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The most ambitious and forward-thinking companies in Australia revealed

24 November, 2021
The most ambitious and forward-thinking companies in Australia revealed | News | Pause Awards
George Hedon, founder and CEO, Pause Fest & Awards
George Hedon
24 November, 2021
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In its fourth edition, the 2021 Pause Awards toast the bold individuals, startups, scaleups and large businesses for their outstanding achievements, innovations and creativity.

In the halls of the Miami themed venue, Bobby McGees, 63 winners come together to celebrate one another, with award categories that span from the Defiant Ones, the Inception Award, to You have Ethics. The year also saw a new award category added to the lineup. The Grand Prix Award is merit-based and celebrates the best in business, including brick-and-mortar businesses and tech companies and startups.
Grand Prix winners walked away with the world’s first NFT minted award trophies, furthering our commitment to digital authenticity and value. You can read more about it in our 2022 launch on the new website. But, for now, head over to the Pause Awards Trophy Shop to purchase your winning designer trophies.

Birchal crowd funding australia

Ovira, a Sydney-based health-tech company founded by Alice Williams, and Mr Yum – a four-time winner across Hammer, Work Sweet Work, Defiant Ones, and the Out of the Garage awards – were 2021’s Grand Prix award winners. 

The top five industries that drew the most wins were computer tech (software), financial services, food & beverage, consumer goods, and education — with the average funding for a company entered sitting at a staggering $17 million, and the average age of the Founder being 37.

Out of 63 winners, there were six double title winners; two triple titles went to Ovira and Heaps Normal, while Mr Yum banked four awards.

Company winners included Linktree, Law on Earth, Nuheara, Safely, Slyp, Removify and Music Health and some individual winners included Nick Hudson (The Push for Better Foundation), Michelle Akhidenor (The Peers Project) and Emma McAllister (Education Perfect), among several others.

Highlighting the work and achievements of pathbreaking individuals, this year’s recipient of the Hall of Fame was Prof. Martin Green, the inventor of solar who followed suit after last year’s illustrious recipient, John O’Sullivan, who led the system design for the world’s first WiFi chipset.

We’re so proud to have been able to provide a platform for celebrating the winners’ contributions to building better ecosystems, and you best be assured that we’ll be back in 2022 with a bang!

Before we sign off, we’d like to give a big shout out to VicGov, who has partnered with us until 2023 to help build Pause Awards into the national tech and innovation program it aims to be. And of course, this year’s partners MYOB, Blackmagic Design and OVHcloud.

Now grab your glasses, and let’s raise a toast to our winners:

You have Ethics Award – For the right values in life and business.
WINNER Verve Super

Work Sweet Work Award – For a great workplace culture.
WINNER Mr Yum
WINNER hipages Group

Going Green Award – For delivering impact and scale.
GRAND PRIX LAVO
WINNER Verve Super
WINNER ettitude

Defiant Ones Award – For new tech breakthroughs.
WINNER Removify
WINNER Mr Yum
WINNER Pyn
WINNER Open
WINNER Bodd

Unexpected Twist Award – For a great pivot.
WINNER HungryHungry
WINNER Future Normal

Underground Award – For early stage mavericks.
GRAND PRIX Heaps Normal
WINNER A Glass of
WINNER Lyre’s Spirit Co.

Out of the Garage Award – For scaling globally.
GRAND PRIX Linktree
WINNER Ovira
WINNER Mr Yum
WINNER Quad Lock
WINNER Safely
WINNER Adventus.io

I Wish I’d Done That Award – For sheer brilliance.
GRAND PRIX Providoor
WINNER Ovira
WINNER Slyp
WINNER Removify
WINNER Music Health
WINNER AirRobe
WINNER TAXIBOX
WINNER Heaps Normal
WINNER Five Mile Radius

Hammer Award – For nailing it.
GRAND PRIX Ovira
WINNER Guzman y Gomez Mexican Kitchen
WINNER Quad Lock
WINNER Heaps Normal
WINNER Mr Yum
WINNER Memories Group Limited
WINNER Nuheara
WINNER Aussie Broadband
WINNER Booktopia
WINNER Birchal
WINNER Lyre’s Spirit Co.
WINNER hipages Group
WINNER Marketplacer

