Nominations for the 3rd annual Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards have been extended for another 48 hours to midnight on Sunday, July 6.
There are 14 categories in the 2025 Best in Tech awards including startup investor of the year, best technical leader, the AI gamechanger, best startup event, and the GSD Award – for someone who gets sh*t done. See below for the full list.
Entry is free.
Startup Daily editor Simon Thomsen said that as tonight’s deadline loomed, he’d had lots of messages from people keen to enter but needing a little more time.
“I get it. Everyone’s flat out and it’s another thing to do before the end of the week. Hopefully they can find time over the weekend to fill out their entries, which we’ve tried to keep straightforward, not too long and more like a pitch,” he said.
More than 500 entries, were received in the first two years of the awards, and the inaugural Startup of The Year, Wollongong green hydrogen startup Hysata went on to raise a record $172 million Series B less than 12 months later.
The judging panels will choose four finalists for each category, announced on Monday, August 11.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at The Ivy Ballroom in Sydney on Thursday, September 25.
You can read about all the 2023 winners here and the 2024 vintage here
Get your entries for the 2025 Best in Tech awards before you jump into bed on Sunday, July 6.
AWS Startups is once again the major sponsor.
Nominate a person, company or event for the 2025 Best in Tech awards here.
The awards are open to Australian and New Zealand tech startups founded in either country as well as ANZ residents and citizens.
Here are the categories and criteria.
1. Startup of the year
This award recognises an all-round outstanding early stage startup that has demonstrated strong growth and leadership in creating a new way of doing business and market category.
The award is open to startups with less than 100 employees.
2. Scaleup of the year
This award recognises an all-round outstanding unlisted scaleup company that has demonstrated strong growth on a range of metrics, including revenue, customers and employment, as well as leadership in its market.
The category is open to businesses having completed a Series B raise and beyond.
3. Most innovative startup
This award recognises a startup that is changing the world for the better and rewriting the rules on innovation with bold ideas that solve major problems.
The judging will balance the clever use of technology with its impact, both current and future, for the startups nominated.
4. Best regional startup
This award specifically recognises an outstanding startup from a regional area outside of Australia’s state capitals. The winner will demonstrate strong growth, boldness in execution and express a clear vision for the region they live and work in and its growth.
5. Industry champion
This award is given to an individual, ranging from investors to founders and other industry leaders who has made a big impact on the startup ecosystem to improve things for all in a way that goes beyond a direct ROI for them. It recognises a selfless generosity to helping everyone succeed.
6. Best sustainability startup
This award recognises a business model making a positive impact on the environment and broader issues of sustainability. It is sector agnostic, but must demonstrate in a measurable way how it is improving life on earth with long-term thinking.
7. Best new idea
This award recognises a startup that’s less than 2-years-old that’s making waves in its sector. It could be pre-revenue and pre-funding, but must set out a clear vision on how their idea will change the world for the better, and/or how it is already on the path to achieving that goal
8. Best technical leader
This award recognises a CTO and/or other tech-focused leader as a key partner in the success of a startup. The judging looks for an exceptional approach to solving problems with the potential to change the way we live, alongside delivering innovation and value for the company and its customers.
9. Best new founder
This award recognises a first-time founder who is showing promise and making an impact in their industry. The winner will demonstrate a commitment to innovation with bold ideas, clever execution and a startup with the potential to change the world for the better.
10. The AI gamechanger
This award recognises who artificial intelligence is transforming workflows, business operations, data analytics and the way we interact.
The winner will demonstrate a clear benefit across a broad spectrum in helping transform the world through the application of AI.
11. Best startup event
This award celebrates the startup and tech sector coming together in a way that is collaborative, productive and imaginative.
The winner will demonstrate how the occasion has benefited the startup sector across a range of fronts
12. Startup investor of the year
This award recognises the impact of capital on the success of startups.
It’s not about the size or volume of investments and will be judged with supporting statements from the startups backed about how the investor has assisted them in ways that go beyond funding.
13. Future leader
Just as investors look for founders with a bold vision for the future, this award will recognise an individual our judges recognise as having the potential to be an important voice and advocate for the startup sector.
They can come from any part of tech and will be assessed on their early demonstrated leadership.
14. The GSD award
Get Shit Done is an industry impact award for an organisation and/or individual honouring their contribution to the overall success of the tech ecosystem and track record in transforming things for the benefit of many.
It may be an industry or group, an accelerator, a startup or founder/s, investor/s or others who has assisted in making the sector thrive in any number of ways, from lobbying to policy setting, support, investment, philanthropy, culture setting and most importantly, just getting shit done (GSD).
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