WiseTech founder is NSW tech entrepreneur of the year

The founders of nine NSW businesses, including recently listed cloud software company WiseTech Global, have been recognised in this year’s NSW Technology Entrepreneurs of the Year Awards.

WiseTech founder Richard White was presented with this year’s overall special recognition award by NSW Innovation Minister Victor Dominello on behalf of the technology sector and the Pearcey Foundation.

WiseTech Global develops cloud-based software for the logistics industry. The company floated on the ASX this year in the second-largest tech IPO on the stock exchange to date, valuing the company at over $1.5 billion.

Software business founders featured heavily in the list of winners. Geoff and Peta Byers, co-founders of educational software company Sentral Education; Phil Copeland, co-founder of digital business platform provider Avoka; and Marc Lehmann, founder of accounting online accounting software vendor Saasu also received awards.

Other winners included Emma lo Russo, founder of social media analytics company Digivizer; Bridget Loudon and Emily Yue, co-founders of online freelance consulting portal Expert360; as well as Jane Lu, founder of e-commerce company Showpo.

Rounding out the list are Jost Stollman, Andrew Rothwell, Peter Haig and Paul Wood, founder of disruptive FinTech company Tyro; as well as Chris Strode, founder of mobile invoicing platform Invoice2Go.

“This year’s winners represent the fabulous talent that exists in our country. They have been extremely successful, taking different paths to build global businesses, but in the process maintaining their Australian roots and heritage. They prove Australian innovation and entrepreneurship is much very alive and well,” Dominello commented.

The awards have been held since 1999. Previous winners include the founders of notable technology companies such as Atlassian, Vocus and Freelancer.

Image courtesy ACS.