market strategists and sales directors.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight significant, rapid impact on the marketplace.
Angel
For early stage support. This award recognises an angel investor that has garnered a portfolio of companies and has a good track record of helping founders succeed.
WHO: Angel investors, venture capitalists and early-stage startup mentors.
WHAT: This is a free entry and will be evaluated by the public as the People's Choice award.
C-Suite
For the best leadership. This award recognises the highest-ranking executive that has impeccable leadership, management and interpersonal skills.
WHO: CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, COOs and executive leaders.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that demonstrate impeccable leadership, management and interpersonal skills.
Down under (new)
For launching in the Australian market. This award recognises an international company who is looking to expand into the Australian market and build recognition in the local ecosystem.
WHO: International company founders, CEOs, market entry strategists and business development leads.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to showcase successful expansion into the Australian market and local ecosystem recognition.
Ecosystem star
For being the community champ. This award recognises a person for their tireless energy in organising, engaging and advocating to their community, business or network.
WHO: Community managers, ecosystem leaders, network builders and advocacy leads.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that highlight tireless energy in organising, engaging, and advocating for their communities, businesses or networks.
Future builder
For grit to start a new venture. This award recognises a founder at any level and life stage who has decided to start jumping the hoops of their own business.
WHO: Startup founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners at any level or life stage.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to showcase the grit and determination required to start and grow a new venture.
Game changer (new)
For an elite athlete turned entrepreneur. This award recognises an athlete for starting their side hustle and turning it into a small empire.
WHO: Elite athletes turned entrepreneurs, company founders and CEOs.
WHAT: Judges will evaluate entries that demonstrate successful side hustles turned into thriving businesses.
Growth hacker (new)
For the growth marketing experts. This award recognises a marketing specialist focused on the rapid growth of a company through data mining and experimentation.
WHO: Growth marketing experts, data analysts and digital marketing specialists.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that showcase rapid company growth through data mining and experimentation.
Hottest hub
For the best community. This award recognises a co-working space that provides boutique experience, world class facilities with community management.
WHO: Co-working space operators, community managers and facility managers.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that demonstrate boutique experiences, world-class facilities and exceptional community management.
Launch pad
For activating the support systems. This award recognises an accelerator or incubator with a good reputation in providing the best startup program and industry connections.
WHO: Accelerator and incubator managers, program directors and startup mentors.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that showcase a strong reputation in providing the best startup programs and industry connections.
Mind&Body (new)
For the best wellness provider. This award recognises a business that provides self-care services or apps, retreats, getaways, gyms, clubs, tiny house stays and healthy retailers.
WHO: Wellness service providers, app developers, retreat organisers, gym owners and healthy retailers.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to demonstrate excellence in providing self-care services, products or experiences that promote well-being.
Operators champion (new)
For the best in Operators Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have displayed impeccable leadership.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Operators.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
Silent achiever
For those that do the heavy lifting. This award recognises a person that has exceeded expectations, executed and delivered flawlessly projects from the backseat.
WHO: Project managers, team leads, operations managers and product managers.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate exceeding expectations and flawless execution of projects from a behind-the-scenes role.
TopCoder (new)
For the cleanest code. This award recognises a developer with excellent technical skills, writing a clean code and being a team player.
WHO: Developers, software engineers and technical leads.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that showcase excellent technical skills, clean code writing and strong teamwork abilities.
Venture cap
For backing the future business. This award recognises a VC firm with a portfolio of companies that have made a significant contribution to the growth and success of the AU economy.
WHO: Venture capital firms, investment managers and portfolio managers.
WHAT: This is a free entry and will be evaluated by the public as the People's Choice award.
Drag
Category tracks
Creating an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture is essential for success and growth. Entries should demonstrate how this transformation has been achieved across core business functions, that showcase expertise, leadership, and vision in delivering a positive impact and growth for the business, staff, stakeholders and customers.
Recognising outstanding business success in the marketplace, regardless of company size, and celebrating the impact made on the industry. Entries should showcase exceptional expertise, leadership and vision in the execution of business strategies that have left a significant impression.
