Xero unveils winners of 2024 Beautiful Business Fund
Four Australian small businesses have been awarded a share of $180,000 for winning a position in the recent Xero Beautiful Business Fund.
The small business platform has revealed the 28 SME and non-profit winners of its recent competition, which have all won a share of the $700,000 global prize tool.
Four of the 28 winners of the 2024 Xero Beautiful Business Fund winners were Australian small businesses awarded for “driving future aspirations.”
The winners spanned Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, the UK and the US, and were selected based on a 90-second video that demonstrated how they would use the funding to support their future business goals.
Xero said participants entered the competition under four categories which included innovating for environmental sustainability, trailblazing with technology, strengthening community connection and upskilling the future.
The four global winners of each category received a total of $70,000 and the remaining 24 winners received $20,000 in funding.
Across the four Australian business winners, two received the $70,000 prize, while the other two received $20,000.
The main Australian category winners included Other Matter and Prosthetic Art Technology, while Zenly and Anika Legal were awarded the lower prizes.
The winner of the ‘innovating for environmental sustainability’ category was Victoria-based company Other Matter, while New South Wales company, Prosthetic Art Technology, won the ‘trailblazing with technology’ category.
Xero sales director Australia, Theo Konstantas, said he was honoured to learn about the achievements and aspirations of small business customers as a regional judge.
“It truly demonstrated the rigour, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of our thriving small business community here in Australia,” he said.
“The local winners have exceptional drive in tackling obstacles and creating positive change, and I look forward to seeing how Xero’s funding helps them grow and make an impact.”
Xero said Other Matter won based on how it had revolutionised the market with its eco-conscious approach to decal production.
Other Matter founder Jessie French said the company was honoured to be recognised as the global winner in the sustainability category.
“This achievement not only underscores our commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility but also comes at a pivotal stage,” French said.
“The prize will be directed towards scaling, a critical step in ensuring the success and viability of our decals as a sustainable alternative to toxic PYV signage and non-petrochemical material solutions. We are excited to accelerate our mission with this support.”
NSW-based Prosthetic Art Technology won the technology category for how it had transformed lives by combining advancement technology with the art of sculpture to create silicone prosthetics, according to Xero.
Prosthetic Art Technology founder Sophie Fleming said she was “utterly thrilled” to have won the category.
“These funds will have a significant impact on how we can develop and innovate our business through the use of technology,” Fleming said.
“There is a huge gap in bringing prosthetics to life for the people that need them, this gap is physical, geographical and financial. Thanks to the fund, we can now continue to work to bridge the divide.”
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