B-Good Award – For a good business.
GRAND PRIX Law On Earth
WINNER Swoop Aero
WINNER Carers Couch
WINNER Seeing Machines Ltd
WINNER Inspiring Rare Birds
WINNER The Push for Better Foundation
WINNER Kalinya Communications
WINNER Envato

Super Connector Award – For being the community champ.
GRAND PRIX Nick Hudson, Chief of Push Ups, The Push for Better Foundation
WINNER Michelle Mannering, Developer Community Manager, GitHub
WINNER Emily Blanch, Head of Community & Co-Founder, XY Adviser

Prodigy Award – For being exceptional.
GRAND PRIX Emma McAllister, Head of Operations, Education Perfect
WINNER Michelle Akhidenor, Founder & CEO, The Peers Project

Do You Know Who I Am Award – For the silent achiever.
WINNER Gilbert Guaring, Global Head of Marketing and Communications, UAP | Urban Art Projects

Inception Award – For visionary thinkers.
WINNER Alicia Holmquest, Co-Founder, Wellness in Real Life

Originals Award – For visual creativity, collaboration and experimentation.
GRAND PRIX Mehdi Hadi, Vfx Motion Designer, Art Director, Director
WINNER EUN WOO LEE, Creative Director, BICTURE
WINNER Hewitt Lee, Motion Designer
WINNER Max Zhang, Creative director and animator, Flatwhite Motion

The 2021 Awards was the most electrifying and exhilarating one to date — with celebrations that included exceptional hosting and entertainment acts, going on till the wee hours of the night.

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Category tracks

The Culture track seeks entries that exemplify the development of an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture, crucial for organisational success and growth. Submissions should illustrate transformative strategies implemented across core business functions, reflecting expertise, leadership, and a clear vision. These strategies should demonstrate a positive impact on the business, its employees, stakeholders, and customers, showcasing how a nurturing culture contributes to overall growth and innovation.

The Excellence track celebrates businesses that have demonstrated remarkable success and impact within their industry, regardless of their size. Entries for this category should illustrate how the business's strategic execution, guided by visionary leadership and exceptional expertise, has significantly influenced the industry. The focus will be on the tangible outcomes of these strategies, highlighting the company's ability to innovate, lead, and leave a lasting impression in its field.

The Good track is focused on recognising companies dedicated to their mission of creating a positive societal impact. Entries should highlight innovative solutions aimed at addressing global challenges such as environmental sustainability, social equity, and community well-being. Successful submissions will demonstrate how their initiatives contribute to significant changes, tackling issues like gender inequality, social imbalance, and injustice, thereby setting a precedent for responsible and impactful business practices.

Awarded to a single entry in a category, Grand Prix is the top accolade in that category. To win the Grand Prix, the entire Judging Board must unanimously agree that the entry deserves the accolade of being the best in that category.

The Growth track is about showcasing how businesses have enhanced productivity and execution to make a significant impact in their market. Entries should highlight innovative strategies that have optimised the customer journey, leading to increased engagement and commercial success. This track is for those who have effectively used their understanding of the market and customer needs to scale their business and achieve notable growth.

The Operators track seeks entries that showcase leadership in fostering innovation within their ecosystems. Ideal submissions will highlight how your initiatives have catalysed the creation of new products or services, bolstered by a culture that uplifts internal teams and the wider community. This track celebrates those who drive progress by empowering voices and forging transformative connections in their industry.

Categories

  • Always Evolving New

    Acknowledges a culture of continuous learning and improvement within a company, encourages employee development, and always looks for ways to optimise and innovate operations.

  • Big & Mighty Culture New

    Recognises companies (51-1000 employees) for their exceptional efforts in cultivating a culture that champions innovation.

  • Diverse Co.

    Celebrates workplaces dedicated to fostering innovation through a vibrant tapestry of diverse talents and perspectives.

