61. Ross Ledingham (38)

Potentia Solutions Leisure

Brisbane

With two decades of global hospitality experience behind him, Ledingham teamed up with his wife to liven up Brisbane’s restaurant scene. Since opening the first restaurant in 2021, the company is known for such venues as Lina Rooftop, Soko Rooftop, Carmen Tequileria, Mina Italian and Claw BBQ.

A new unnamed venue is also in the works, and is slated to open later this year at Brisbane’s $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf Development.

62. Troy Douglas (34) and Drew Bilbe (37)

Goodness Group Global, Nexba

Sydney

From the company’s origins putting sugar-free soft drinks on the map, Nexba scaled up in 2023 with an expanded house of brands called Goodness Group Global aimed at removing sugar and artificial ingredients from other products.

Backed by the completion of the first $4 million tranche of a Series B that included an investment from cricket star Pat Cummins, the group’s alcoholic fruit punches scored a ranging deal with First Choice Liquor in December and its Detox and Calm nootropics were recently launched with Woolies in April, adding to a B Corp certification at the start of 2024.

63. Tom Willis (33) and Dominic Woolrych (37)

Lawpath

Sydney

After working for MinterEllison as a corporate lawyer, Dominic Woolrych joined forces with Tom Willis to offer small businesses a platform that could provide quality services that wouldn’t break the bank.

Providing a wide range of customisable legal documents, Lawpath has helped more than 400,000 customers Down Under as the founders turn their attention to building a presence in the US. 

64. Hash Tayeh (33)

Burgertory

Melbourne

If culinary indulgence is what you’re after, look no further than Burgertory, with locations across Melbourne and a food truck that has been spreading the brand interstate.

But Hash Tayeh is by no means stuck in Burgertory – he has a diversified portfolio of brands including Bean Lab, Mipasto, and two EzyMart franchises.

65. Shannan Gove (35), Bennett Merriman (37) and Chris Grant (35)

Rosterfy

Melbourne

Founded in 2015 by Bennett Merriman, Shannan Gove and Chris Grant, volunteer management software platform Rosterfy helps charities, events and non-profit organisations recruit, retain, train and reward volunteers in 15 languages across 26 countries.

Since receiving a $9.8 million investment from Bailador in April 2023, the number of engaged volunteers and staff using Rosterfy has doubled to three million with collaborators including the Red Cross, FIFA, the City of London, the Super Bowl and the South Australian Government.

66. Alex Ewart (33)

Explorate

Brisbane

Co-founded by Alex Ewart and Conor Hagan, Explorate is building a shopfront for global trade, connecting thousands of global supply chain providers to international freight consumers.

The platform digitises complex inventories and supply chains, helping to minimise risk with management systems for tracking shipments and emissions, and an attentive customer service team that is spread across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

67. Stephen Cornish (36)

Pentanet (ASX: 5GG)

Perth

Stephen Cornish sold his house to put funding towards the infrastructure needed for a challenger telco in 2017.

Fast forward a few years later, and his company Pentanet listed on the ASX in 2021, bolstered as well by an exclusive cloud gaming distribution partnership in Australia with the world’s fourth-largest company NVIDIA, which was recently extended to New Zealand after the company amassed more than half a million members in Australia.

68. George Papura (33)

Georgiemane

Sydney

After spending two years learning the ropes of online advertising to sell laser hair removal handsets, George Papura ventured into the world of haircare in 2019 to offer consumers a cruelty-free brand that delivered results. While Georgiemane’s hair masks, shampoos, serums and scrubs are going gangbusters online, the brand is also stocked in health and beauty retailer Priceline.

69. Andrew Firgaira (39)

Oasis Dental Studios

Gold Coast

With six locations across the eastern seaboard, Oasis Dental Studios is focused on providing quality care regardless of the patient’s age, offering children’s dentistry services, cosmetic procedures, injectables and dental implants.

The company has also opened a state-of-the-art surgical centre, allowing founder Andrew Firgaira and his team to diagnose and treat many complex dental cases from start to finish.

70. Nicholas Chapman (34)

Chapcon DC, Newstart Homes Australia

Brisbane

From schools to childcare centres, medical facilities to specialist disability accommodation, Chapcon’s construction expertise includes fit-outs, refurbishments and new builds, going from “strength to strength” due to “versatility and pivoting between projects that are relatively small" and carrying "minimal exposure to periodic price increases”.

In 2016 Chapman also purchased Southeast Queensland-focused home builder Newstart Homes from liquidation, which has held “reasonably steady” according to the entrepreneur.

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