Forbes Australia picks out three Australian entrepreneurs who are making waves in the startup space right now.
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FibreconX
After decades of building telecommunications networks, Mark Rafferty recognised a growing shortage in Australia’s fibre infrastructure. “I could see demand from the hyperscalers beginning to outstrip what a 25-year-old legacy network could physically supply,” he says. “We were running out of fibre.”
Recognising the need for a new generation of fibre infrastructure, Rafferty founded FibreconX to build a network purpose-built for data centres, cloud computing and AI. “We’ve built a brand-new, future-proof network connecting major data centres across Sydney and Melbourne on the shortest possible routes,” says Rafferty. “
The result is minimal latency, guaranteed service quality and the ability to scale with unlimited capacity and built-in network resilience. Since launching in 2019, FibreconX has raised more than $70 million across three equity rounds, backed by investors including Tattarang, 360 Capital Digital, Regal and several high-net-worth investors, to support the expansion of its fibre networks across Sydney and Melbourne.
“Recent market activity and surging investor and customer demand highlight the massive opportunity in digital infrastructure driven by the AI paradigm shift,” says Tattarang CEO John Hartman.
“We are excited to see our investment in FibreconX gathering momentum and continue to support the company’s strategy as it capitalises on these trends.”
Trivity
Public law lawyer Karwan Eskerie had spent years advising government agencies when he recognised a gap in the market for technology built for highly regulated environments. “I had seen time and again how challenging it is to adopt technology to help with government decision-making while making sure that it is lawful, in line with policy and fit for purpose,” he says. “We felt there was a gap in the market.”
Seeking a different approach, Eskerie teamed up with technology entrepreneur Lambros Photios to launch Trivity, a Sydney-based technology company developing AI-powered decision-making software for government agencies and highly regulated industries. “Our goal is to be that dependable long-term partner to our clients,” says Eskerie. “That’s exactly what those organisations are crying out for.”
The pair drew on their respective businesses to establish Trivity, combining Eskerie’s expertise as a partner at the Australian law firm Sparke Helmore with Photios’ experience as the founder of the technology services company Adaca. “We’ve brought together a multidisciplinary team from both the technology and legal sides,” says Photios. “Those complementary skills have been essential to taking Trivity forward.”
The joint venture is now preparing to deploy its first software solutions across Australia. “We’re already working with organisations to understand the specific challenges Trivity can solve,” says Photios. “It’s still early days, but we’re just on the precipice.”
Oz Hair & Beauty
Anthony Nappa grew up around his parents’ hairdressing salons, spending school holidays stocking shelves before spotting an opportunity to sell professional haircare products online while studying at university.
“It started as a side project, but once I saw the potential, I went all in,” he says. What started as a small online operation run from the back of the family warehouse has since evolved into Oz Hair & Beauty, a national omnichannel retailer specialising in professional haircare, with Anthony serving as Chief Executive Officer and his brother, Guy, as Chief Operating Officer.
The family-owned business now operates 34 stores nationwide and generates more than $100 million in annual revenue, up from $24 million
in 2019. After the pandemic doubled the company’s online business, Nappa sold a 40% stake to investors including Brett Blundy’s private investment firm BBRC and Accent Group CEO Daniel Agostinelli, whose retail expertise helped accelerate the company’s expansion into physical stores. “Retail is detail, and they’d done it thousands of times before,” says Nappa. “Their experience helped us build a physical retail business alongside our online one.”
Earlier this year, Oz Hair & Beauty acquired Melbourne retailer Beauty Works as part of its shift towards service-led retail, with a further nine stores scheduled to open by the end of the year. “We think this could be a hundred-store business,” says Nappa. “The plan is to keep opening fifteen to twenty stores a year, and we see New Zealand as a market with real potential.”
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