Emerging Business of the Year
Emerging Business of the Year recognises a business in its early years that has established strong foundations, clear market direction and measurable traction. It celebrates disciplined early decisions, adaptability and evidence that the business is building toward sustainable long-term growth.
Is this your category?
A quick read on the businesses this title is written for.
Has established a clear business model and evidence of market demand.
Can demonstrate measurable early growth, milestones or customer outcomes.
Uses systems and strategic decisions to strengthen the business beyond launch.
Has a credible plan for the next stage of growth.
What judges need to see.
The five areas your answers are assessed against.
Foundation
Foundation: Business model, market need, early structure and clarity of direction.
Results
Results: Traction, sales, client growth, partnerships or other measurable early outcomes.
Decisions
Decisions: Early strategies, learning and adaptations that strengthened the business.
Leadership
Leadership: Founder capability, collaboration and the way the entrant is building the business.
Impact
Impact: Market validation, contribution and a realistic plan for sustainable next-stage growth.
Evidence to start gathering
Start collecting these now so the writing is quick later.
Read the Evidence Pack guideRevenue, sales or client growth since launch.
Customer acquisition, retention or repeat business.
Market validation and customer feedback.
Early profitability or financial progress.
Partnerships, contracts or distribution milestones.
Operational systems introduced during the early stage.
Case studies or customer outcomes.
Evidence of learning and changes made from early results.
Entry details and eligibility
The format, the dates and the conditions that apply to this title.
The business must be less than 3 years old as at 5 October 2026.
- Assessment period
- 2024–27.
- Minimum business age
- 12 months.
- Written responses
- 5.
- Evidence Pack
- 5 pages.
1 January 2024 to 28 February 2027
Minimum 12 months and less than 3 years in business as at 4 October 2026.
5 written responses, up to 400 words each.
One PDF, up to 5 pages and 10 MB.
Resources
Before you enter
Five short reads that answer almost everything. Each one opens the Entry Guide at the right place.
Evidence Pack guide
What counts as evidence, what does not, and how to lay the PDF out.
Full eligibility
The rules that apply to every title, including trading dates and locations.
How judging works
Who reads your entry, how it is scored and how finalists are chosen.
Build a strong entry
How to answer the five questions with specifics instead of adjectives.
Frequently asked questions
Costs, deadlines, multiple entries and everything else people ask first.
RAYE Awards 2027
Emerging Business of the Year
Entries are written and submitted in the RAYE Awards portal, a separate system to RAYE Haus. Read the criteria, gather your evidence, then head across.