Sydney, it's your turn: Young Entrepreneur Awards 2019

The Sydney Young Entrepreneur Awards 2019 were a roaring success. Click here for the full list of winners.

It's hard to stand out in Sydney.

With the country's largest metropolitan population and a vibrant yet challenging global corporate scene, making your mark is certainly difficult in the harbour city.

But being a big fish in a big pond is something the finalists in this year's Sydney Young Entrepreneur Awards have in common.

They've managed to shine and build successful, disruptive businesses despite the odds, and are defining the city as one of the most innovative in the country.

Tonight, finalists will descend on The Establishment for a gala dinner to celebrate the year's achievements and find out who will take home the top prizes.

The Awards celebrate and recognise the accomplishments of businesspeople under 40 in the NSW capital.

The initiative has unearthed more than 60 nominees who collectively turn over hundreds of millions of dollars a year and generate job creation across the country.

Finalists in the Awards are leaders in their respective fields, disrupting traditional sectors, and developing exciting new startups that are shifting the business landscape both in Australia and abroad.

Winners of the Sydney Awards will be invited to the exclusive Australian Young Entrepreneur Awards, to be held in the Gold Coast on Saturday 16 November at the Marriott Hotel.

The event's founder Camilla Jansen says just being nominated is validation for the many years of hard work that go into building a business.

"Starting up a business takes a lot of grit and energy, while making it successful takes even more than that," say Jansen.

"An awards night like this is about recognition for these hard-working entrepreneurs. Those selected by our judges will receive honours, but everyone in attendance should be very proud for what they've achieved.

She says the entrepreneurs featured at the event are the ones you need to know, because they will be shaping the future of Australian business.

"As a business owner, I know it can be very lonely at the top sometimes, and this event gives them an opportunity to meet likeminded peers, in a relaxed and fun environment," she says.

"This initiative has created not only a cross-pollination of ideas but amazing business opportunities as well."

Winner of the 2018 Young Entrepreneur Award and founder of turnkey design construction company Alliance Project Group, Rouad Elayoubi, says it was an honour to take out the top gong last year.

"It was an honour and privilege to be nominated National young Entrepreneur 2018 in the category of Property and Construction and also nominated by the judging panel, Sydney's Entrepreneur Of The Year," says Elayoubi.

"I congratulate Business News Australia on their efforts to platform young entrepreneurship in Australia and celebrate the various success stories like they have been able to communicate my journey and our companies successes to date."

"To be recognised for our successes is a wonderful achievement for our group and our team as they are a big part of my story."

Winner of the 2018 Manufacturing, Wholesale & Distribution Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Leigh Rust, co-founder of Safetyline Jalousie, says the initiative is an amazing opportunity for young businesspeople in Sydney.

"Since taking out the 2018 award, we've really enjoyed being part of the Young Entrepreneur community and we're very humbled and proud to be part of the awards again this year," says Rust.

"In addition to the exposure and recognition, a real highlight for us has been connecting with fellow trailblazers and masterminding with Australia's leading entrepreneurs."

"Strategic partnership development has, and continues to be, one of the biggest drivers of growth in our business and the awards is an incredible opportunity to network with Sydney's best and brightest young business leaders."

The night would not have been possible without the support of our corporate sponsors Alliance Project Group, Yellow Panda, and ISR Training. Alliance Project Group was founded by Rouad Elayoubi, the 2018 winner of the Young Entrepreneur Award.

There are 16 awards in total, including the prestigious Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Trailblazer Award.