Australia’s boldest innovators announced and new chapter for 2025

The 7th annual Pause Awards celebrated the nation’s most disruptive innovators and entrepreneurial breakthroughs, announcing 34 winners who are shaping the future of business in Australia. With bold ideas and measurable impact, the awards highlighted resilience and creativity amidst an economic downturn.

“In an era defined by economic challenges and the rapid rise of AI, this year’s entrants have made a real impact by zeroing in on customer needs,” said George Hedon, Founder and CEO of Pause Awards. “With funding down 53.3% but female founder applications up by 12%, these businesses are breaking through the noise and proving their capabilities.”

Pause Awards 2024: The Numbers Behind the Breakthroughs

• 79 Finalists across diverse industries
• 44% from VIC, 38% from NSW, 10% from QLD
• Average funding per finalist: $8.4M
• Gender split: 58% male, 42% female
• Average founder age: 39

Top Winners That Defined 2024

Best in Show: Applied EV

Applied EV led the pack with its innovative Digital Backbone™ technology, a breakthrough for software-defined vehicles. Since 2019, the company has developed an ISO 26262-compliant autonomous solution, revolutionizing safety and scalability in automotive software. This innovation earned them the highly coveted Best in Show award.

Best in Culture: Atticus

Recognized for its exceptional workplace environment, Atticus took home the Small & Mighty Culture award. The company supports law firms and listed entities with its groundbreaking fact-checking and verification tool. “Fostering collaboration and prioritizing employee experience are core to our values,” said an Atticus representative.

Best in Good: Seedling Giving

The B-Good award went to Seedling Giving, which has revolutionized philanthropy with a personalized and automated charity matchmaking platform. A significant breakthrough in mid-2023 enabled the launch of this transformative platform in June 2024.

Best in Growth: Open

Insurance disruptor Open received the Collab award for its seamless partnership with Bupa Australia. By embedding innovative solutions into Bupa’s offerings, Open streamlined the insurance experience, emerging as Bupa’s largest general insurance portfolio.

Best in Operators: Evan Buist, Founder and MD, Melodie

The Creative Maverick award recognized Evan Buist of Melodie for redefining music licensing with ethical practices and strategic global expansion. A key milestone in 2024 was the implementation of an Indigenous Engagement Strategy and a $1M bridge round that opened doors to European markets.

Sonia Clarke, Chair of the Judging Board and Principal of Clever Manka, praised the high calibre of entries: “The quality of applicants was incredibly high this year, and the winners were as tough to select as ever. The entries that really stood out were solving a genuine problem in a new and creative way – but more than that, they moved beyond a great idea to delivering quantifiable and meaningful impact. Some of this year’s winners are on track to become household names.”

Honoring a Visionary: Prof. Graeme Clark in the Hall of Fame

This year’s Pause Awards Hall of Fame inductee, Prof. Graeme M. Clark AC, is the visionary inventor behind the bionic ear. His groundbreaking work, first conceptualized in the 1970s, has transformed the lives of over 700,000 people worldwide.

“Making a difference in people’s lives is incredibly rewarding,” said Clark. His relentless pursuit of innovation exemplifies the profound intersection of science and humanity, inspiring generations to embrace curiosity and bold ideas.

An Exclusive Opportunity for Winners

Winners of the 2024 Pause Awards gain access to the Growth Mentors Board, featuring industry leaders like Paul Bassat (Square Peg Capital), Kate Vale (ALIAVIA Ventures), Paul Naphtali (Rampersand) and Dom Pym (Euphemia). This mentorship offers tailored guidance to accelerate innovation and business growth.

The Road Ahead: Pause Awards Pauses for 2025

In a strategic shift, George Hedon announced a temporary pause for the awards program in 2025 to focus on the launch of Pause Studio. This new initiative aims to help brands build vibrant communities and transform products and services into immersive experiences.

“I’ve built Pause Fest over 11 years, Pause Awards for 7 years, and Pause Originals for 16 years, engaging over 90,000 people,” Hedon remarked. “Pause Studio will bring all that experience into creating impactful, community-driven strategies for brands.”

With a proven track record of working with leading companies like AWS Startups, LCI Melbourne, and MYOB, Pause Studio promises to amplify brand impact through bespoke events, audience engagement, and strategic launches.

For more information or to explore collaboration opportunities, visit pause-studio.com.au 

Here is the full list of this year’s 34 outstanding winners, each making a significant impact across industries:

1. Culture

Small & Mighty Culture (new): Atticus

2. Excellence

Company of the Year: Heatseeker
Customer Obsessed (new): Bare
Defiant Ones: Applied EV
Defiant Ones: Open
Defiant Ones: Kismet
Hammer: ZEEP
I Wish I’d Done That: Bill Fairies
I Wish I’d Done That: memobottle
On the Rise: Kismet
On the Rise: 1Breadcrumb
On the Rise: Heatseeker
Prodigy: Matthew Blode, Co-Founder, Fingertip
Prodigy: Oliver Hoffman, Co-Founder, Fingertip
Singularity: Time Under Tension
Women in Business: Sophie Walker, Founder, Australian Birth Stories
Women in Business: Verity Tuck, CEO & Co-Founder, Goldee

3. Good

B-Good: Seedling Giving
Circular Pioneer: Melodie
Going Green: AECO Energy
Going Green: Applied EV
Ethical Leadership (new): Health Focus Manufacturers

4. Growth

Collab (new): Open
Design First: Goldee
Going Global (new): Applied EV
Going Global (new): Atticus
New Model: Atelier
Next Level (new): Open
Pioneer: Heatseeker

5. Operators

Creative Maverick (new): Evan Buist, Founder and MD, Melodie
Ecosystem Star: Paz Pisarski, Co-Founder, The Community Collective

6. People’s Choice

Angel: Build Buddy
I Wish I’d Done That: Bill Ferries

7. Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame: Prof. Graeme Clark, Inventor of Cochlear