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Inaugural Burning Heroes Australia Award Winners Provides Diverse Watchlist for VCs

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Published on

7.11.2023

In an entrepreneurial landscape where a gender funding gap persists, the Burning Heroes Founders Association is a beacon of progress, and it’s finally arrived in Australia. The Burning Heroes inaugural Australian pitch night was a vibrant celebration of innovation and diversity, concluding with a striking revelation: women-led startups are not just breaking through — they're dominating.

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The Burning Heroes Awards, designed by founders for founders, turned the spotlight on Australian startups, with an impressive 80% of the finalists being women-led businesses. This resonates with the ethos of the association, founded on the evidence that diverse businesses are not only more revenue-positive but more capital-efficient too. Yet, despite outperforming their counterparts, women founders in Australia received a mere 23% of investment deals, as per 2022 numbers.

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This disparity is what drives Burning Heroes. While venture capital heavyweights such as AirTree Ventures and Blackbird Ventures committing to transparency in their investments in women-led businesses, the association sees this as the first step. There's a larger canvas to paint when it comes to equity in startup funding.

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Fifteen startups, handpicked by a selection committee of founder volunteers and contest organisers, pitched to a live panel of judges, including active VC investors and ecosystem influencers. In a vibrant display of entrepreneurial diversity, the inaugural pitch night washeld virtually with startups and judges dialling in from all corners of the country, including a beautiful beach in Western Australia.

Without further ado, here is a summary of each category and its winner.

Global Reach:

Has a scalable, sustainable, and defensible model that has successfully expanded its presence and impact on the global stage.

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Winner: Humanico, for helping companies understand, visualise and optimise their greatest asset: their people.

Social Impact:

Driving positive change by combining business acumen to address social, environmental and governance challenges for a better world.

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Winner: Alt.Leather, Australia's first 100% bio-based leather alternative.

Aussie Market Mover:

Tackles challenges unique to Australia, propelling innovation and progress within the local market.

Winner: The Separation Guide, Australia's only holistic guide to divorce and separation.

Equity In Innovation:

Champions diversity and inclusivity, leading the way in driving innovation with equal opportunities for all. Empowering change, one breakthrough at a time.

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Winner: DEIR: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Retention, the number one recruit-tech platform to find women in STEM.

Speedy Startup:

Embraces agility, making remarkable strides in innovation and market responsiveness. A true accelerator of success.

Winner: SeenCulture, for shining a light on untapped potential to create a world where everyone feels seen.

Tech In The Arts:

Fuses technology with art, enriching creative experiences and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.

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Winner: QreativeAI, where technology intersects with art to revolutionise the way you connect with your audience.

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The Burning Heroes Founders Association is more than just awards. It's a clarion call for a collaborative ecosystem that supports diverse and talented founders. It's a testament to the principle that the true value of innovation transcends monetary gain.

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As the global contest continues its journey across continents, the association's mission echoes the ethos of the Burning Man festival, championing radical inclusion and community-driven values. It's clear that Burning Heroes isn't just spotlighting startups; it's igniting a movement for equitable change in the startup world.

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Overnight Success is proud to be a foundational partner of the awards.

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Congratulations to the shortlisted startups:

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Seedling Giving: making the process of donating simpler and safer.
Run180: running made easy.
Circular Sourcing: Australia’s marketplace for designer deadstock and quality surplus.
Kidly App: helping parents help their kids have fun!
Askbella: the science behind skincare.
FitFlo: reimagining the gym workout experience for gym operators, trainers and members.
The Violet Initiative: support for the last stage of life.
MyGigsters: employee-like entitlement benefits for self-employed and casual workers.
Misti: next-generation lung delivery to protect every child from infections.
FootprintLab: an expert source of credible, current and reliable carbon data.