The achievements of innovative Victorian start-ups and entrepreneurs have been honoured at the Governor of Victoria Startup Awards.
Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll and the awards’ patron Her Excellency, the Honourable Linda Dessau, Governor of Victoria, attended the event at Government House to celebrate the winners, including those transforming more traditional industries such as banking and the preparation of wills.
“I am confident that the success of the award winners will contribute to the broader success of businesses that already employ more than 50,000 Victorians and play an essential role in the strength of our economy,” Her Excellency Dessau said.
The winner of Startup of the Year Award was food-ordering app Mr Yum, who was anointed for both helping the state’s hospitality businesses stay open during pandemic lockdowns and for its operating system that enables those businesses to grow their brands and offering.
Scaleup of the Year was awarded to Zeller for setting an Australian record for the fastest time a local company has hit a $1 billion valuation – the Fintech has also more than doubled its staff to over 220 and accumulated 35,000 business customers in its first three years of operation.
Best Newcomer Willed, an online tool that allows a legal will to be created in 15 minutes, with the aim of making end-of-life planning more affordable and accessible.
Regional Ecosystem Hero of the Year was taken out by GippsTech CEO Dr Elena Kelareva for bringing digital innovation to Gippsland. The business introduced the Startup Gippsland program and a co-working space for the region’s entrepreneurs.
Other individual winners were Emily Casey, who won Ecosystem Hero of the Year for her work enhancing and connecting the Australian health tech community, and Nick Crocker and Rachael Neumann – joint winners of Investor of the Year – for activating capital for early-stage founders.
“These awards celebrate the brilliant entrepreneurs, innovation leaders and investors across our start-up ecosystem who are making a long-lasting impact in our community, creating exciting opportunities and jobs here in Victoria,” Minister Carroll said.
LaunchVic CEO Dr Kate Cornick said that start-ups drive innovation and that the bright minds behind them deserve to be celebrated, adding that Victoria’s strong start-up ecosystem fosters collaboration, breakthroughs and growth.
