ENTRIES TO THE STARTUPSMART AWARDS 2012 HAVE NOW CLOSED.

The StartupSmart Awards for 2012, proudly sponsored by Pitcher Partners, have been judged by some of Australia's leading entrepreneurs including Philip Weinman, Fred Schebesta and Amanda Gome.

As well as gaining the recognition of customers, suppliers and even potential investors, the fastest-growing start-up will win a $10,000 Private Media advertising package, to be presented at an awards ceremony in Melbourne on March 27.

The awards include a list of 50 of Australia's fastest growing start-ups. The number one ranked business will walk away with the top prize.

Separate awards categories include Best Online Strategy, Best Product, Best Service, Best Green Start-up, Best Young Entrepreneur, Start-up Hero, and, for the first time, Best Start-up Investor.

There’s even an award for those still in the planning stages of setting up a business. The Best Start-up Idea winner will have their business plan analysed by industry experts.

Each of the top 50 and category winners will be profiled extensively on StartupSmart. Our sister publication, SmartCompany, will also cover the awards.

Categories:

• Fastest Growing Start-up: Awarded to the start-up with the highest revenue over $250,000.
• Best Start-up Product: Awarded to the start-up with the best product.
• Best Services Start-up: Awarded to the best start-up in the services industry.
• Best Online Strategy: Awarded to the start-up with the best online strategy.
• Best Green Start-up: Awarded to the start-up with the 'greenest' business practices.
• Best Start-up Investor Award: An award that recognises an investor for their support in small business.
• Best Start-up Idea: An award for someone who has yet to start their business but has a great concept.
• Best Young Entrepreneur: Aged 25 and under.
• Start-up Hero: A special award that recognises an entrepreneur with a great start-up story.

Criteria:

• Businesses must have started after July 1, 2007.
• Businesses must report one full year of revenue (20010/11 financial year), unless only entering the Best Start-up Idea Award.*
• To be eligible for the Fastest-growing Business Award, businesses must have revenue over $250,000.
• Founder(s) must have at least 20% equity in the business.
• The business must not receive 50% or more of its revenue from government grants.
• The company must be Australian (not the subsidiary of a multinational).

* By entering the StartupSmart Awards, excluding the Best Start-up Idea Award, you agree to have your businesses revenue details published on StartupSmart.com.au

	Judges
			Philip Weinman is a serial entrepreneur. He founded HiSoft in 1983, growing it into a $300 million turnover company. He then founded CTS Travel and Events before founding Deasil Management Group, which invests in start-ups. In 1995, Philip founded CTS Travel and Events and four years later the company merged with Internet Travel Group, which then listed with a turnover in excess of $450 million. The Internet Travel Group was then acquired by Flight Centre.
			Gillian Franklin is recognised as one of Australia's most innovative marketers, with a passion and commitment to supporting women in business. She is managing director of her own company, The Heat Group one of Australia's leading personal care companies. Gillian has grown the business from five employees working out of a coffee shop to a thriving company with more than 90 staff. Prior to this, Gillian was the youngest ever GM at Revlon at the age of 25. She was inducted into the Australian Business Women's Hall of Fame in 1998.
			Fred Schebesta is a founder of Finder.com.au which runs a comparison network of sites which include: Credit Card Finder, Home Loan Finder, Life Insurance Finder and Savings Account Finder. Fred loves to save people money and help entrepreneurs with their online marketing. Previously Fred was involved with Freestyle Media which was acquired in 2007. You can follow him on Twitter: @schebesta.
			Nicole Kersh is the founder of 4Cabling, Australia’s leading online Server Rack and Cable Wholesaler. Nicole has steered her fast-growing company to success in SmartCompany's Smart50 Awards in 2011, and in the StartupSmart Awards 2011. Nicole herself is also an inductee into SmartCompany's Hot 30 under 30.
			Bruce Jeffreys was part of the Sustainability Unit within the NSW Department of Planning, where he worked sustainable development for new residential homes and apartments. In 2003, with business partner Nic Lowe, he founded Australia's first and now largest professional car sharing service, GoGet.
			Oliver Milman is the editor of StartupSmart. He has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, most recently as a senior reporter at B&T. Oliver previously worked on the UK online publication Startups.co.uk.
			Amanda Gome is the founder and publisher of StartupSmart.com.au and SmartCompany.com.au. Previously she was an editor and senior writer at BRW magazine where her passion and interest in entrepreneurship led her to founding and editing the Fast 100 list and the Emerging Companies section. Over two decades in business journalism, Amanda has interviewed almost every entrepreneur in this country worth their salt ... and plenty that weren't! She is also an adjunct professor of business at RMIT University, lectures students in entrepreneurship and regularly comments on business.
			James Thomson is the editor of SmartCompany.com.au. Most recently James was a senior editor at news and commentary website Business Spectator. Prior to that, James was editor of BRW's Rich 200, Young Rich and Executive Rich editions. James specialises in wealthy entrepreneurs and business strategy.

The StartupSmart Awards 2011 winners:

• Officeworks Fastest Growing Start-up: Job Capital
• Best Start-up Product: AquaGen Technologies
• Best Services Start-up: SCO Recruitment
• Best Online Strategy: Shoes of Prey
• Best Green Start-up: Direct Energy
• Best Start-up Idea: Students4Hire.com.au
• Best Young Entrepreneur: Wai Hong Fong, OzHut
• Start-up Hero: Woodaged Holdings

Revealed: The 10 secrets of the Start-up 50's success

The StartupSmart Awards top 50 demonstrate the changing face of Australian business. We reveal the 10 things that set them apart from the rest.

Job Capital takes out top prize at 2011 StartupSmart Awards

Job Capital, a $9 million revenue company that manages the financial affairs of contractors, has landed the Officeworks Fastest Growing Start-up award at the 2011 StartupSmart Awards.

Award winners profile videos:

• Video interview: Jo Burston, founder of Job Capital
• Video interview: Larissa Robertson, founder of SCO Recruitment
• Video interview: Clovis Young, founder of Mad Mex Fresh Mexican Grill
• Video interview: Donald Payne and Justin McFarlane, co-founders of Direct Energy