TLDR: Startup Daily has announced the 54 finalists for its 2025 Best in Tech Awards, selected from a record 273 entries across 14 categories. The awards highlight the growing sophistication of the Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem, with a notable surge in entries for the ‘AI Gamechanger’ category. Winners will be revealed at a gala dinner in Sydney on September 25.
Sydney, Australia – August 11, 2025 – Startup Daily has officially unveiled the highly anticipated list of finalists for its 2025 Best in Tech Awards, celebrating the most innovative and impactful ventures across the Australian and New Zealand startup landscape. A total of 54 standout finalists have been selected from a record-breaking 273 entries across 14 distinct categories, underscoring the vibrant growth and increasing sophistication of the region’s tech ecosystem.
The awards, now in their third year, saw intense competition, with judges noting the exceptional quality of submissions. Simon Thomsen, Startup Daily editor and chief of judges, remarked on the challenging selection process, stating, ‘The constant refrain from our judges – and I can’t thank them enough for their care, passion and dedication to assessing the nominations – is that this was the toughest in three years of the awards to assess.’ Thomsen also highlighted the ‘diversity of choices they made in finalist nominations’ and expressed satisfaction that ‘women founders and others in the startup ecosystem feature prominently, once again, in the finalists.’
Among the most popular categories by entry volume were ‘Startup of the Year’ with 50 entries, ‘Best New Idea’ with 40, and ‘Most Innovative’ also with 40 entries. Reflecting the burgeoning influence of artificial intelligence, the ‘AI Gamechanger’ category, in its second year, saw a significant doubling of entries to 23. Finalists in this pivotal category include Lima AI, Minikai, Relevance AI, and Lenexa Medical.
Lenexa Medical, a Victorian-based startup focused on preventing pressure injuries for healthcare patients, emerged as a multi-category finalist. The company is recognized in the ‘Best Sustainability Startup,’ ‘Most Innovative Startup,’ and ‘AI Gamechanger’ categories. Additionally, Lenexa Medical’s co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Will Yang, is a finalist for ‘Best Technical Leader.’
Other notable finalists span a wide array of categories, including WeMoney for ‘Startup of the Year,’ Electric Power Conversions Australia and Apate for ‘Most Innovative Startup,’ and Rainstick and Cauldron Ferm for ‘Best Regional Startup.’ Industry leaders like Paz Pisarki and Preethi Mohan are finalists for ‘Industry Champion,’ while Safe Call Up and Hello Canopy are recognized for ‘Best New Idea.’ The ‘Best New Founder’ category features Trent McLaren of Vinyl and Rebecca Keeley of Yarn Speech.
The winners of the 2025 Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards will be announced at a prestigious gala dinner held at the ivy ballroom in Sydney on September 25. The awards are proudly supported by Major Partner AWS Startups and Supporting Partner Vanta.
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This year’s finalists represent the cutting edge of innovation, demonstrating the dynamic spirit and entrepreneurial drive that continues to propel the Australian and New Zealand tech sectors forward.
