27 December 2024

Welcome to the Xero Beautiful Business Fund!

By Ronald Smith

I’m thrilled to share the exciting news about the launch of our Xero Beautiful Business Fund! It’s an amazing opportunity for small businesses all over the world to access a share of an incredible NZ$750,000 in funding.

This special initiative is designed to support and celebrate small businesses like yours, giving you the chance to take your business to new heights. And the best part? It’s open to our small business customers from Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the US, and the UK.

So, what’s the goal of this fund? Well, we want to shine a spotlight on businesses that are eager to take their enterprises to the next level. Whether you’re looking to expand your operations, invest in new equipment, or launch an exciting new project, we’re here to help you make it happen.

The whole process of applying is really easy. You just have to make a cool and interesting 90-second video pitch and fill out a short form. You can even enter for multiple categories! Let me tell you about them:

1. Innovating for Sustainability: This one is for businesses that want to up their game in being eco-friendly. This could mean things like using green packaging, having energy-saving machines, or even adopting carbon-neutral transportation.

2. Trailblazing with Technology: This category is perfect for people who love coming up with new ideas and using the latest technology.

3. Strengthening Community Connection: This category is all about giving back to the community. It’s for businesses or non-profit organizations that want to make a real difference by doing good things like charity work.

  • Upskilling for the Future: This is for businesses who want to strengthen their skills or the skills of their teams. We offer a wide range of training and professional development options.
  • Xero is focused on the future and wants to help businesses grow. We want to support your business and help it succeed.

    Xero’s CEO, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, has spoken about this exciting opportunity. She said, We believe in supporting small businesses and their owners. We are excited to provide funding to help these companies and leaders achieve more success. Many of our customers already share our values. We are happy to give them funds to support sustainability or upskilling, even if they don’t have the money to do so themselves.

    But how will winners emerge from this global contest? Let me explain the plan: First, local panels will carefully choose 28 winners for each category in different regions. These winners, known as regional champions, will then have the opportunity to present their case to a global judging committee. This committee will determine the ultimate winner in each of the four segments.

    The global judging team is made up of experts in accounting, small business, and Xero’s global partnerships. They are highly respected individuals like Laurie McCabe from SMB Group, Becca McClure of BDO Global, Jeanne Grosser from Stripe, John Hummelstad of Locatrix, and Xero’s very own Sukhinder Singh Cassidy and Nigel Piper.

    For small businesses, this contest is more than just a chance to win money. It’s an opportunity for growth and success on a global scale. Having the support and encouragement from a worldwide platform is invaluable for their future.