Championing breakthroughs in today’s business world

Discover the transformative journey of the Pause Awards, a unique business accolade that propels Australian innovation to the global stage.

In an era where innovation is no longer optional, recognition for breakthrough business practices is paramount. Enter the Pause Awards – a prestigious accolade designed to highlight and champion trailblazers in Australia’s bustling business scene.

More Than an Accolade

Pause Awards are not just another business award; they are a testament to innovation, recognising the bold and courageous who are reshaping their industries. The awards were established in 2018, as an extension of Pause Fest, Australia’s leading festival for business and creativity. Over the years, the awards have grown into a vibrant, dynamic platform – a movement that fuels Australia’s journey to the forefront of global innovation.

What Makes Pause Awards Stand Out

The Pause Awards’ competitive advantage lies in its authenticity, rigorous evaluation process and mentorship. Unlike many other awards, the Pause Awards focuses on breakthrough moments rather than vanity metrics, revenue growth or future projections. 

This multi-round judging process handled by over 60 respected industry leaders from leading Australian companies such as: Medibank, Google, Westpac and Airtasker ensures only the most ambitious, impactful and authentic companies secure the accolade. The top six companies are then paired with powerful mentors such as Paul Bassatt, Co-founder of SquarePeg.

Why the Pause Awards Matter

In today’s fiercely competitive business world, recognitions such as the Pause Awards provide much more than a moment in the spotlight. They offer:

• A boost in credibility: Solidifying your reputation as an industry leader.
• A springboard for growth: With potential investors attracted to award-winning businesses.
• Be mentored by the industry’s best: Enhancing your business potential by advice from the top industry leaders. 

The Impact of Pause Awards

While the Pause Awards are relatively young, they have already made a substantial impact. In 2022, the awards grew to a $412 billion ecosystem of participants, fostering competition and setting a new standard of business excellence in the process. The statistics speak for themselves, but the experiences of past winners truly underscore the transformative power of this accolade.

It’s a validation we’re defining the future of the industry we play in.

Pyn Payments

Pause Awards winners aren’t just companies; they’re innovators, disruptors, and pioneers who have made significant strides in their industries. Winning validation from Pause Awards has opened new opportunities, collaborations, and funding.

Female-led Circle In, for instance, secured $2M post their win. Evee, a platform for electric vehicle sharing, overfunded 500% on Birchal, securing $1.6M. Further, Great Wrap, a company revolutionising the plastic industry, raised an impressive $25M. This pattern of successful capital raising by Pause Awards winners demonstrates the potential transformative power this recognition can have.

The sentiment is best captured by Pyn Payments, a previous Pause Awards winner, who stated, “It’s a validation we’re defining the future of the industry we play in.” Another winner, Single Use Ain’t Sexy, attributed a significant increase in brand recognition to their win, saying, “Winning Pause Awards put our brand on the map.”

With its ambitious vision, the Pause Awards are not just any accolade; they are a recognition of innovation and breakthrough, a push towards greatness. As aptly stated by Birchal, another award winner, “Pause is the community of amazing innovators and we are thrilled to be recognised.”