Website builder and eCommerce platform Squarespace has announced it will hold the first Australian edition of its Make It Awards this year.
The awards program aims to support the success of creators and entrepreneurs. It began in the United States in 2017, inspired by the $30,000 investment given to Squarespace’s Founder and CEO, Anthony Casalena, by his parents to launch the company.
For the Australian edition, the program will provide three emerging businesses with a $30,000 grant and a one-year Squarespace subscription to accelerate their growth.
To apply for the Make It Awards, applicants can submit details about their business including how their work impacts the community and how they plan to use the grant. The applicants will go through a rigorous screening process by a judging panel that includes Casalena and other entrepreneurs and business leaders, including Steph Claire Smith, the co-founder of Keep it Cleaner.
“Launching my own business, Keep it Cleaner, has been such an incredible experience and I’m so excited to give others the opportunity to grow their businesses with the Make it Awards and give back to our extremely talented Australian entrepreneur community,” Smith said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the game-changing ideas that are brought to the table and meeting all the passionate small business owners along the way,” Smith added.
In addition to the event, Squarespace will also run a series of talks during Vivid Sydney at the Vivid Ideas Exchange where the members of the judging panel will hold inspirational talks on growing a business.
Applicants can apply until 3 June. The announcement of winners will be made on 18 June.
