Xero, the global small business platform, has announced the return of the Xero Beautiful Business Fund for 2024. This initiative offers more than SG$630,000 to support small businesses and non-profits in their growth plans and drive future success.

Entries are now open for Xero small business customers in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The entry period will close on 27 August 2024.

How to Enter

Xero small business customers need to complete an online form and submit a 90-second pitch video to the competition website. They can enter as many categories as they like, including:

• Innovating for Environmental Sustainability: For businesses or non-profits aiming to minimize their environmental impact, enhance sustainability, or develop new eco-friendly products.
• Trailblazing with Technology: For those with a future-focused mindset, seeking to innovate using new and emerging technologies.
• Strengthening Community Connection: For organizations dedicated to serving their communities and making a positive impact, supporting underserved groups, or contributing to social good.
• Upskilling for the Future: For businesses or non-profits wanting to overcome a skills gap through upskilling themselves or their employees.

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, Xero CEO, stated, “We’re thrilled to offer the Xero Beautiful Business Fund again in 2024. As a global judge last year, hearing first-hand from our small business customers about their ideas and aspirations was a rewarding experience. The fund is a chance to reflect on our purpose to make life better for small businesses, their advisors, and communities around the world and provide meaningful support so our customers can fulfill their dreams or take that next big step with confidence.”

Celebrating Small Businesses

The inaugural Xero Beautiful Business Fund launched on 6 July 2023, coinciding with Xero Day, the company’s anniversary. As Xero celebrates its 18th anniversary this year, the fund continues to support small businesses in achieving their dreams.

The 2023 winners from Singapore included diverse businesses such as a clothing rental service reducing the impact of fast fashion, a social video agency helping businesses grow in the digital economy, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic using modern technology to improve healthcare outcomes, and an organization promoting art appreciation.

Raena Lim, Co-Founder and COO at Style Theory and the 2023 Singapore winner for Innovating for Sustainability, shared, “With the funding from Xero Beautiful Business Fund, we could automate and streamline processes, enabling us to scale our fashion sustainability program. This will help more brands embrace sustainability as a core part of their business model, not just a marketing strategy. To date, we have facilitated over 2.3 million rentals, saving over 600,000 items from landfills.”

Regional and Global Prizes

The total prize pool of more than SG$630,000 will be shared among 28 winners. Four winners from each country will be selected, one in each category, each receiving SG$15,000. Four of these winners will become global winners, determined by a global judging panel, and each global winner will receive an additional SG$40,000.

Submissions will close on 27 August 2024, and winners will be announced at the end of October 2024.