Showcase a company's commitment to their purpose and mission to create a positive impact on the environment, people and community. The entries should demonstrate ideas intended to change the world; work which sets out to positively impact ingrained gender inequality, social imbalance or injustice.
Only awarded to a single entry in each category track, Grand Prix is the highest accolade in Pause Awards. To win the Grand Prix, the entire Judging Board must unanimously agree that the entry deserves the accolade of being the best in class.
Focusing on the productivity and elegance of execution to deliver impactful ideas to a market with the power to cut through the noise. Entries should demonstrate how the innovation and optimisation of the customer journey led to scaled consumer engagement and commercial success.
Elevating every voice in the ecosystem is crucial for the collective success and growth of the industry. The entries should demonstrate ingenuity which leads to the creation of new products and services, through leadership, by elevating the internal culture and communities they serve.
Categories
Culture champion (new)
For the best in Culture Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have created a thriving culture.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Culture.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
Diverse Co.
For nurturing an inclusive environment. This award recognises a workplace that has successfully and intentionally encouraged innovation among diverse employees.
WHO: Diversity and inclusion managers, HR professionals, company founders, team leads, and talent acquisition specialists.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate a purposeful, innovative approach to nurturing an inclusive environment and empowering diverse employees.
Large team culture
For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with over 1000+ employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation.
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, COOs, HR directors, and team leads in organisations with 1000+ employees.
WHAT: Judges seek evidence of a workplace that has excelled at fostering a culture of innovation, surpassing peers in the large team cohort.
Medium team culture
For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with 21-999 employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation.
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, COOs, HR directors, and team leads in organisations with 21-999 employees.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight the company's success in fostering a culture of innovation that outperforms others within the medium team cohort.
Small team culture
For fostering innovation. This award recognises a workplace with less than 20 employees that has outpaced their cohort in fostering a culture of innovation
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, COOs, HR directors, and team leads in organisations with less than 20 employees.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate exceptional success in fostering a culture of innovation, outpacing their small team cohort.
Work sweet work
For a great workplace culture. This award recognises a company that has managed to improve or attain outstanding levels of employee engagement, retention and satisfaction.
WHO: HR directors, employee engagement managers, company founders, and team leads.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that show significant improvement or attainment of outstanding levels of employee engagement, retention, and satisfaction.
Company of the Year
For the best company. This award recognises a company leadership, success, ambition to excel against all odds with the solid future development plans.
WHO: CEOs, COOs, CTOs, company founders, and general managers.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to demonstrate exceptional leadership, success, ambition to excel, and solid plans for future development.
Defiant ones
For new tech breakthroughs. This award recognises a company that defines the future of the industry they play in.
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, company founders, product managers, and innovation leads.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that showcase groundbreaking technology that redefines the industry they operate in.
Excellence champion (new)
For the best in Excellence Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have executed to a highest standard.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Excellence.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
Hall of fame
For a lifetime achievement. This award recognises a game-changer who paved the way by breaking new grounds and inventing new categories.
WHO: Judging Board will privately nominate and pick the winner.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner to award for their lifetime achievement.
Hammer
For nailing it. This award recognises a company’s success – on their own terms – in the market.
WHO: CEOs, COOs, company founders, sales directors and market strategists.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight the company's unique success in the market on their own terms.
I wish I'd done that
For sheer brilliance. This award recognises a company’s simple and clever idea in a niche market.
WHO: Company founders, CEOs, CTOs, product managers and niche market strategists.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that showcase a simple, clever, and innovative idea within a niche market.
New & first
For new and First Peoples. This award recognises a successful company with its founders from indigenous, migrant or ethnic heritage in Australia.
WHO: Indigenous, migrant, or ethnic heritage founders, CEOs, company founders and entrepreneurs.
WHAT: Judges seek entries from successful companies led by founders from diverse backgrounds, making an impact in Australia.
On the rise
For early stage mavericks. This award recognises an early stage startup that has done well in its first three years.
