In one of the most competitive events for the Brisbane Young Entrepreneur Awards in recent years, CMA founder Chris Baptista has won over the judges again - by a whisker - to take home the event's most prestigious accolade for the third year running.
It's a claim that no one else has ever been able to make in the initiative's 17-year history.
The homebuilder has refused to rest on his laurels following the success of the company, which he says combines the "flexibility and personalisation of a boutique builder with the efficiency, scale, and affordability of a large-volume builder".
One judge described CMA's high margins as "almost unheard of in the residential homebuilding industry", while another commented that "180 homes under construction at one given time is remarkable - as a completely debt-free builder, it's unbelievable".
A third judge said Baptista had proven that "operational excellence and smart financial discipline can thrive even in a volatile industry", with his consistency, innovation and financial performance making him "an outstanding all-round entrepreneur".
These awards are not just about what an entrepreneur has accomplished overall, but have a strong weighting on the performance, business savvy and decisions made over the past year.
"CMA delivered a record-breaking financial performance in fiscal year 2025, setting new benchmarks," said Baptista, who for a couple of years now has been reinvesting profits into a luxury home-building venture called ARQUE, has recently launched a new house and land package, and is currently building eight new display homes across high-growth corridors.
"These results reflect the strength of our business model, the unwavering commitment of our team, and the confidence our clients continue to place in us, further evidenced by a record-breaking 70 New 5-star reviews," he added.
Baptista squeezed ahead of other contenders for the Brisbane Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in a tight race that also included Wagepay founder Tony Chan, Jacaranda Finance founder Daniel Wessels, and Midnight Health founders Nic Blair and Matt Anderson on the shortlist for the top recognition.
Had any judge thought differently about Baptista, the end result would have been different, signifying the outstanding calibre of the Brisbane cohort this year which had the highest median turnover of any city in the initiative - up 70 per cent over 2024.
Another record was also set last night for the youngest-ever founders to win the Trailblazer in Brisbane, with 26-year-olds Thomas Fu and Tom Mcpherson of Motor Culture Australia winning the coveted category as their automotive lifestlye brand crossed the 500,000-member mark.
"Motor Culture has redefined what a lifestyle brand can be," noted one judge. "In just five years, they’ve created an ecosystem spanning membership, events, gaming, media, and community, transforming car culture from something underground into something inclusive, exciting, and commercially powerful."
"Their explosive growth, creativity, and scalable model show exceptional future potential," said another.
Fu and Mcpherson won the Trailblazer Award by edging ahead of x-recruiter founder Blake Thompson, who won the Professional Services category, and Nakie co-founders Dean, Tegan and Jaryd Leibbrandt who took home two awards in Retail & Services, and Sustainability & Social Responsibility.
The Brisbane gala marked the last city-based event in the awards for this year and sets the scene for the grand finale - the 2025 Australian Young Entrepreneur Awards - to be held on the Gold Coast in just over two weeks on 29 November, which has attracted the brightest founders from all over the country, from Perth to Canberra, Adelaide to Hobart, and throughout regional Australia.
The judging panel comprises Vita Group founder Maxine Horne, Greencross founder Dr Glen Richards, Acusensus co-founder Alexander Jannink, Go1 co-founder Andrew Barnes, CitrusAd co-founder and Rocket Advisory partner Brad Moran, Dental Boutique co-founders Dr Reuben Sim and Dr May Chan, MGI business accounting consultant Zee Zhang, Loanezi founder Renee Tocco, and Business News Australia founder Camilla Westerlund.
The 2025 Brisbane Young Entrepreneur Awards would not have been possible without the support of its corporate partners - the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program, UQ Ventures, MGI Accountants & Business Advisors, SUBCO, the Brisbane City Council, and iVvy.
See below for all winners from the night, and we thank all participants for sharing their stories with Business News Australia.
- Brisbane Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Chris Baptista - CMA, ARQUE
- Trailblazer: Tom Mcpherson & Thomas Fu - Motor Culture Australia
- Beauty & Wellness: Amy Williams - Lash Prodigy
- Digital Disruptor: Sam McNamara - Getahead
- Finance & Fintech: Tony Chan - Wagepay
- Food, Beverage & Hospitality: Jaryd Terkelsen & Ash Bisset - Beforeyouspeak Coffee
- Health & Medicine: Matt Anderson & Nic Blair - Midnight Health
- Manufacturing & Supply Chain: Ben Weedon - BLW Marine
- Marketing, Media & Events: Tom Mcpherson & Thomas Fu - Motor Culture Australia
- Professional Services: Blake Thompson - x-recruiter
- Property & Construction: Chris Baptista - CMA, ARQUE
- Retail & Services: Dean Leibbrandt, Tegan Leibbrandt & Jaryd Leibbrandt - Nakie
- Specialist Services: Daniel Mikus & James Rolph - MR Group
- Startup: Cian Davis & Sinead Davis - Aspira Health
- Sustainability & Social Responsibility: Dean Leibbrandt, Tegan Leibbrandt & Jaryd Leibbrandt - Nakie
- Technology: Dr Christopher Jeffery - Convergence Medical
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