  • Small & Mighty Culture New

    Applauds small teams of fewer than 50 employees for their remarkable ability to foster innovation and set new benchmarks in their domain.

  • Work Sweet Work

    Acknowledges companies that have achieved extraordinary employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention, creating an exemplary workplace culture.

  • Company of the Year

    Honours an outstanding company that not only showcases exemplary leadership and resilience but also demonstrates a clear, quantifiable impact over the past year.

  • Customer Obsessed New

    Applauds prioritisation, understanding and meeting the needs and expectations of their customers, including feedback, personalised services and ensuring high satisfaction.

  • Defiant Ones

    Recognises firms that lead technological innovation, setting new standards and defining the future of their industries.

  • Hammer

    Celebrates companies that have not only defined success on their own terms but have also concretely demonstrated their triumphs over the past year.

  • I Wish I'd Done That

    Applauds ingenious, simple solutions in niche markets that spark a universal sentiment of admiration.

  • On the Rise

    Celebrates early-stage startups, under 4 years, that have shown remarkable progress and success in their initial years.

  • Prodigy

    Recognises young visionaries under 30 with outstanding talents and achievements, setting them apart in their fields.

  • Singularity

    Highlights AI-driven companies that are pioneering new services or integrating AI to create innovative products.

  • Women in Business

    Celebrates female entrepreneurs and leaders who are forging paths for future generations by creating more equitable opportunities.

  • B-Good

    Recognises businesses that redefine commercial success by positively transforming our economic system for the benefit of all stakeholders.

  • Circular Pioneer

    Celebrates companies at the forefront of circular economy practices, making substantial and sustainable differences.

  • Ethical Leadership New

    Commends companies exemplifying leadership in environmental and social governance, setting standards in corporate responsibility and ethical practices.

  • Going Green

    Acknowledges companies leading large-scale sustainable initiatives, addressing critical areas like clean energy and environmental justice.

  • Collab New

    Honours strategic partnerships and alliances with other businesses to leverage complementary strengths, access new markets, and share resources for synergistic growth and innovation.

  • Design First

    Celebrates companies where design is the heartbeat of innovation, engaging the whole team in crafting groundbreaking products.

  • Going Global New

    Applauds companies that have expanded their reach globally, showcasing exceptional growth and international success.

  • Great Pivot

    Acknowledges companies that adeptly navigate change, leveraging insights to pivot towards delivering outstanding products.

  • Movement

    Recognises unforgettable event experiences that resonate emotionally, drive social change, or achieve viral status.

  • New Model

    Honours businesses revolutionising markets with elegant and disruptive business models.

  • Next Level New

    Applauds companies which had successful strategic acquisition and integration of another entity, staff or an asset that allowed them to further grow and scale their services.

  • Wildfire

    Celebrates companies that have rapidly and significantly impacted their marketplace, online and offline, setting new standards for success.

  • Angel

    Honours visionary angel investors who've significantly contributed to early-stage startups, guiding them toward success.

  • C-Suite

    Recognises exceptional leadership qualities in high-ranking executives, showcasing their management and interpersonal excellence.

  • Creative Maverick New

    Honours unconventional thinkers with exceptional abilities to execute typically unimaginable initiatives, expertly coordinate teams, secure funding or successfully launch multiple ventures.

  • Ecosystem Star

    Celebrates individuals who energise and nurture their communities, fostering engagement and advocacy.

  • Future Builder

    Recognises the determination and resilience of founders who've embarked on the challenging journey of starting their own ventures.

  • Quiet Achiever New

    Applauds the unsung heroes whose behind-the-scenes efforts have led to flawless project executions and exceeded expectations.

  • Splash Down Under New

    Acknowledges international companies making a noteworthy entrance into the Australian market, enriching the local business ecosystem.

  • TopCoder

    Recognises developers for their outstanding technical skills, clean code, and collaborative spirit.

  • Venture Cap

    Salutes venture capital firms with a track record of backing transformative businesses, contributing significantly to Australia's economic growth.

  • Visionary New

    Recognises effective leadership by setting a clear vision, motivating the team, and making strategic decisions that guide their business towards its goals.