WHO: Early-stage startup founders, CEOs, CTOs, and entrepreneurs.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to demonstrate significant success within the first three years of operation.
Prodigy
For being exceptional. This award recognises an under 30 year old person with exceptional qualities or abilities.
WHO: Under-30 entrepreneurs, CEOs, CTOs, COOs and innovators.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that showcase exceptional qualities or abilities of individuals under 30 years old.
Singularity (new)
For an artificial intelligence business. This award recognises a company for developing ai services or those who have successfully integrated ai in their systems to deliver new products and services.
WHO: AI company founders, CEOs, CTOs and product managers.
WHAT: Judges are looking for companies developing AI services or successfully integrating AI into their systems to deliver new products and services.
Trendsetter (new)
For influencer led business. This award recognises a person that has built their own business or a product through their followers' reach in social media.
WHO: Social media influencers, content creators, entrepreneurs, and company founders.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that demonstrate successful businesses or products built through the reach of their social media followers.
Women in business
For levelling the playing field. This award recognises a successful female leader and entrepreneur who is paving the way forward for the future generations.
WHO: Female entrepreneurs, CEOs, company founders and business leaders.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight the achievements of successful female leaders paving the way for future generations.
B-Good
For a good business. This award recognises a company that has done well to change our economic system to positively impact all stakeholders through their commercial practice.
WHO: CEOs, company founders, corporate social responsibility managers and sustainability directors.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that demonstrate positive impact on stakeholders through ethical and sustainable commercial practices.
Circular Pioneer
For making a real difference. This award category recognises a company that is pioneering their circular efforts.
WHO: CEOs, company founders, sustainability directors, environmental managers and circular economy strategists.
WHAT: Judges are looking for companies that excel in implementing and pioneering circular economy efforts.
Fame for good (new)
For a celebrity driven social impact. This award recognises a company that broke into the market by a famous person using its fame for the right cause and purpose.
WHO: Celebrity-founded companies, CEOs, social impact leads and philanthropic entrepreneurs.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that demonstrate the effective use of fame for driving social impact and purpose.
Going green
For delivering impact at scale. This award recognises a company that is actively leading and delivering impact and scale through sustainable efforts in clean energy, climate change, healthy environment, social and economic justice etc.
WHO: CEOs, COOs, company founders, sustainability directors and environmental managers.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to showcase leadership in sustainable efforts in clean energy, climate change, healthy environments, social, and economic justice.
Good champion (new)
For the best in Good Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have displayed great impact in society.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Good.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
You've got ethics
For leadership in environmental social governance. This award category recognises a company that is promoting accountability, good governance, leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility and solving societal problems.
WHO: CEOs, COOs, company founders, CSR managers and sustainability directors.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that highlight leadership in environmental social governance, accountability, and solving societal problems.
Design first
For design led products. This award recognises a company that is using design to drive product innovation with the entire company onboard.
WHO: CEOs,CTOs, company founders, design leads and product managers.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to showcase how design drives product innovation within the company.
Growth champion (new)
For the best in Growth Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have displayed incredible success.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Growth.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
Movement (new)
For an event experience. This award recognises a company that has delivered an innovative event, conference, campaign or brand activation that emotionally moved people, delivered great social impact or vent viral.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate innovative events or campaigns that have emotionally moved people, created significant social impact, or went viral.
New model (new)
For the new business model. This award recognises a company that has developed an elegant business model which is eating up the market itself.
WHO: CEOs, company founders, COOs, business strategists and innovation leads.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight an elegant business model that is transforming the market.
Out of the garage
For scaling globally. This award recognises a company’s global growth, expansion, and success.
WHO: Company founders, CEOs, CTOs and international expansion leads.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that showcase successful global growth, expansion and impact.
Pioneer (new)
For the first to market. This award recognises a company that has broken into the market with a new product line never seen before, creating a new category.
WHO: CEOs, CTOs, company founders, product managers and innovation leads.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate groundbreaking, first-to-market product lines that created a new category.
Wildfire
For conquering a marketplace. This award recognises a company that has made a significant impact on the marketplace in the shortest amount of time.
