Brisbane Young Entrepreneur Awards set for record crowd tonight

Guests are expected to converge on the W Brisbane for the awards following a Herculean effort in 2021 from all the finalists, who have overcome the adversities of the COVID-19 pandemic and thrived, creating and preserving livelihoods while making their impact on the local, national or international economies.

The combined annual turnover of nominees has more than doubled since 2018 to just shy of $600 million, providing employment for almost 3,000 people, while around 12 per cent were startups having founded their businesses in 2020 or later.

After comprehensive form submissions, interviews with journalists and assessments from judges, finalists have been chosen across a wide cross-section of sectors.

The 2021 winner will have big shoes to fill. Last year's Brisbane Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Dr Sean Parsons of Ellume, developed a rapid COVID-19 test which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over-the-counter sales in the United States within a week of receiving the distinction.

As usual we have a highly competitive cohort of entrepreneurs vying for awards across different categories as well as the top prize.

Young Entrepreneur Awards founder Camilla Jansen says this inspiring group of Brisbane's leading business minds are paving the way for others, instilling a belief that anything is possible with the right idea, business acumen, resilience and company culture.

"The awards season is our favourite time of year and we are so happy to be able to kick off the celebrations in Brisbane tonight. Congratulations to all the finalists and thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate," she says.

"I'd also like to thank our sponsors Instyle Solar, Brisbane City Council, MGI Accountants and Business Advisors, Capital B, University of Queensland, Spruson & Ferguson, Corpay, Yellow Panda and Ivvy."
 

Aside from the two major awards of Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Trailblazer, the gala will span a range of sectors with 15 different award categories including:

• Digital Disruptor
• Fashion & Design
• Finance
• Fitness
• Health & Medicine
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Manufacturing, Wholesale and Distribution
• Marketing
• PR, Media & Events
• Property & Construction
• Retail & Services
• Specialist Services
• Startup
• Professional Services
• Technology

The finalists in the Brisbane Young Entrepreneur Awards 2021 are as follows (in alphabetical order by company):

Tim West - 12RND Fitness, UBX Training

Nof Hamze & Alex Hamze - Alamour The Label

James Fielding - Audeara

Anna Rai - Brisbane Brows Pty Ltd

Nelvin Das & Chantelle Das - Buildi, Sparrow and Finch Boutique

Nicholas Chapman - Chapcon DC, Newstart Homes Australia

Corey Stone - CHS Building

Brad Moran - CitrusAd

Rudy Crous & Carl Hartmann  - Compono Pty Ltd, Lyres Spirit Co

Tim Johnson - Corbett & Claude, Comuna Cantina, Tetto Rooftop Bar, Mr Claude

Stephen Bornstein - Cyborg Dynamics Engineering, Athena Artificial Intelligence

Kahlee Andrews - Devote Digital

Ashley Portas - Diamondport

Dilan Ildes & Tom D’arcy - Dirty Sultan, Ildes Group Pty Ltd

Shannah Bradshaw & Ben Bradshaw - Disrupt Digital Pty Ltd, SponsoredLinX, Get More Traffic, Search Marketing Experts, Disrupt Music Group, Deep Future, Emergency Medical Supplies

Jarryd Fisher & Ryan Fisher - E-Fishient Property Solutions

Mariana Fataccioli - Elysian Cartel Pty Ltd

Chris Jeffery - Field Orthopaedics

Ian Parke & James Pound - FIN-PAY

Aaron McAllister & Georgio Batsinilas - FitazFK

Rodney Frampton - Frampton Builders

Andrew Barnes, Chris Eigeland, Chris Hood & Vu Tran - Go1

Christina Mann & Jesse Mann - Harvest Global, Bamboo Sheets Australia, Westhill Watch Boxes, Empire Chopsticks, James Butler Flasks, Lumi Night Lights, April May Jewellery Boxes

Brett Saunders - Hiflow, S6 Capital Group, Surgical Biofix, Saunders Development Group, Savy Commercial

Chris Baptista - Homes by CMA, CMA Developments, CMA Capital

Mathew Stillone - Integrity Food Co, Botanika Blends, Protein Supplies Australia, Flexible Foods

Daniel Wessels - Jacaranda Finance Pty Ltd

Joe Zhou - Joe Zhou Pty Ltd, Maroochydore Medical Centre Pharmacy, Kedron 7 Day Chemist Pty Ltd

Amy Williams - Lash Prodigy, Lashxtend

Courtney Lockett - Lockett Mccullough Lawyers

 Braden Voigt - Lynkz Pty Ltd, PolyVision

Wyatt Westmoreland & Edward Hodge - MiHIGH

Rebecca Martin & Jae Martin - Mondaze, Mondaze Media

Jeff Yew - Monochrome Asset Management

Thomas Fu & Tom Mcpherson - Motor Culture Australia

James Mutton - Motorcycle Trading Pty Ltd, Strategic Funding Pty Ltd, DMS Innovations Pty Ltd, J.A. Mutton Investments Pty Ltd

Chris Anastasi & Nathaniel Anthony - Muscle Nation

James Morrell & Mahdi Chardi - Muval

Andrew Bell - Nifty Loans Pty Ltd

Courtney Hargrave - No More Pain Ergonomics

Josh Fritz - Patch Agency Pty Ltd, PatchPets

Sam Moore - Pyra Pty Ltd

Rebekah Strachan - Raw by Bek Pty Ltd

Jessica McWatt Forbes & Katie Burton - Red Stockholm

Jez Hedger & Caitlin Shannon - Rivercity House & Home Co., Bedzy

Peter Dodeja - SAI Security Group, SAI Investments Group

Joseph Agresta & Kieran Maguire - Science Of Fitness

Maddison Lawrence - Slick Azz Protective Films, Bushwrapz Pty Ltd

Ella Doyle - Social Cut

Ellie Bakker - Splice Marketing, Telehealth Education Pty Ltd

Josh Cobb - Stepps Pty Ltd

Angus Goldman & Alex Harper - Swyftx Pty Ltd

Victoria Harrison - The Exposure Co.

Ellen Powell - The Somewhere Co.

Nicholas Mitrossilis - The Yiros Shop

Vish Uttam & Kris Kaczmarek - Time2outsource

Scott Fell - Tutor2you

Megan Winter & Karyn Parkinson - Unstoppable Ecommerce

Alexis Bowler - Up I.T. Solutions

Dominic Spooner - Vaulta, Ember Design House

Gemma Renton - Vine Street Digital

Myrrah Balasabas & Joshua Spurway - Vision Made Co

Emily Bitkow & Sarah Hua - VIVRA International Pty Ltd

Nick Hill, Andrew Walker, James Walker & Lana Hill - Walker Hill Group, Walker Hill Chartered Accountants, Walker Hill Digital, Walker Hill Finance

Brodie Haupt & Drew Haupt - WLTH, Inception Wealth Group, Inception Finance, Bayside Home Loans, Properlytics, Moneymgmt