It’s often said that there has never been a better time to be a young entrepreneur in Australia.
We have the economic stability, a soaring Australian dollar, access to technologies undreamt of only a decade ago, plus a growing army of baby-boomer mentors who would like nothing more than to see the next generation of Australian business builders succeed locally and beyond the borders of our small but increasingly outward-looking nation.
And, it seems, that young entrepreneurial Australians have also figured this out… en masse.
While the claim is made every year, Anthill’s 2012 30under30 proved to be our biggest, attracting hundreds of nominations and applications from entrepreneurs right across Australia.
For our judges, it also proved to be our toughest.
That’s why, this year, in addition to our top 30, we’ll be putting the spotlight on a small army of Honourable Mentions and young guns to keep an eye on.
And we intend to stretch out the ant-icipation.
Rather than release every winner in one massive hit, we’ve decided to stagger the names of this prestigious set, three to six per day, for the next… well… until we’re done.
We’ll be starting from youngest to oldest, while also turning our attention to those who didn’t make the top 30 but impressed our socks off nonetheless.
Don’t agree with our ranking? Vote in the Readers’ Choice.
The Top 30 Revealed!
The Top 30 are listed by age.
NAME | BIRTH YEAR | STATE | GENDER | LATEST VENTURE |
Brandon Cowan | 1994 | NSW | M | Crazy Dog Apps |
Lachy Groom | 1994 | WA | M | Cardnap, iPadCaseFinder, et al |
Taylah Hasaballah | 1994 | QLD | F | Tiger Temple |
Samantha Wade | 1992 | SA | F | Bluey Blundstones Blacksmith Shop |
Yohan Dantan | 1992 | NSW | M | AKARA Creative, myEd Online |
Riley Nottingham | 1991 | QLD | M | DoneItNow, Thepen |
Mick Spencer | 1990 | ACT | M | OnTheGo |
Liza Shulyayeva | 1988 | WA | F | Techalite Web Consulting |
Sheng Yeo | 1988 | NSW | M | OrionVM |
Chanel Costabir | 1987 | VIC | F | Sheer Novice, The Lingerie Boutique |
Emily Gowor | 1987 | VIC | F | Word Artist |
Adrian Rokman | 1987 | VIC | M | Allsportz |
Jack Delosa | 1987 | NSW | M | The Entourage |
Brad Smith | 1987 | TAS | M | braaap |
Linda Vydra | 1986 | VIC | F | Lydra, Melbourne Laser Cutter |
Jane Lu | 1986 | NSW | F | Show Pony |
Cameron Tanner | 1986 | NSW | M | Chargebar |
Melinda Weaver | 1986 | VIC | F | BabyInk |
Elliot Ramier & Jonathon Green | 1986/1985 | VIC | M | ELJO |
Cara-Ann Simpson | 1985 | VIC | F | Cara-Ann Simpson, Sound Installation |
Josh Kamil | 1985 | VIC | M | Ready Steady Print |
Michael Cohen | 1984 | VIC | M | Executive Security Solutions |
Finn Kelly | 1984 | VIC | M | Wealth Enhancers |
Ben Thomas-Brigden | 1985 | NSW | M | Blink Mobile |
Nicole Kersh | 1984 | NSW | F | 4Cabling |
Stan Kruss | 1984 | NSW | M | Expo Centric |
Alec Lynch | 1984 | NSW | M | DesignCrowd |
James Grieg | 1983 | QLD | M | iVvy, Bloomtools |
Ruslan Kogan | 1982 | VIC | M | Kogan Technologies |
READERS’ CHOICE? |
Honourable Mentions (The Editors’ Ten)
Several young and inspiring entrepreneurs from this year’s line up caught the attention of our editors. For one reason or another, their achievements (and the obstacles they were able to overcome) struck a chord.
That’s why, this year, we added The Editors’ Choice.
NAME | BIRTH YEAR | STATE | GENDER | LATEST VENTURE |
Ellen Harvey | 1989 | ACT | F | BnE Media |
David Wei | 1988 | VIC | M | Venuemob |
Myron Festejo | 1986 | NSW | M | My Shout |
Adam Long | 1986 | NSW | M | Beehive Digital Manufacturing |
Jessie Larcombe | 1985 | QLD | F | Fashion Ready, Snoozie and Moose |
Lachlan Blackhall | 1984 | ACT | M | 17Dynamics |
Grace Bowe | 1984 | NSW | F | Bride Body |
Asaf Brukarz | 1983 | VIC | M | PropConnect |
Jake Howard | 1982 | WA | M | Sales Pipeline |
Simon Griffiths | 1982 | VIC | M | Good Goods and Shebeen |
Honourable Mentions (Winners of any name)
They may have just missed a slot in the TOP 30 but they, nevertheless, rocked our world.
Expect to read more about these young business builders in Anthill in the not-too-distant future.
