Ben Bradshaw, the founder behind Fortitude Valley based Disrupt Digital, has taken out the top title of Brisbane Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Brisbane Young Entrepreneur Awards at Riverlife on Friday 7 September.
The initiative recognises homegrown entrepreneurial talent in Brisbane aged under 40 who have built cutting edge businesses that are disrupting traditional industries and changing the business landscape. Collectively, the Brisbane Young Entrepreneur finalists boasted a combined turnover of $240 million in the last financial year alone, and have created more than 1000 jobs.
This year is a milestone achievement for Bradshaw, who has been a finalist in the Brisbane Young Entrepreneur Awards for seven years, with 2018 finally marking the year he has come out on top. The founder of Disrupt Digital edged ahead of winners across the 17 categories celebrated at this annual event, which was sponsored by HLB Mann Judd, Spruson & Ferguson, the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland, the University of Queensland, Capital B, Alex Correa Executive, Master Eventist and Screen Offset Printing.
The judges acknowledged Bradshaw’s strong position in the world of digital marketing, with his company Disrupt Digital housing some of the most cutting-edge and disruptive technologies on the market. “Ben is an impressive entrepreneur and continues to lead the marketing world in the digital and marketing space,” says Dr Glen Richards, from Channel 10’s Shark Tank and founder of Greencross. “Disrupt Digital is going global, with business interests in Australia, USA, and Asia. This is a business with unprecedented growth!”
In addition to the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, Bradshaw took home the Digital Disruptor award, which recognises businesses at the forefront of disruptive technology that is rapidly changing the world we live in. Bradshaw was joined by Thuy Lam, founder of technology start-up Blackbook.ai, who took out the coveted Trailblazer award – recognising an entrepreneur that has achieved exponential growth and is destined for major success.
Other winners included Karl Brown, founder of Instyle Solar and Rokkit Performance Marketing, who once again took home the Retail and Services award on the back of his win last year. Brett Boulton, a well-recognised entrepreneur in the Brisbane building industry, who is building more than 300 homes a year, secured the Property and Construction Award.
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