Xero has launched the 2024 edition of the Xero Beautiful Business Fund, pledging over NZ$750,000 to aid small businesses and non-profits achieve their growth aspirations. This initiative is open for entries from Xero’s small business customers across Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with submissions accepted until August 27, 2024.
Xero small business customers are invited to participate in the competition by completing an online form and submitting a 90-second pitch video on the competition website. Entries can be submitted for multiple categories: Innovating for environmental sustainability, Trailblazing with technology, Strengthening community connection and Upskilling for the future.
Xero CEO, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy said, “We’re thrilled to offer the Xero Beautiful Business Fund again in 2024. As a global judge last year, getting to hear first hand from our small business customers about their ideas and aspirations was a rewarding experience that reminded me of the resilience, drive and determination it takes to be a business owner.” He added, “The fund is a chance to reflect on our purpose to make life better for small businesses, their advisors and communities around the world and provide meaningful support so our customers can fulfill their dreams or take that next big step with confidence.”
The Xero Beautiful Business Fund debuted on July 6, 2023, coinciding with Xero Day, the company’s anniversary. As Xero marks its 18th year, the fund celebrates small businesses by supporting their aspirations. The 2023 global winners from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the UK exemplify small businesses and non-profits dedicated to addressing local challenges and making a positive impact. Among them are a charity focusing on childhood poverty, a food-buying club linking local growers with consumers, a lighting design and manufacturing firm, and others.
Layla Sargent, Founder & CEO of The Seam, a platform connecting skilled makers specializing in wardrobe alterations and repairs, was a global winner in the Upskilling for the Future category in 2023 said, “The Xero Beautiful Business Fund has given us an element of strategic support so we can grow through training and upskilling our makers. This is so valuable as the funds allowed us to develop more training programs and share them broadly. The core skills driving our business like tailoring will always depend on human interaction, so education and upskilling will always be important, as those elements cannot be replaced by technology.”
A prize pool exceeding NZ$750,000 will be distributed among 28 winners. Each participating country will have four winners, one from each category, chosen by local judging panels, with each recipient receiving NZ$20,000. From these, four global winners will be selected by an international judging panel, and each global winner will receive an additional NZ$50,000. For comprehensive criteria, entry details, and profiles of the 2023 winners, please visit our website. Entries will close on 27 August 2024 NZT, and the winners will be announced by the end of October 2024.