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The 2024 Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur Awards are set to ignite excitement as the region's brightest innovators gather tonight at The Star Gold Coast to celebrate their achievements, share inspiring stories, and connect with fellow visionaries who are shaping the future of business.
These remarkable entrepreneurs will showcase the resilience and creativity that define the entrepreneurial spirit in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
The night promises to be a blend of glamour and inspiration, with each finalist embodying the determination and passion that fuels their success.
Previous finalists have set a high bar, with KnG Group co-founder Mannu Kala winning the Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for two consecutive years, the latter secured after he and Dr. Anuj Gupta expanded the company - originally known as Covax Australia - to cover sectors such as education, technology, and cybersecurity.
The duo join a prestigious roster of acclaimed young entrepreneur winners, including Ignite Travel founder Randall Deer ( a two-time winner), LSKD founder Jason Daniel, National Veterinary Care founder Tomas Steenackers, Grace Loves Lace founder Megan Ziems, and Tammy Fit founder Tammy Hembrow.
This year, a standout highlight is the impressive rise in revenue among finalists, whose average turnover has soared by an astonishing 51 per cent despite a reduction in the number of selected entrepreneurs, showcasing their resilience and remarkable ability to adapt to a challenging economic environment.
While the average profit has experienced a modest increase, the median profit has surged by approximately 37 per cent, demonstrating the effectiveness of the innovative business strategies implemented by this year’s finalists.
This year's Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur Awards features an esteemed panel of judges, including Dr Glen Richards, Michelle Laforest, Baden U’ren, Zee Zhang, James Greig, Robert Hynes, Renee Tocco and Business News Australia’s founder Camilla Jansen - among them accomplished entrepreneurs who have significantly influenced the country’s modern business landscape and are tasked with the challenging responsibility of selecting this year's winners.
“This awards night embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship - collaboration, innovation, and the courage to dream big. Each finalist is a testament to what can be achieved with passion and determination,” Young Entrepreneur Awards founder Camilla Jansen says.
“These young entrepreneurs are not just building businesses, they’re shaping the future. Congratulations to all the finalists who’ve seized on opportunities to grow and prosper.
“I’d also like to thank our sponsors City of Gold Coast, MGI Accountants and Business Advisors, Coraggio, EO Queensland and iVvy."
Meet the 2024 Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur Awards finalists (in alphabetical order):
Mike Luker - Ace Health Centre
Amelia Read - Amelia Read Psychology, The Neurodiverse Network
Sky Kolade - Association of Professional Builders
Samuel Gordon - Australian Property Scout, School of Property
Tom Egan - Avia Homes Australia
Bernard Mangelsdorf - BITS Technology Group, BIBITS Wireless, BITS Finance
Anthony Hua - Burleigh Dental Studio
Abigail Spanner and Adriana Astras - Creative Minds Therapy
Jeremy Lynch and Marc Everest - Dealer Studio
David Lethbridge - DGE Electrical Services
Monique Jeremiah - Diversity Models, Diversity Models Academy, Diversity Productions
Rob Hawkes - Elite Sales and Prospecting
Sterling Sheddan, Dillon Adams and Abdul Muqtadir - Fastway Enterprises
Beau London and Zac London - Frase Skin
Joel Prokic, Matthew Nikolai and Jason Smit - G1 Asset Management, Tech To Country
James Carney, Alec Carney and Paul Carney - Gemelli Group, Bar Tano, Gemelli Italian, Gemellini, Roys By Gemelli, Papa Rollys
Christina Baker and Jordan Au - Gold Coast Cookies
Mark Hawley and Reuben Scheckter - Golf Journeys
Diogo Giglio - Grand Construction, Giglio Construction Workforce and dot to dot
Luke Ridden - Granddad Jacks Craft Distillery, Granddads Bar Newcastle, Granddad Jacks Brisbane
Christie Perrin - GWEN Creative, Busy Girls Social Club and Friends of The Industry
Natalie Durack - Happy Hounds Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Adam Powell and Harvey Rivers - Harwell Consulting
Timothy Hudson and Caitlan Hudson - Hudson Snake Catching
Dayle Filliponi - Lend It Finance Group
Taylor Victoria - Level Up Outsourcing
Diana Awad - Linked Financial Services, Regatta Financial
Jared Ooi - Maco Electrics
Mike Kellett - Macro Mike, Macro King
Luke Morgan - Mayfair Marketing, Drive Deluxe
Adam Janczyk - Mobile Power Trailers, Pure Nation Solar, The Mobile Power Platform
Eden Appo - NATV Resources
Adam Jarrett - Nexus Sports Nutrition, JUICD Energy
Luke Rust - Outbound
Satnaam Singh and Myat Myat Thinn - Polaris Migration, Alchemist Academy
Carmela Yarnold - Precision Building Products
Katie Bryan - Propeller Advisory
Alexandra Rofe - Send Payments
Brandon Cittadini-Smith - Smith&Co Group
Adam Webb - The Kasa Group
Matthew Srama - The Srama Group
Jordan Sullivan and Dean Barnes - Trainade
Jacob Ritchie - Two Birds Social, Poly Studios
Luke Vaughan - Vaun Group of Companies
Larni Spilsbury Vatselias - Wipe Credit Clean, Snatched Clinic
Broden Johnson and Elise Johnson - Yakk, Eight Fifty Espresso, Spruces
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