How our awards work - Embracing Innovation
Embracing Innovation category
Many of Australia’s most prominent businesses started out small. This category is for small and medium businesses innovating with technology to develop solutions for challenges faced by modern Australia.
Who can apply in this category?
If you’re fulfilling one or more of the following category examples, consider nominating and entering your business for this Award.
Problem solving
For businesses using technology to help solve problems at customer, social or environmental levels.
Technology advancement
For businesses actively creating or developing technological advancements that will benefit every Australian.
Increasing accessibility
For businesses helping to make technology more accessible by creating more affordable and scalable products and services.
Enhancing efficiency
For businesses providing technology solutions that enhance the efficiency of business-critical tasks or essential services.
Verterra Ecological Engineering
National Embracing Innovation Winner
Verterra is a full-service ecological engineering company that designs, constructs and manages sustainable ecosystems. Founded in 2008, Verterra has addressed a range of issues including treating wastewater, producing renewable building materials, reforesting cleared land, to help solve a range of challenges that deliver environmental, social and economic benefits.
Nansen Digital Forensics
ACT Winner
Founded in 2019 by Rose MacDonald and Andrew Collins, Nansen is a social enterprise dedicated to using technology for social good. These services are designed to identify, preserve, and report evidence of technology-facilitated abuse, supporting victims and ensuring their digital safety and autonomy.
SAPHI
NSW Winner
SAPHI, founded in 2017, specialises in cutting-edge AI imaging, edge computing, and smart operational technology solutions for mining, heavy industry, and government sectors. With a mission to solve global problems through advanced technology, SAPHI drives innovation, productivity, and sustainability, through its dedicated team and industry-expert board members.
Meke Baby
VIC Winner
Meke Baby enables safe and convenient feeding for babies through its portable milk warming device that allows parents to heat liquids anytime, anywhere without additional equipment. Its solution utilises a temperature control processor which heats liquids slowly and accurately, with the ability to retain heat for up to nine hours.
Eligibility criteria
To enter, the following eligibility criteria must be met. Each category also has specific requirements. If you have any questions about these conditions, please contact us.
- Reside in Australia
- Have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Have been operating in Australia for at least 12 months at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
- Be more than 60 percent Australian-owned, with the owner(s)/founder(s) responsible for making the key management decisions
- Be a small-to-medium business that’s a sole trader, partnership, incorporated, NFP, social enterprise or franchise whose franchisor is 60 percent Australian owned and not a listed company
- Earn more than $50,000 in annual revenue
- Have under 200 full-time equivalent staff at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
- Operate in an ethical manner with suppliers, distributors and contractors
- Supply financials when requested. All financials will remain confidential and will not be shared or used outside the purposes of judging the business’ performance, success and viability.
- Be a listed company, franchisor, a club, co-operative, or a Telstra licensee
- Be affiliated with Telstra through investments, donation or reselling
- Be more than 50 percent owned by another business
- Be a government agency
- Have filed for bankruptcy in the prior 5 years or been subject to court proceedings in the prior 12 months – including in the business owner or founder’s personal capacity – at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
- Be a recipient of significant ongoing government funding (excluding temporary government relief or support packages, such as Jobkeeper or disaster recovery)
- Have been a contracted commercial supplier of Telstra in the last 3 years
- Enter the same category where the business has previously won at State or National level at the Telstra Best of the Business Awards in the past 3 years
- Have a staff member that has applied and/or Have a staff member that has been a State or National judge in the Telstra Best of Business Awards for any category in the past 3 years
- Enter the awards if a staff member or owner has applied to be a judge in the same awards program year.
Our program dates
Nominations open
All year round
We accept nominations all year round. If you know an exceptional business moving Australia forward, nominate them today.
Stage 1
3 March to 23 April 2025
This initial stage is a multiple choice assessment of your business and how successful it is. Your total score will determine whether you progress to stage 2. You will be advised of the outcome of your entry by email.
Stage 2
30 April to 20 May 2025
For this stage, the goal is to gain a deeper understanding of your business and give you an opportunity to expand on your answers from stage 1.
Need help?
Have a question?
Find answers to your frequently asked questions.
Contact us
Speak with our Awards Team and call 1800 AWARDS Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm (AEDT).
Terms of entry
Ensure you're eligible to enter by viewing our official terms and conditions.