Meet the Australian tech founders recognised in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for the Asia-Pacific

More than 20 Australian entrepreneurs have been recognised across multiple categories of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for the Asia-Pacific region.

The Forbes lists, which feature companies and founders from 24 countries, was judged by business leaders like Didi Chuxing chief executive Jean Liu, Zendesk general founder of messaging Royston Tay and The Hive co-founder T. M. Ravi.

Categories ranged from finance and venture capital to social entrepreneurship and e-commerce.

Appster co-founder Mark McDonald, 25, together with New Zealand co-founder Josiah Humphrey, 25, are listed as “featured honorees” in the enterprise technology category for building a $19 million global app development company with 350 employees, Forbes reports.

The Appster duo also made it into this year’s SmartCompany Hot 30 Under 30 list.

“The secret is that the most talented people want to work for a company that is trying to do great things,” Humphrey previously told SmartCompany.

“They themselves are ambitious. People want a reason to get out of bed in the morning. They want something ambitious [and] to come on a journey with you.”

Phoria chief executive Trent Clews-De Castella, 27, who showcased his startup’s new site at last year’s Melbourne Accelerator Program gala also features in the enterprise technology category, along with Expert 360 co-founder Bridget Loudon, 29.

Phoria, which was formerly called Scanned, specialises in the development of immersive media through virtual reality and 360 degree film. Its clients range from big four bank ANZ to REA Group and the University of Melbourne.

Forbes states Loudon, who founded Expert 360 with Emily Yue, has “built one of Australia’s fastest-growing startups in three years”, raised more than $8 million in funding and serves over 2500 companies, including Uber and Amex.

Speaking to StartupSmart in March 2016, Loudon said startups with “world domination” in their sights should lay the foundation for global growth early on.

“If you do have international insight, make sure you build that into your structure from the start,” Loudon said.

“It’s all about thinking globally but acting locally.”

The other Australian tech entrepreneurs and startup founders across all categories of Forbes‘ 30 Under 30 for the Asia-Pacific region are:

• • Smartkins Animals founder Anvitha Vijay, 10
• • Nexba founder Troy Douglas, 27
• • Artesian Venture Partners managing director and Zookal co-founder Vicky Lay, 27
• • Airwallex co-founder Liu Yueting, 26
• • Afterpay chief executive and co-founder Nick Molnar, 26
• • Forcite Helmet Systems co-founder Alfred Boyadgis, 26
• • Fonebox founder Jordan Grives, 28
• • Measure Australia co-founder Aonghus Stevens, 24
• • Chello co-founder Lindsay Rogers, 28
• • Schedugram founder Hugh Stephens, 27
• • Tommy Swiss founder Jimmy Du, 29
• • The Bikini Body Training Company co-founder Kayla Itsines, 25
• • Chai Walli founder Uppma Virdi, 27
• • Maxwell MRI co-founders Matthew Brown, 24, and Elliot Smith, 25
• • SettleIn founder Alice Brennan, 29
• • Refugee Talent co-founders Nirary Dacho, 30, and Anna Robson, 29
• • OpenLearning founder Adam Brimo, 29
• • Speedlancer founder and chief executive Adam Stone, 22

*This article was updated on April 21, 2017 at 9am. 

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