Igniting ambition – lessons and benefits for teens forging their own entrepreneurial path. In an ever-changing world, with a constantly evolving working landscape, a bold new breed of entrepreneurs is emerging – and they haven’t even left school yet. Welcome to the world of teen entrepreneurship.  As a coach for young entrepreneurs, I’ve witnessed firsthand the range of incredible start-ups teens are creating. From digital and high-tech enterprises to sustainable and purpose-driven ventures, it’s clear they are a force to be reckoned with.  The drive to make a difference and transfor ..read more

For this week’s feature, we are fortunate to talk to Shakira Hanson, the entrepreneur behind Hanson Candle Co. which has made its mark for their refillable candles and for being the first Australian company to introduce massage candles to the market. Originally marketed as therapeutic in nature, Shakira pushed the envelope further by marketing their candles as intimacy tools, not only helping couples reignite their spark but also ensuring the continued growth and success of the business. ISB: What led you to begin creating refillable candles? SH: Rick my husband and I loved burning candles eve ..read more

Australian financial platform Airwallex has announced the launch of Airwallex for Startups, which promises to be Australia’s most comprehensive program for start-ups seeking to accelerate their growth. The free program offers practical resources, as well as networking and content opportunities, exclusive product offers from Airwallex and others within the start-up ecosystem, and an opportunity to win an AUD $10,000 Business Acceleration Grant. In addition, founders will have access to guidance and exclusive perks from different partners on all aspects from ESOP (Employee Share Option Plans) an ..read more

For this week’s feature, we got to have a conversation with Georgina Browne, the founder of the surfwear label Aramita James. Georgina launched the brand at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and saw instant success. Beyond being a successful beach fashion brand, Aramita James takes pride in helping establish a community for the quintessential Australian beach girls who supporting the brand. ISB: What inspired you to come up with the idea of making surfwear fashionable? GB: Perhaps my upbringing in Melbourne influenced that desire, as we leaned towards more structured and tailored pieces. Whe ..read more

As CEO of an innovation hub, I’m often asked by people what it takes to create a successful start-up. With more than 1000 start-up founders coming through our education programs, we’ve seen first-hand what it takes to succeed in the start-up world. It involves far more than an initial great idea. Successful start-ups require a carefully executed strategy, forward planning, perseverance and a lot of hard work. Through our programs, we’ve been able to identify what sets certain companies apart and gives them a competitive edge. Our recipe for a successful start-up Teams vs solo founders  We ..read more

For this week’s feature, we are shining the spotlight on Nabula Brdar and Rebel Tidmarsh, the duo behind Supermarket Swap, an app that aims to provide consumers with healthier, additive-free, and affordable supermarket food choices. To date, the app has catalogued over 2000 products stocked across Australia’s largest supermarkets and has built a community of informed and health-conscious consumers around it. ISB: What led you to become an advocate for additive-free supermarket products? NB: It all began when I started feeding my children. Previously, I had scanned the nutritional table to look ..read more

This week, we get to talk to Luke Withers and Alexis Campbell, owners of the dental aligner-maker Bitesoft Co, an enterprise offers both at-home and in-clinic options for those looking to have themselves fitted with aligners, which allows them to reach more customers than traditional aligner companies. ISB: What was the driving force behind your decision to start Bitesoft? LW: The reason behind the launch of Bitesoft was to make a visible impact on people’s lives. Seeing how dental treatments were changing and what people wanted, we saw a chance to do something new and bold. It’s all abou ..read more

Australian accounting software company Reckon has ranked the 50 largest Australian cities according to which is the best to start a business, with Geelong in Victoria taking the top spot. In its 2024 Reckon Startup Cities report, Geelong in Victoria outperforms every other city and has been crowned by the report as ‘Australia’s best city to start a business’. Geelong also holds the eighth-highest talent pool score and has fast internet speeds at par with the rest of the state. “Launching a start-up in Australia, or anywhere, is no simple feat, but absolutely achievable. Small businesses a ..read more

Louise Burr’s 25 years as an Air Force Officer empowered her with skills in problem-solving and leadership. Having moved on from that storied career, that included Burr being the only woman to graduate as a civil engineer from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2001, she channeled her interest in interior design and decorating into to solving the problem of watering houseplants. “I developed a love of plants throughout my twenties and thirties, but once I had children [Burr is a mother of three] and a full-time job, caring for them [her houseplants] became a real burden,” she explained ..read more

Queensland asphalt company MR-Roads has launched a new community program that will reduce the rate of carpark incidences and improve community road safety in the state. The Community Carpark Safety Program will see the Brisbane start-up donate asphalt mix and crew hire to repair damaged school, hospital, charity and small-business car parks across southeast Queensland. As much as four tonnes of unused asphalt will be redeployed each week as part of the initiative, which is the equivalent of roughly 75 potholes a month and valued at $16,000. MR-Roads co-founder and co-CEO James Rolph said the p ..read more