The Xero Beautiful Business Fund offers more than NZ$750,000 in funding to winning small businesses, with the aim to support their growth plans and propel future success. Funding will be awarded to winners at a country and global level.
There will be four winners from each country (1 from each category), determined by judging panels from the respective country. Each winner will receive NZ$20,000 funding. The pool of 28 country winners will also be evaluated by a global judging panel who will then select 4 global winners (1 from each category). Each winner will receive an additional global prize of NZ$50,000 funding.
Funding categories
There are a total of four different funding categories as below. You can submit an entry to each category if you wish.
- Innovating for environmental sustainability:
How are you taking the next step on your environmental sustainability journey? - Strengthening community connection:
How are you serving your community and making a positive impact? - Trailblazing with technology:
How are you seeking to innovate and set pace using emerging technologies? - Upskilling for the future:
How are you overcoming a skills gap and preparing for the future?
Once you have selected an Entry Category, you will need create a video which details:
- A brief background of your business,
- The Entry Category into which you are entering,
- How your business plans to utilise the funding if you won,
- Reasons why your business needs the funding.
It’s important to be future-focused, elaborating how the funding can benefit your business.
Judging criteria
- Innovating for sustainability
- Is there a clear plan or defined project for using the funding to meet the entrantʼs environmental sustainability goals? (10 points available)
- Is the entrant committed and passionate about their environmental sustainability journey and bringing their funding plans to fruition to address a customer need?(10 points available)
- Will the funding help the entrant solve a problem or need related to environmental sustainability in a unique and inventive way? (10 points available)
- Does the entrant clearly demonstrate how the funding will benefit the future of their business- aligned to their purpose and goals? (10 points available)
- Strengthening Community Connection
- Is there a clear plan or defined project for using the funding to meet the entrantʼs community-oriented goals? (10 points available)
- Is the entrant committed and passionate about making a positive impact on their local community and bringing their funding plans to fruition to address a customer need?(10 points available)
- Will the funding help the entrant solve a problem or need related to serving their community in a unique and inventive way? (10 points available)
- Does the entrant clearly demonstrate how the funding will benefit the future of their business-aligned to their purpose and goals? (10 points available)
- Trailblazing With Technology
- Is there a clear plan,project or problem the entrant is trying to solve by incorporating new and emerging technologies into their business? (10 points available)
- Is the entrant committed and passionate about innovation or solving a problem through technology and bringing their funding plans to fruition to address a customer need?(10 points available)
- Will the funding help the entrant solve a clearly defined problem or need related to utilizing technology advancements in a unique and inventive way? (10 points available)
- Does the entrant clearly demonstrate how the funding will benefit the future of their business- aligned to their purpose and goals? (10 points available)
- Upskilling For The Future
- Is there a clear plan or defined project for using the funding to meet the entrantʼs upskilling? (10 points available)
- Is the entrant committed and passionate about their ability to upskill and bring their funding plans to fruition to address a customer or team need? (10 points available)
- Will the funding help the entrant solve a problem or need related to upskilling in a unique and inventive way? (10 points available)
- Does the entrant clearly demonstrate how the funding will benefit the future of their business- aligned to their purpose and goals? (10 points available)
Eligibility criteria
You can enter the Xero Beautiful Business Fund if you meet the following criteria. You are a Xero small business customer who:
- Is located in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), South Africa, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, or Australia.
- Has between 1-50 employees.
- Is a paying Xero subscriber (either directly or via a Xero accounting or bookkeeping partner) at the time of entry and at the time of announcement of the winners,which will take place at the end of October 2024.
- Is operating on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
- Complete and submit your entry, including an online form and record and upload a 90-second pitch video. This can be done by either the business owner or designated employee.
How to enter?
- Go to https://enter.xerobeautifulbusinessfund.com/
- Register an account
- Complete the entry form – Fill out the online form with some background information on your business.
- Record & upload your pitch video(s) – In your 90-second pitch video(s), provide details on your plans for the funding and your business goals.
- Get back down to business – Entries close on 27 August 2024.
When you enter, you will be asked if you have been referred by your accountant or bookkeeper. Please enter 361dc as your referrer.
Entry submissions will close on 27 August 2024 NZT. Winners will be announced sometime in late October 2024.
Visit enter.xerobeautifulbusinessfund.com for further eligibility criteria and full T&Cs.
