Xero, a leading global platform for small businesses, has launched the 2024 Xero Beautiful Business Fund. This initiative offers over R8 million in funding to support small businesses and non-profit organizations in achieving their growth goals and driving future success. The competition is open to Xero’s small business customers in South Africa, Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Submissions are accepted until August 27th, 2024 (NZT). Entrants can compete in one or more of the following categories: The 2023 Xero Beautiful Business Fund awarded funding to several inspiring organizations. Mygrow, a neuroscience-based software that enhances employee emotional intelligence, won the “Trailblazing with technology” category.
Curate, a platform connecting content creators with clients, won the “Upskilling for the future” category. Additionally, Constantia Food Club, an organization connecting local producers with consumers, received funding in the “Innovating for Sustainability” category. Sheryl Ozinsky, co-founder of The Oranjezicht City Farm Market and the 2023 “Strengthening community connection” winner, shared how the funding helped their organization: “Winning the Xero Beautiful Business Fund allowed us to develop resources to support the growth of farmers’ markets in South Africa, ensuring more organic farmers have a platform to sell directly to consumers.
” A total of R8 million will be distributed among 28 regional and global winners. Each country will have four category winners (awarded R250,000 each), selected by local judging panels. A global judging panel will then select one overall winner from each category, awarding an additional R550,000 each.
For detailed entry criteria, instructions, and profiles of the 2023 winners, visit the Xero website. Entries close on August 27th, 2024 (NZT), with winners announced in late October 2024..
