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The Gold Coast’s finest business minds will come together for the first time in two years at the JW Marriott tonight for the largest ever Young Entrepreneur Awards gala dinner in the initiative’s history.
It has been a long time between drinks for the cohort of Gold Coast young entrepreneurs who are redefining what it means to live and work in the city best known for its sun, surf and tourism.
Ranging from fashion and social media giants to innovators in cutting-edge technology, masters of online retail, manufacturers of high-quality goods and much more, this year’s group of finalists generate a combined total of more than $260 million.
In addition, their contribution to the Gold Coast and Queensland economy could not be overstated more - with the finalists employing more than 2,000 full-time or part-time staff.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, which left many of these jet setting Young Entrepreneurs grounded on the idyllic Gold Coast, around one in five that nominated for the Awards started their business in 2020 or later.
Tonight, following a comprehensive judging process and many hours of interviews with Business News Australia journalists, winners will be announced across 15 categories at a sold-out gala dinner.
All finalists are also up for the coveted Trailblazer Award which recognises a founder and their business on the precipice of massive growth. They’ll follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner James Gilmour, founder of Gilmour Space, who is currently shooting for the stars and spearheading a $150 million space industry project.
That’s not to mention the top prize of the night: the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Last year, Saski Collection and Tammy Fit founder Tammy Hembrow took out the top gong. As a returning finalist this year she’s gunning for back-to-back wins, but it’s anyone’s guess as to who will take home Gold.
Young Entrepreneur Awards founder Camilla Jansen said 2021 was extremely competitive, noting every single finalist demonstrated serious business acumen, talent and potential.
“The Gold Coast is always one of the most competitive bunches of finalists every year, and 2021 is no exception,” she said.
“While we are gathering to announce some winners, tonight is going to be a celebration. After two long years, it is so exciting that we’re once again able to meet in person and celebrate everything we’ve been able to achieve despite the circumstances.
“I’d also like to thank our sponsors Instyle Solar,City of Gold Coast, MGI Accountants and Business Advisors, Spruson & Ferguson, Study Gold Coast, 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 17 different award categories including:
- Arts and Culture
- Digital Disruptor
- Fashion Design
- Finance
- Fitness
- Food & Beverage
- Health & Medicine
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Manufacturing, Wholesale & Distribution
- Marketing
- PR, Media & Events
- Professional Services
- Property & Construction
- Retail & Services
- Specialist Services
- Startup
- Technology
The finalists in the Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur Awards 2021 are as follows (in alphabetical order by company):
Nic Nichols - 40/40 Creative, Golden Walls, Squaready
Hayden McEvoy - A Team Tuition Pty Ltd
Andrew Antonopoulos - ABA Legal Group, ABA Bioscience Consulting, Synnch
Tyler Murphy, Scott Chapman & Tim Black - Able Digital Wellness, S&S Chapman
Mike Luker - Ace Health Centre, Ace Health Care, Motionx
William Hawkins - Appifany Australia
Carly Fradgley - Baby Give Back Ltd
Jordan McGregor - Bare And Boho
Jasmine Scarr - Bella Bronze Tan
Marina Bartlett - Bella Donna Injectables And Skin
Renee Alyce - Bescher
Bernard Mangelsdorf - BITS Technology Group, BITS Wireless
Michael McGovern, Eddie Oldfield - Black Hops Brewery
Samantha Leonard - Breeze Balm
Connor Fairclough, Sam Lindell & Zac Nicholson - Collab Bar, Verve Network Pty Ltd, Verve Pictures, HECKL
Katie Jones - Country Girl Management
Luke Vaughan - Crown Realty International, The Vaun Group of Companies, Vaun Enterprises, Vaun Developments, Vaun Capital, Vaun Management, Vaun Asset Management
Viktor Korsun - Datasakura
Kristie Baird - Drip IV Australia, Mode Medical
Brynley King - eCommerce Growth by Brynley King
Emilly Hankin - Emilly Hadrill Hair
Nikki Mann - Everi-Body
Nova Ward - Fitcover Group
Jon Hollenberg - Five by Five Web Design
Matthew Nikolai & Joel Prokic - G1 Asset Management, Tech to Country
Darshnakaur Bhathal & Sabir Merchant - Garlic Clove and Green Olive Italian
James Gilmour - Gilmour Space
Luke Ridden - Granddad Jack’s Craft Distillery
Stacy Marlow & Sian Hull - Hy-Fidelity Dance Design
Kane Sajdak - HomeGuardian.ai
Michael Huxley - Huxley Group, MCH Capital
James Greig - iVvy, Wildflower Gin, Bloomtools
Tim Dawson - Lauxes Grates, Lauxes Products, Lauxes International
Jason Nairn - Linked Financial and Superannuation Services
Jason Daniel - LSKD Pty Ltd
Juliana Medina - Lymph4You
Jared Ooi & Tim McKay - Maco Electrics
Mike Kellett - Macro Mike, Macro Manufacturing, Macro Gym
Kyia Anderson - Marketing Projects SEQ
Ben Sinclair - Modnpods Australia
Gerard Murtagh - Mouldmen, Sayfer Pest Management, Silix, IBT Trading
Jarrad Bell, Michael Sebire & Jeremy Davidson - Mr Consistent
James Marshall - MWM Advisory
Bianca Anstiss - Myraswim
Paris Faint & CJ Nash - Nash Management
Jasminne Hristic - NGO Training Centre
Christopher Henry - Noize
Reuben Scheckter & James Strathdee - One Power Solar, Leadify
Tammy Hembrow - Saski Collection, Tammy Fit
Paul Billing, Alexandra Rofe & Ian Cragg - Send
Dexter Devlin, Jacob Banks & Dan Kerr - Service.com.au
Kris Simmons & Simon Livingstone - Simmons Livingstone & Associates
Ben Tattersfield - Sportcor
Amy Hembrow & Emilee Hembrow - SSKIN
Jake Robinson & Mark Deacon - Superdraft
Ryan Tuckwood - SWISH Sales Coaching
Craig Johnston & Lucy Johnston - TCLH
Jarrod Wade - The Caravan Guys
Dayna Cooper - The Jefferson Restaurant Group, Orzo, Social Eating House and Bar, Gypsy Social
Cormac Gray - Top Tier Marketing, Blockchain QLD
Thomas Welch - TW Accounting & Business Solutions, Precinct Brewing Co
Jacob Ritchie -Two Birds Social, Poly Studios & North Productions
Nikki Westcott & Lucy Jackson - We The Wild Ones, Jagger and Stone, Happy Hour Podcast, The Punter Club, Jackson West Wines
Broden Johnson - Yakk, Hello Reviews
Amanda Williams - Yellowpanda Agency
Rebecca Tarrant - Yonda
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