Six years of celebrating the Australian most ambitious innovators 

The Australian tech industry witnessed a remarkable evening of celebration and recognition at the Pause Awards 2023, held in Melbourne. Now in its sixth year, the awards night shone a spotlight on the most ambitious and innovative companies in Australia, emphasising their dedication to not just financial success but also impactful innovation.

Hosted by Megan Flamer and George Hedon, the event was electrified by DJ Hijack’s performance, setting an exhilarating backdrop for an evening that celebrated the breakthroughs in technology and innovation across the country. The involvement of VicGov and sponsorship from Blackmagic Design further underlined the significance of this event in the Australian tech community. 

Quick stats:

• X3 Triple Wins, X3 Double Wins and X3 Grand Prix
• Out of 63 Finalists we have 32 Winners
• Victoria’s entries increased by 20%, NSW by 2%, QLD dropped 40%
• Average Founder age was 38 and funding $18M
• Most entered under 100 people companies

This year’s Pause Awards was a testament to the indomitable spirit of innovation that drives the Australian tech industry. As George Hedon aptly put it, “Tonight we are celebrating 13 years of Pause Fest and 6 years of Pause Awards, thank you.” The event also featured the announcement of special prizes, including four tickets to the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix 2024, courtesy of Quad Lock. We’re not going to mention it here so head for socials for the first Walking-Dance death drop from Pretzel Australia.

Drawing 63 finalists across five Category Tracks – Growth, Excellence, Operators, Good, and Culture – the competition was fierce. Out of these, 32 victors emerged, predominantly from Victoria and New South Wales, showcasing a vibrant diversity in sectors like Health, Financial Services, Web/Internet, Marketing/Advertising, and Computer Technology.

WeMoney led the accolades with three awards, underlining its excellence in the financial sector. Following closely were Kollektive and Origin Energy, with notable wins by Macro Mike, Upstock, and Quad Lock. These companies exemplify the spirit of the Pause Awards, valuing innovation and ambition above all.

The data revealed a 20% increase in Victorian entries in 2023, indicating a shift towards critical industries like Health and Financial Services. However, the gender disparity, with 63% male entries, highlighted an area for improvement.

Lee Tonitto, the departing Chair of the Judging Board, emphasised that the winning entries evoke admiration and envy, embodying true innovation. The new Co-Chairs for 2024, Sonia Clarke and Ben Fintech Ford, are set to continue this legacy.

The introduction of Champion winners and the Diamond award levels marked a new chapter in the Pause Awards. Kollektive’s win in the Small Team Culture and Brittany Garbutt’s triumph in Women in Business highlighted the commitment to diversity and empowerment. Origin Energy and InvestorHub were recognized for their environmental consciousness and adaptability, respectively. WeMoney, the Diamond winner, was lauded for its groundbreaking work in the Wildfire category.

The People’s Choice awards, with winners like Wevolt, AirTree Ventures, and Michelle Mannering, added a democratic element, reflecting public admiration for these innovators.

A new Investable Score™, assessing the investment potential of entrants, and the introduction of the Growth Mentors Board, featuring industry giants, signified a commitment to nurturing future innovators.

“Here’s to many more years of celebrating innovation, impact, and the relentless spirit of Australian entrepreneurs.”

George Hedon, Founder & CEO at Pause Awards

The Pause Awards 2023 was more than an event; it was a celebration of the relentless spirit of Australian entrepreneurs. With a focus on innovation, impact, and excellence, the Australian tech industry is poised for a bright and groundbreaking future. As George Hedon concluded, “Here’s to many more years of celebrating innovation, impact, and the relentless spirit of Australian entrepreneurs.”

Here is the list of all winners:

DIAMOND

GROWTH | Wildfire – WeMoney

CHAMPION

CULTURE | Small team culture – Kollektive

EXCELLENCE | Women in business – Brittany Garbutt

GOOD | Going green – Origin Energy

GROWTH | Great pivot – InvestorHub

OPERATORS | TopCoder (new) – Mel Stubbings

–

CULTURE

Small team culture – Kollektive

Work sweet work – Quad Lock

–

EXCELLENCE

Company of the Year – WeMoney

Defiant ones – Tixel

Defiant ones / Sponsored by Zoho / – WeMoney

Hammer – Birchal

Hammer – Macro Mike

I wish I’d done that / Sponsored by Give Grad a Go / – Macro Mike

On the rise – Tanck

Prodigy – Pretzel Australia

Women in business – Brittany Garbutt

Women in business – Chau Le

Women in business – Marcella Romero

Women in business – Melinda Farley

–

GOOD

B-Good – Music Health

Circular Pioneer – ReSource

Going green – Origin Energy

–

GROWTH

Design first – inke packaging

Design first – Upstock

Great pivot – InvestorHub

Movement (new) – Quad Lock

New model (new) – Origin Energy

Out of the garage – Kollektive

Out of the garage – WithYouWithMe

Wildfire – WeMoney

–

OPERATORS

Down under (new) – Upstock

Ecosystem star – Paz Pisarski

Future builder – Jasmine Batra

TopCoder (new) – Mel Stubbings

–

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Angel – Michelle Mannering

Going green – Wevolt

Venture Cap – AirTree Ventures