NAME | BIRTH YEAR | STATE | GENDER | LATEST VENTURE |
Mardy Daniel | 1990 | VIC | M | Festival Couch |
Patrick Hamilton | 1990 | NSW | M | Urban Moves |
Nathan Murphy | 1991 | NSW | M | Muesli For Me |
Peter Moriarty | 1989 | NSW | M | itGenius Australia |
Hayden Bowler | 1989 | VIC | M | Geniaus Ltd |
Michael York | 1989 | QLD | M | Flex Removals |
James Stapledon | 1989 | VIC | M | Lighting Matters |
Milan Narayan | 1988 | QLD | M | Platinum Perception |
Jason Ballo | 1987 | NSW | M | Ballo Furniture |
Andrew Frahm | 1987 | QLD | M | Kixup – Online Budgeting |
Scott Middleton | 1987 | NSW | M | Terem Technologies |
Abs Elmaz | 1987 | VIC | M | Social House Media |
Chris Hooper | 1987 | SA | M | Cirillo Hooper and Company |
Rowan Kunz | 1987 | NSW | M | Art of Smart Education |
Gareth Robinson | 1987 | NSW | M | Leasate Pty Ltd |
Michael Woods | 1987 | VIC | M | Media Saints |
Ross Scutts | 1986 | QLD | M | The Young Entrepreneur Club |
Michael Morgano | 1986 | VIC | M | Car Genie |
Carl Taylor | 1986 | NSW | M | Business Builders Academy |
David Truong | 1986 | VIC | M | Broccol-e-games Pty Ltd |
Daniel Ashton | 1985 | WA | M | Boost Mobeel Perth |
Bill Huynh | 1985 | VIC | M | Interior Secrets |
Mathew Beeche | 1985 | NSW | M | Shoe String Media Group |
Mike Watkins | 1985 | NSW | M | Digiocial |
Marcus Lim | 1985 | NSW | M | Oneflare |
Dwayne Martens | 1985 | NSW | M | Amazonia |
Daniel Calleja | 1985 | VIC | M | Innovating Visuals |
James McDonough | 1985 | WA | M | See Forge |
Gabriele Ulacco | 1985 | NSW | M | Architectural Research – Material Applications Pty Ltd |
Ben Carroll | 1984 | NSW | M | Velflex Pty Ltd |
Dale Hansen | 1984 | QLD | M | Base Media |
Jeffrey Cooper | 1984 | NSW | M | Step Change Marketing |
Joel Deakin | 1984 | NSW | M | George & King |
James Griffin | 1984 | NSW | M | SR7 |
Kym Huynh | 1984 | VIC | M | WeTeachMe |
Olivier Mamet | 1984 | WA | M | OOTB Communications |
Flic Manning | 1984 | VIC | F | Evixa |
Kate Stewart | 1984 | VIC | F | Bright Young Things Event Makers |
Leeanne Towse | 1984 | NSW | F | mPole |
Michael Overell | 1984 | NSW | M | RecruitLoop |
Skye Blackburn | 1983 | NSW | F | Butterfly Skye’s |
Izhar Basha | 1983 | NSW | M | Direct Nutrition Australia |
Ebony Centazzo | 1983 | VIC | F | Cat Napping Suburban Retreat |
Laura Christie | 1983 | QLD | F | Luminous Marketing |
Guy Pearson | 1983 | NSW | M | Interactive Accounting |
Andrew Craig | 1983 | QLD | M | Computer Empire |
Bradley Hampel | 1983 | VIC | M | Solution Entertainment |
Darcy Naunton | 1983 | VIC | M | Adventure Capital Venture Management |
Calvin Ng | 1983 | NSW | M | Aura Capital Group |
Nick Wallberg | 1983 | VIC | M | Tram Sessions Inc |
Brent Chandler | 1982 | VIC | M | Zwift |
Grant Capriotti | 1982 | WA | M | Muse Bureau |
Rosanne Sandars | 1982 | WA | F | Webholic |
Jo Schneider | 1982 | SA | F | DVE Business Solutions |
Philip Sondhu | 1982 | VIC | M | Farmbuy |
Social Entrepreneurs
This set of five dazzled us with their ambitions to use entrepreneurial thinking and commercial savvy to make the world a better place.
NAME | BIRTH YEAR | STATE | GENDER | LATEST VENTURE |
Boyd Whalan | 1989 | ACT | M | Hessex |
James Chalmers | 1988 | QLD | M | TownSqr |
Amanda Ryan | 1987 | NSW | F | Bachhara Pty Ltd |
Monica Kade | 1986 | NSW | F | Monica Kade |
David Dixon | 1984 | VIC | M | One Girl |
Intrapreneur
Entrepreneurial smarts is not just limited to business owners. Employees can have it too!
This year, we recognise one young gun who we think is an intrapreneur worthy of recognition.
NAME | BIRTH YEAR | STATE | GENDER | LATEST VENTURE |
Fai Wong | 1982 | NSW | M | Start Some Good |
The Reader’s Choice Awards
The 30UNDER30 Readers’ Choice Index was created to provide an opportunity for Anthill readers to help support young entrepreneurs in one of three ways:
1. Tweet this post (three points):
Use the Tweet button at the top of a Finalist’s page.
2. Trigger a social reaction (two points):
Hit the “Like” button, Google+ or LinkedIn.
3. Leave a comment (one point):
Show your support! Share the love!
Voting opens 30 January 2013 and ends 28 February 2013.
Winners announced 5 March 2013.
Having trouble with the form below? Click here.
To vote for your favourite young entrepreneur(s), find their name above, click the link, then vote!
How were these young guns picked?
The 30under30 awards begins with nominations, followed by a process of self-application. Why? Because we believe that one of the most important traits any entrepreneur should have is the ability to win friends and influence people. The self-application process gave our judges a direct line to the personality of each applicant entrepreneur.
Commercial success is not everything…
The 30under30 program rewards traits beyond pure successful venture creation. While some applicants wowed us with their, sometimes instant, commercial successes, others demonstrated their ability to learn from the school of ‘hard-knocks’, embrace unexpected opportunities, harness the skills of others and build buzz beyond their sometimes meagre budgets. All these factors, were considered ‘in the mix’.
Benchmarking success by age…
We’re often asked, ‘How do you measure the achievements and entrepreneurial traits of a 19 year-old against those of a 29 year-old?’ The simple answer? We don’t. Rather, during the judging process, the successes, the skills, the attributes of each applicant are measured against other entrepreneurs their age. So, if you’re a 28 year-old entrepreneur wondering why someone else made the cut while you didn’t, perhaps stop comparing yourself to the 18 year-old and look to your age bracket. As the older you get, the higher the bar.