Thankyou co-founder and MD Daniel Flynn, who is presenting at Food & Drink + PKN's industry forum on Thursday, has been named as an Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.
The EY Entrepreneur of the Year award is one of the world’s most prestigious business awards, and Flynn won in the Emerging Category (Southern Region) for his entrepreneurial spirit and the significant growth of The Thankyou Group.
In 2008, 19-year-old Flynn co-founded Thankyou, a social enterprise that exists to fund life- changing development projects. Through the sale of its water, body care and food ranges it funds safe water access, hygiene and sanitation programs and food aid respectively.
From 2012 to 2014 the business grew over 200 per cent year-on-year, and on Thursday, Disruptive Innovation LIVE Forum attendees will hear about Flynn's journey at the helm of this pioneering company at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
“It’s a real honour to receive an award of this standard, and wouldn’t be possible without the team and their hard work and commitment to building Thankyou,” Flynn said of the award.
“Entrepreneurship is really about taking an idea and successfully putting momentum behind it. The launch of Thankyou came from the idea of empowering everyday Australians to change the world through a simple purchase...and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that idea become a reality as the Thankyou movement grows.
“We have some big, bold plans for Thankyou that will unfold over the next 12 months. Keep your eyes on us,” Flynn said.
Flynn will represent the Southern Region at the national awards in October, where he will compete for the title of 2015 Australian EY Entrepreneur of the Year.
The national winner will go on to represent the country in the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Monte Carlo next June, where entrepreneurs from 145 cities in more than 60 countries will compete.
