Online business lender Spotcap has completed its search and named Simone McLaughlin, CEO of Jobs Shared, as ‘Australia’s bravest business owner’. The Yes is More competition aimed to cultivate an environment where entrepreneurs aren’t afraid to take smart risks or to say ‘yes’ to opportunities for their business.
After taking time out to have her first child Simone was ready to return to her career in a part-time capacity. Like many new parents she struggled to find suitable part-time work with career progression. Simone said ‘yes’ to starting Jobs Shared and to achieving gender equality in the workplace. Jobs Shared is an online platform which turns full time jobs into flexible ones.
“If we say no to parents who want to re-enter their careers gender equality will remain a distant dream, female role models will be few and far between and women will continue to be absent from boards and in executive positions,” said Simon McLaughlin, CEO of Jobs Shared.
Simone took out first place and received a $5,000 cash prize from Spotcap. Simone intends to use the funds to improve the user experience of her website and to continue her fight for gender parity in workplaces and greater flexibility in work choices for new parents.
Spotcap received 26 entries to the competition which were liked and shared more than 3,000 times. Five Australian businesses made it into the final round with the winners were selected by a panel of four entrepreneurial experts.
Lachlan Heussler, Managing Director of Spotcap, Chris Charlton of Charltons Accounting, Taryn Wink founder of Wink Models and theright.fit and Natasha Stewart, founder of Mum CFOs and Business Jump made up the panel.
The judges awarded second prize to an equally inspiring entrepreneur, Sarah Wilmott, founder of Feel Better Box. A business which curates and delivers thoughtful care packages to loved ones going through a difficult time.
Sarah received an accounting package from Charltons Accounting, to the value of $2,000. The specialised financial advice will help Sarah to continue to grow her business.
“When we started Yes is More we wanted to celebrate bold, brave business owners who say yes and we’re so pleased to have this opportunity to provide Jobs Shared and Feel Better Box with financial support and advice to enable them to say ‘yes’ to the next big opportunity for their business” said Heussler.
Spotcap provides credit lines and loans to micro, small and medium sized businesses. Spotcap has developed a unique credit algorithm which is more focused on real time performance and business financials. Our criteria enables us to say ‘yes’ to businesses with growth potential more frequently than traditional lenders.
