SmartCompany is very excited to announce the shortlist for the latest instalment of the Pitch, our early-stage startup competition. They’ll pitch to our expert guest judging panel on September 4 in Melbourne, which features business luminaries Maxine Lee, COO of Skalata VC, Mark Newman, LaunchVic’s startup programs manager, Sarah Green, co-founder of Protagonist Capital, and William Hasko, small business marketing director at Dell Technologies. Shortlisted startups for the Pitch, in alphabetical order Grapevine is an embryonic social marketplace app for sustainable and ethical product reviews, shopping and information.
Founded in February 2024 by University of Melbourne Master of Entrepreneurship graduate Aaron Fraser , the app aims to simplify the sustainable shopping journey. Grapevine features a social media feed where users post interactive reviews about products and experiences they recommend and lifestyle tips to be more sustainable and ethical, a marketplace filled with brands across categories like fashion, homewares and skincare, backed by product profiles that tell you why a product and the brand is sustainable and ethical. The startup aims to help people discouraged by greenwashing shop more sustainably, by creating a space where users can shop to make a difference with confidence and convenience.
Humpday is on a mission to end the loneliness crisis with an offline dating app designed to empower authentic connection. Founded in October 2023 by former sports phy.