The Aussie start-ups you won’t be able to ignore

THE topic of innovation is on everyone’s lips thanks to Malcolm Turnbull today. Here are some start-up success stories you can’t ignore.

Vinomofo - coolest company in tech list. Picture: Vinomofo

THE topic of innovation is on everyone’s lips thanks to Malcolm Turnbull’s announcements today. Here’s some start-up success stories you either know about, or will soon.

Five Australian start-up success stories

Atlassian: This Sydney software company with an annual turnover of $455 million will float on the NASDAQ this week, and pundits predict it will be Australia’s richest tech IPO yet. The company could be valued at $US3 billion despite its location far outside Silicon Valley.

Vinomofo: The wine-selling website that only sells what it considers to the finest drops now ships more than 35,000 cases of wine to customers each month, and is discussing international expansion. Now free of the Catch Group, the start-up’s revenue has grown more than 1000 per cent over three years.

Adore Beauty: Woolworths bought 25 per cent of this online beauty product store this year, which founder Kate Morris said allowed the company to spend more on marketing and inventory. The company expects to see more than $10 million in revenue this year.

Hipages: This online platform connecting tradies to the people who need them is now valued at $100 million, following News Corp’s purchase of a 25 per cent stake in the company (publisher of this outlet). It’s set to launch on the stockmarket in the next two years.

Airtasker: The firm that lets users advertise for others willing to assemble Ikea furniture now processes $20 million worth of jobs each year, and has raised $8.5 million since its 2011 birth. The company recently partnered with Coles, Woolworths and Big W to stock gift cards in their stores.

Get it done ... Airtasker allows you to find people to do pretty well anything.

Five Australian start-ups to watch

Clipp: This made-in-Australia bar tab app lets users set the amount they wish to spend on booze for the evening and flash their phone each time they order drinks. An invoice is sent discreetly the following day. Users can also find bars with drinks specials.

Booze control ... Clipp’s co-founder Greg Taylor.

FunCaptcha: Brisbane-based company FunCaptcha swaps annoying requests to identify letters and numbers on some websites into mini games. The company, created in 2012, claims it boosts conversions from 65 to more than 95 per cent.

Canva: This design company didn’t just sign up original Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki this year, but it rolled out a design marketplace professionals can use to sell their layouts. The Sydney-based firm attracted more than a million users in its first year.

GoodnessMe Box: It’s a simple idea — a box of health food sent to your home every month for $25 — and it’s one this company has used to turn over $1 million of stock since its launch in June last year. The profitable start-up now fills thousands of orders each month.

LawPath: This hub delivers fixed-fee legal services from more than 600 lawyers, letting users download legal documents or seek advice for small or medium-sized businesses. The company has attracted $2.4 million in funding to date.