This Month
Airwallex shrugs off controversy with huge funding round
Global payments giant Airwallex has raised the second-biggest ever local VC funding round, its valuation soaring 30 per cent in six months to $US8 billion ($12 billion).
Tall poppies and complacency curtailing our entrepreneurial spirit
There is a national tendency to cut down tall poppies, which has sometimes prevented the country from embracing a vigorous, creative entrepreneurial culture.
How tradie wages stack up against white-collar work
The Australian Financial Review crunched the numbers to find out how the pay for a white-collar career stacks up against blue-collar work.
November
Aussies sell their tech company to US giant for $5b
The sale of the tech entrepreneurs’ software company to cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks is one of the biggest deals of the year.
Nicole owns a stake in a $4m business – and it cost her nothing
With thousands of small businesses seeking new owners, and lending for small business acquisitions stalled, innovative solutions are helping would-be entrepreneurs buy in.
What working on David Bowie’s yacht taught Boost founder Janine Allis
The smoothie franchise put its founder on the map. But this well-known entrepreneur says it’s failure and not success that’s provided the biggest lessons.
The moment that led to a $750m coal fortune and a Ferrari obsession
M Resources founder Matt Latimore had Olympic dreams until a decision to study – and a trip to Japan – set him on the path to the Rich List.
The founder of this $800m company doesn’t believe in luck
Reluctant entrepreneur Flavia Tata Nardini had no desire to start her own business, but when she arrived in Australia it became clear it was her only choice.
Zeus Street Greek plans aggressive roll-out, as revenue nears $120m
The former co-founder of Crust, who is now behind the chain Zeus Street Greek, believes it will have up to 400 stores within a decade – with 150 planned by 2030.
Billionaire Shahin family takes stake in Perth payment fintech Bless
The investment is the latest in start-up plays from the family that sold its OTR petrol station empire to Viva Energy in a $1.2 billion deal two years ago.
October
Top 10 richest young Australians revealed
The wealthiest people under 40 are now worth a combined $31.7 billion, led by Canva duo Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht, who topped the list for the sixth year.
From teenage gamer to $88m: Inside Australia’s biggest crypto deal
Jackson Zeng and Rupert Hackett built a billion-dollar crypto brokerage and sold it for up to $200 million, landing them on the list of the richest Australians under 40.
AI boom and F1 star drive $4b in new wealth to Young Rich List
The wealthiest Australians under 40 include uni dropouts, an F1 star, ex-Macquarie banker, and founders of businesses ranging from pet food to crypto casinos.
Visual planning tool finds way to top in year when AI reigns
Lessons from the WA wheatbelt and Hollywood movie sets helped inspire 4D visual planning and communication platform SpaceDraft.
How a TV host and a Macquarie banker built a $118m fortune in 9 years
What started as a single co-working “side hustle” survived the rise and fall of WeWork and the pandemic to land Cliff Ho and Tom Ye on the Young Rich List.
Founder, family, fortune: How they ‘have it all’
From term sheets to toddlers, these founders juggled building a business as well as a family.
He could’ve been Qantas CEO. Instead, he started a $7.2b company
Rokt boss Bruce Buchanan has two lessons for success – he advises entrepreneurs to lean into failure and invest 10,000 hours in learning.
Inside the creation of one of Queensland’s most lavish properties
From footballer to founder, Brad Moran has spent the past three years putting his all into this residence – which comes complete with three panic rooms.
The Block’s Marty Fox shook up property. It’s made him a fortune
As a child, The Block judge dreamt of owning a home and never having to move house again. Now, he is building an international real estate empire.
4 leaders who came to Australia with nothing, and made it to the top
Australia may be imperfect, but for these bosses it was the land of opportunity.