Pause Awards ‘23 – 63 Finalists Announced: Celebrating Excellence and Ambition in Australia
Today, we are thrilled to announce the finalists for the prestigious Pause Awards '23 powered by VicGov, an annual program that recognises and celebrates the most ambitious and effective companies and individuals in Australia. With a record-breaking 63 finalists spanning five Category Tracks, including Growth, Excellence, Operators, Good and Culture, this year's Pause Awards promises to be a celebration of audacity, boldness and innovation like never before. Also a good result from the fintech industry this year, as 6 fintech companies out of 19 entries have been selected as finalists.
The Pause Awards, now in the sixth year, have been a cornerstone of recognition for Australia's pioneers and innovators. Unlike traditional awards that focus solely on financial metrics, the Pause Awards take a more holistic approach, measuring each finalist's breakthrough moments, ambition and impact.
This year, we are introducing the Investable Score™ as part of our new judging criteria, and we are proud to announce two high award levels: Champion and best-in-show Diamond, and best of all the leading Australian figures joining forces in first Growth Mentors Board, from Squarepeg, Guardian, Amazon, Rampersand, Up and Birchal.
Today, we’re announcing our first People's Choice Award winners. These exceptional individuals and companies have captured the hearts of the public with their innovative contributions to various categories. The People's Choice winners for Pause Awards '23 are:
Wevolt (Category: Going Green)
AirTree Ventures (Category: Venture Cap)
Michelle Mannering (Category: Angel)
The ultimate awards ceremony, presented by Blackmagic Design, is slated for an electrifying night of recognition and ecosystem networking. The event also enjoys sponsorship from Zoho and Give a Grad a Go as Category sponsors.
We are excited to feature the top five finalists who have exemplified excellence, innovation and ambition. The full list of finalists is provided below.
Kollektive, thriving in Small Team Culture and also recognised in the Operators and Excellence tracks.
Origin Energy, nominated under the Growth, Good, and Operators tracks, leading the charge in Going Green.
Upstock, shining bright in the Growth, Culture, and Excellence tracks, with noteworthy mention for Company of the Year.
WeMoney, scoring nominations in Growth and Excellence tracks, a strong contender for Company of the Year.
Tanck, showing versatile strength in Culture, Good, and Excellence tracks, notably for Small Team Culture and B-Good categories.
Lee Tonotto, Chair of the Judging Board and Director of Tonitto and Partners, remarked, "This year's winning entries are based on a key insight, cleverly designed, and delivered through razor-sharp execution. As an esteemed and experienced judging panel, if the entrant's idea, execution, and measurable results stopped us in our tracks, made us pause for thought, raised a smile or a tinge of envy that 'I wish I'd thought of that,' then they are a winner."
Tickets to the Pause Awards night are now on sale, with priority access given to finalists before opening up to the wider ecosystem and the public. The event will take place on December 4th, 2023, at BOND Melbourne. Megan Flamer, Director of Innovation for the Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, will be joining us as the MC for the evening.
Over the years, Pause Awards has garnered a reputation for championing the audacious and the bold, those who dare to redefine the parameters of the possible. Founder & CEO, George Hedon, accentuates, “Our quest is to spotlight those who don’t just chase success but redefine it, carving out new vistas of what’s achievable.”
For a complete list of finalists and to book tickets to the Pause Awards Night, visit www.pauseawards.com
About Pause Awards
The Pause Awards are an annual programme that recognises and celebrates the most ambitious and effective companies and individuals in Australia. Born out of Pause Fest, the premier festival for business and creativity in Australia, the awards have been celebrating pioneers and innovators since 2010, with the awarding tradition beginning in 2018. With an evaluation process powered by over 60 independent senior industry experts from Australia’s leading companies, the Pause Awards continue to set unparalleled industry benchmarks, celebrating genuine innovation and redefining success in the Australian business ecosystem.
For more information, visit www.pauseawards.com
