outstanding
new business
The Outstanding New Business Award recognises a start-up that has effectively driven growth and is able to demonstrate potential to achieve future success.
Entry Criteria
Entrants must demonstrate their commitment to being an outstanding start-up over the past 12 months. This category is open to businesses that have been trading for less than 24 months at the time of entry.
Award eligibility check box
- This business has been trading for a period of less than two years and is not bankrupt or trading insolvent at the time of entry.
- This business has not been purchased or acquired and is not part of a franchise.
- The business has not entered the categories of Outstanding Community Organisation, Excellence in Micro Business, Excellence in Small Business or Excellence in Business.
- A representative of this business has not been a judge in this category in 2025.
- A representative of this business is not a judge in the 2026 Business Awards program.
Questions
1. Provide an overview of your business, including the product or service you offer, how you identified the market need and who your target customers are. Maximum word count: 200
2. Provide an overview of the key features of your business development strategy and projected outcomes for the future. Maximum word count: 300
3. Describe why your product or service offering is unique within your industry and differentiates your business from competitors. Maximum word count: 300
4. Detail the measurable growth and key milestones you have achieved since launching your business. Maximum word count: 400
5. Describe the key challenges your business has faced as a new business and how you overcame them. Maximum word count: 400
Before you proceed:
- Please reference the Rules of Entry via the entry portal
- Check the eligibility criteria at the top of the category you wish to enter
Information you need to know
- All winners in the following categories progress through Local and Regional Awards to State Awards
- Your business is required to operate in the Lismore LGA at the time of entry, judging and the Awards ceremony on the 1st of August 2026.
- The qualifying period is the 2025 calendar year i.e. January to December 2025. Questions referring to the past 12 months should cover this period. Questions relating to the past 24 months cover the period between January 2024 – December 2025.
- All submissions are subject to a strict word count limit. The maximum word count for each question is specified directly under the question itself. You will be unable to write more than the set word count limit.
- We encourage you to draft your entry in a Word document, then upload the finalised version to the Business NSW portal. All submissions must be uploaded to the award portal to qualify for entry.
- Your entry may be edited until the closing time of 5.00pm on 10th June 2026. However, once you click SUBMIT, your entry cannot be edited.
- All questions must be answered, and criteria addressed.
- Ensure your answers are clear and concise. Avoid using jargon and acronyms.
- Refrain from repeating the same content and validate all statements and claims with supporting evidence.
- Ensure your entries are proofread carefully – check for spelling, grammatical and typographical errors.
- NOTE: The submission deadline is final. NO EXTENSIONS will be provided. The Business NSW portal will automatically prevent submissions being entered after the deadline has passed.
- We strongly urge you to get your submission in well before the closing date!
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