We’re very excited to reveal the global and regional winners of the inaugural Xero Beautiful Business Fund – each of whom will receive a share of the NZ$750,000 global prize pool. After receiving a massive 5,500+ applications across four categories and seven countries, our regional and global judging panels have selected a total of 28 winners. The response and dedication to apply has been incredible – a big thank you to all who took the time to enter and share their stories with us.

The amazingly diverse set of entries came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom, and fell under four categories: Innovating for sustainability, Strengthening community connection, Trailblazing with technology and Upskilling for the future. Judging the entries was a wonderful reminder of who our customers are – passionate people who are dedicated to solving problems and making a positive impact in their communities – and we want to thank all of the judges who helped us select the winners.

The four global winners will each receive NZ$70,000 (or equivalent) and the remaining 24 winners will each receive NZ$20,000 (or equivalent). Congratulations to the following winners:

Strengthening community connection

We Care Connect, a charity and volunteer organisation from Australia’s Central Coast and Hunter region, is the global winner in the ‘Strengthening community connection’ category. We Care Connect tackles childhood poverty in their local region by rehoming quality preloved children’s essentials with families who need them most, helping to positively impact the lives of an estimated 30,000 kids. This prize will fund the purchase of critical items that are rarely donated like newborn car seats, nappies, cot mattresses and more.

Additionally, the regional category winners are:

• Building Up (Canada)
• Toko Rugby Football Club (New Zealand)
• Art Outreach Singapore (Singapore)
• Oranjezicht City Farm Market (South Africa)
• The Together Project (UK)
• Rock Recovery (US)

Innovating for sustainability

Constantia Food Club, a South Africa-based food buying club that connects small local growers and producers directly with customers in Cape Town, is the global winner in the ‘Innovating for sustainability’ category. Constantia Food Club aims to support local regenerative farmers to help reduce biodiversity loss, promote sustainable food production and create a decentralised food system. They plan to use the fund to help build a new clubhouse, where they can serve more customers and provide additional support to growers and their local environment.

Additionally, the regional category winners are:

• Suitcase Records (Australia)
• More Granola (Canada)
• Kiwi Skips (New Zealand)
• Style Theory (Singapore)
• Oat Float (UK)
• Hand Me Up (US)

Trailblazing with technology

Buzz Burrows is a luminaire (pendant light) manufacturing business from Wanaka, New Zealand, and the global winner in the ‘Trailblazing with technology’ category. Buzz Burrows is focussed on building long lasting and high-quality products. The company is planning to enhance their manufacturing process with a new laser-cutter, which can result in developing higher quality products, reduced waste and less packaging.

Additionally, the regional category winners are:

• Natura Pacific (Australia)
• Hoot Reading (Canada)
• Oysterly (Singapore)
• Mygrow (South Africa)
• Let’s Go Physio (UK)
• SuvaNova (US)

Upskilling for the future

The Seam is the ‘Upskilling for the future’ global winner. The UK-based company provides a digital platform for highly skilled makers from across the country to be paid in exchange for offering specialist wardrobe care and repair services to those that need it. The Seam’s platform can reduce the amount of garments being sent to landfill by extending their life through alterations and repairs. With demand growing, The Seam will use the fund to train and upskill more makers across the UK.

Additionally, the regional category winners are:

• Rattlepod Landscapes (Australia)
• Scimar (Canada)
• Intricate Developments (New Zealand)
• Oriental Remedies Clinic (Singapore)
• Curate (South Africa)
• Moonlighter FabLab (US)

Another congratulations to our winners, and a heartfelt thank you to our other entrants. Our judging team had the privileged and incredibly difficult job of reviewing the entries – there were some real tears shed, and some hard decisions to make. A huge thank you to our global and regional judges for their time, effort and passion for supporting small businesses.

You can read more about all of the winners on our website here, watch the clip below to find out more, or keep an eye out on Xero’s social media channels: LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram.

Launched earlier this year, the Xero Beautiful Business Fund seeks to help Xero’s small business customers boost their growth plans and drive future success. You can read more about the Xero Beautiful Business Fund here.