WHO: CEOs, company founders, market strategists and sales directors.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to highlight significant, rapid impact on the marketplace.
Angel
For early stage support. This award recognises an angel investor that has garnered a portfolio of companies and has a good track record of helping founders succeed.
WHO: Angel investors, venture capitalists and early-stage startup mentors.
WHAT: This is a free entry and will be evaluated by the public as the People's Choice award.
C-Suite
For the best leadership. This award recognises the highest-ranking executive that has impeccable leadership, management and interpersonal skills.
WHO: CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, COOs and executive leaders.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that demonstrate impeccable leadership, management and interpersonal skills.
Down under (new)
For launching in the Australian market. This award recognises an international company who is looking to expand into the Australian market and build recognition in the local ecosystem.
WHO: International company founders, CEOs, market entry strategists and business development leads.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to showcase successful expansion into the Australian market and local ecosystem recognition.
Ecosystem star
For being the community champ. This award recognises a person for their tireless energy in organising, engaging and advocating to their community, business or network.
WHO: Community managers, ecosystem leaders, network builders and advocacy leads.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that highlight tireless energy in organising, engaging, and advocating for their communities, businesses or networks.
Future builder
For grit to start a new venture. This award recognises a founder at any level and life stage who has decided to start jumping the hoops of their own business.
WHO: Startup founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners at any level or life stage.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to showcase the grit and determination required to start and grow a new venture.
Game changer (new)
For an elite athlete turned entrepreneur. This award recognises an athlete for starting their side hustle and turning it into a small empire.
WHO: Elite athletes turned entrepreneurs, company founders and CEOs.
WHAT: Judges will evaluate entries that demonstrate successful side hustles turned into thriving businesses.
Growth hacker (new)
For the growth marketing experts. This award recognises a marketing specialist focused on the rapid growth of a company through data mining and experimentation.
WHO: Growth marketing experts, data analysts and digital marketing specialists.
WHAT: Judges seek entries that showcase rapid company growth through data mining and experimentation.
Hottest hub
For the best community. This award recognises a co-working space that provides boutique experience, world class facilities with community management.
WHO: Co-working space operators, community managers and facility managers.
WHAT: Judges will assess entries that demonstrate boutique experiences, world-class facilities and exceptional community management.
Launch pad
For activating the support systems. This award recognises an accelerator or incubator with a good reputation in providing the best startup program and industry connections.
WHO: Accelerator and incubator managers, program directors and startup mentors.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that showcase a strong reputation in providing the best startup programs and industry connections.
Mind&Body (new)
For the best wellness provider. This award recognises a business that provides self-care services or apps, retreats, getaways, gyms, clubs, tiny house stays and healthy retailers.
WHO: Wellness service providers, app developers, retreat organisers, gym owners and healthy retailers.
WHAT: Judges expect entries to demonstrate excellence in providing self-care services, products or experiences that promote well-being.
Operators champion (new)
For the best in Operators Category Track. This award recognises the best entry out of all winning entries in the track that have displayed impeccable leadership.
WHO: The top winners from all categories in Operators.
WHAT: Judges are looking for the sole winner that can proudly represent the track demonstrating exceptional leadership, results and impact in their field.
Silent achiever
For those that do the heavy lifting. This award recognises a person that has exceeded expectations, executed and delivered flawlessly projects from the backseat.
WHO: Project managers, team leads, operations managers and product managers.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that demonstrate exceeding expectations and flawless execution of projects from a behind-the-scenes role.
TopCoder (new)
For the cleanest code. This award recognises a developer with excellent technical skills, writing a clean code and being a team player.
WHO: Developers, software engineers and technical leads.
WHAT: Judges are looking for entries that showcase excellent technical skills, clean code writing and strong teamwork abilities.
Venture cap
For backing the future business. This award recognises a VC firm with a portfolio of companies that have made a significant contribution to the growth and success of the AU economy.
WHO: Venture capital firms, investment managers and portfolio managers.
WHAT: This is a free entry and will be evaluated by the public as the People's Choice award.
