Global small business platform Xero has announced the four New Zealand small businesses and nonprofits who have won a share of the NZ$750,000 global prize pool as part of the Xero Beautiful Business Fund, including two Christchurch organisations.
The Xero Beautiful Business Fund aims to empower Xero’s small business customers to boost their growth plans and drive future success. Entries were submitted by Xero customers from countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the US, and the UK.
The winners highlighted in their video submissions how they would use the funding to support their future business goals in one of four categories – Innovating for Sustainability, Strengthening Community Connection, Trailblazing with Technology, and Upskilling for the Future.
Based in Christchurch, creative-led data engagement agency Cusp Studio was the New Zealand winner of the Trailblazing with Technology category. Offering a fully integrated marketing suite, including digital, copywriting, coaching, as well as digital marketing for musicians and art organisations, music production and digital art studio, Cusp Studio is reinventing how digital and the arts interact in New Zealand.
Founder Annemarie Duff says: “We’re creating interactive, art-led data visualisations that connect people to live data in new ways. Our goal is to build a platform where anyone can interact with these datasets and build their own visualisations. There are plenty of real-time data sources available like smart city sensors, sales metrics, web analytics, and we see enormous potential to connect people directly to them easily, without the need for them to know how to code. With these funds, we’ll be able to develop custom projects to demonstrate what’s possible when you pair data with creativity.”
Christchurch Riding for the Disabled Association (CRDA) was the New Zealand winner for the Upskilling for the Future category. Part of the New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association, CRDA offers therapeutic riding sessions for individuals aged three and up, five days a week.
Supported by trained coaches and 70 volunteers, CRDA helps participants with physical and non-physical disabilities improve balance, coordination, posture, and self-confidence. It also provides a safe, supportive environment where riders gain independence and, for some, enjoy riding as a sport or recreation.
CRDA President Phillipa Parker says: “Our mission is to support individuals with disabilities through equine therapy, fostering their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Emmasha Prosser, a dedicated volunteer and mother to a disabled son, has experienced firsthand the transformative benefits of equine therapy, which improved her son’s confidence, motor skills, balance, and speech.
“After completing her Level Three equine course, Emmasha joined us to combine her passion for horses with her commitment to the disability community. She’s now pursuing further training to become a therapeutic riding coach, enhancing the impact of our programme.”
Confidential Document Destruction (Tauranga) was the New Zealand winner for the Innovating for Sustainability category, with The Bowling Club (Dunedin) named as the New Zealand and global winner of the Strengthening Community Connection category. Each of the New Zealand category winners will receive $20,000 each, with The Bowling Club receiving an additional $50,000 for their global win.
Xero Country Manager – Aotearoa New Zealand Bridget Snelling says this year’s Xero Beautiful Business Fund winners are a strong representation of the diverse and innovative small businesses flourishing in Aotearoa New Zealand. “Congratulations to these exceptional businesses and non-profits. At Xero, we’re passionate about championing small businesses across the country and proud to support this year’s winners making a real impact. The Xero Beautiful Business Fund gives these innovative businesses a chance to grow further and pursue their goals, helping them turn their visions into reality.”
Xero Chief Executive Sukhinder Singh Cassidy says: “Xero is proud to support all of the winners of the 2024 Xero Beautiful Business Fund. Your passion, ambition, and commitment to your communities truly embodies the spirit of what the fund is all about. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all the entrants for sharing your stories and inspiring us as we pursue our purpose to make life better for small businesses, their advisors and communities worldwide.”
This year’s 28 country winners for the fund were chosen by a panel of five judges in each country. This year’s local panel included Bridget Snelling, New Zealand Country Manager; Madeleine Hakaraia de Young, Director, Māoriland Film Festival; Jenny Rudd, Founder, Dispute Buddy; Manoli Aerakis, Director, Malloch McClean; Andrew Punnett, Senior Engineer, Xero.
The 28 winners were then assessed by a global judging panel made up of six global judges who selected the four global winners — one for each category. The global judging panel included Mike Cohen, Global Head of Partnerships, Square; Kate Dundas, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Australia; Melissa Laurie, Founder & Managing Director, Oysterly; Lara Brennan, Partner, Advisory & Outsourcing, Forvis Mazars; James Bergin, EGM, Technology Research & Advocacy, Xero and Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, CEO, Xero.
