Rising Star Award

Recognises the achievements of high-growth startups younger than three years.

Startups younger than three years are not eligible for the Smart50 list, but can enter into the Rising Star award. Startups more than three years old are not eligible for the Rising Star award but can enter into the Smart50 list and other categories.

Award Winner

Mr-Yum-Kim-Teo

Mr Yum

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mr Yum was a hospitality platform operating entirely in-venue. Over the past two years it has pivoted to meet the evolving needs of customers, and grown on an international scale.

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Award Shortlistees

Eucalyptus

Telehealth startup Eucalyptus is at “the forefront of change in how Australians manage their health,” one of our judges said. And since its launch in 2019, it has been growing fast.

Eucalyptus now has more than 200,000 customers across its four healthcare brands, and is gearing up to launch a fifth, all powered by the same 150-strong team.

Kaddy

Combining expertise in hospitality, wholesale and tech, the founders of Kaddy have built a B2B booze marketplace connecting suppliers with venues and (increasingly during COVID-19) bottle shops.

Founded in 2019, the startup now has about 800 suppliers and 1500 venues on the books, with an annualised gross value of some $18 million. In October 2021, it was acquired by ASX-listed Digital Wine Ventures in a deal worth $34 million.

Adatree

A platform designed to reduce barriers to companies participating in the Consumer Data Right, Adatree has focused on making its tech scalable and suitable to all businesses, from ASX-listed giants to fledgling startups.

Founders Jill Berry and Shane Doolan have also used open banking data to provide COVID-19 hotspot alerts.

As one of our judges notes, this is a tech platform “with enormous potential”.

Nudge Group

Tech-savvy and startup-focused recruitment agency Nudge Group was established when founder Steve Grace noted a gap in the market. The agency not only helps startups grow in a sustainable and meaningful way, it also supports founders in sharing their brands and stories through its media channels.

As one of our judges noted, given the growth of the ecosystem and higher demand for flexible work, this is a startup “well positioned to unlock further growth”.