The Most Unusual Business Awards Event – it’s a Knockout!

The inaugural Switch Start Scale 2021 Awards took place on Thursday night (10.6.21), at a very cool and perhaps unexpected venue which was George St Gym in Hindmarsh, where the unique stage was a boxing ring.

Showcasing fantastic new ventures and seeing first-hand the diverse scope of activity underway across South Australia’s startup ecosystem, with a fighting welcome by Chief Entrepreneur, Andrew Nunncheck out the video!

An important entrepreneurial behavior and value is respect – thank you to Mark Koolmatrie, for the acknowledgment of country.

Hearing from George Crouch, especially honoring his father’s legacy and learning about what he has established with George St Gym, was a great start to the night.

Scott Perry gave a boxing caller intro to welcome – South Australia, your Chief Entrepreneur, Andrew Nunn, who wants to support everybody with an idea, everybody with a concept. “Entrepreneurship is infectious”, says Andrew.

Judges included:

Robyn Verrall Director at Bullys Meats and Investor, Member of the Board at Chiefs for Gender Equity South Australia

Paul Daly, Principal, Babelshark Consulting, Convenor, Adelaide Entrepreneurship Forum

Jessica Perry, Projects and Partnerships Coordinator at The University of Adelaide

– Chris Ryan, CEO at Web A-Team, Director at Startup Adelaide

With a VIP list of judges, speakers, sponsors and guests, there were many elements of surprise on the night captured by these comments from Tania Jolley,

“Huge congratulations to Wendy Perry and her team for a very entertaining and fun inaugural #switchstartscale awards last night!!  The first time I’ve ever seen an awards ceremony held in a boxing ring.

Great turnout and supported by the Chief Entrepreneur Andrew Nunn.  Businesses were highlighted, recognised and inspired.  Covid-19 had clearly been tough for many businesses, but last night we came together to celebrate how fabulous it really is to be in SA.

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners!! Especially those who stepped into the cash cube!”

Seven award categories with finalists and a winner, were announced at the Switch Start Scale 2021 Awards encouraging entrepreneurial behaviors such as:

1.Pitch and Presentation won by Jessica James from Cook n Create Adelaide

2.Pivot and Prosper – Desak Yoni from Bali In A Jar

3.Pro Side Hustle – Milly Albers and Remco Albers from MILCO media + design

4.Problem/Gaps vs Ideas/Solutions – Marco Di Maio from IMPRESA

5.Product, Prototype, Experience or Service Validation – Murad Mekhtiev and Sabina Zeynalova from Optomni

6.Progress and Persistence – Vanessa Comley and Jason Smyth from SA Organics PL ~ Organicbox

7.Switch Start Scale Supporter – Mark Potter from Meeting Place MV

Mark Potter from Meeting Place McLaren Vale gave his opportunity in the cashflow machine to Aaliyah from Maisha Flow and In2EdAfrica donating funds towards the children’s book, A Show for the World and social enterprises in Kenya.  Noted as a highlight by many & a very kind gesture by Mark.

Sponsors included Workforce BluePrint, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, BUSY At Work, City of Charles Sturt, RAA, MEGT (Australia) Ltd and Switch Start Scale with feedback such as,

“Fantastic night. So proud that Busy at Work & Skills Checkpoint for Older Workers were able to play a small part in the awards. Congratulations Wendy Perry, you did an amazing job. www.skillscheck.com.au

“Thank you what a fabulous evening the energy was amazing”

“A fantastic and memorable evening. Thanks for having us Wendy Perry and team, the work that you do is always outstanding.”

Cashflow is a priority in any business so this is why the prizes for the awards included the opportunity to gain some money in the ‘cashflow machine’ that winners could use for whatever they needed.  Plus, beautifully handmade gifts, by Tash Copeland from The Wood Hunter – Reclaimed Timber Design, these laptop tables used to be a desktop with each award winner receiving one.

Launched at the Switch Start Scale 2021 Awards with a pitch by Susan Knapp was a fantastic book where guests supported young entrepreneurs (aged 7, 11 and 17 years) including 99% Marley, Amalia_Malaika and Maisha Flow.

A Show for the World is a children’s book about hope and possibility. It tells the story of Marley (11 & Switch Start Scale’s youngest client) and Amalia (7) and how they started their own social enterprises to empower kids in Kenya to dance during a global pandemic.  All profits go towards running dance and educational programs in Kenya through In2EdAfrica.

This video captures highlights from the Switch Start Scale 2021 Awards and you can watch the Official Video of the Switch Start Scale 2021 Awards here.

“This is where it all starts.  You can’t make a unicorn without nurturing startups at their earliest stage.  Congratulations to tonight’s #switchstartscale Award 2021 winners”, Josh Garratt.

Switch Start Scale, the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service for Adelaide, funded by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, has a number of upcoming events and you can also book in free 1 on 1 coaching/mentoring sessions if you have a business idea, startup or scaleup.

Photos from the night by MILCO Media + Design can be viewed here.

For further information please contact Wendy Perry, Entrepreneurship Facilitator, Switch Start Scale on 0416 150 491 or wendy@switchstartscale.com.au.