Xero Beautiful Business Fund

The Xero Beautiful Business Fund is a private funding initiative spearheaded by Xero, a global cloud-based accounting software platform. The fund is designed to empower small businesses and nonprofits across select countries by providing financial support to future-focused initiatives. Emphasizing Xero's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community enrichment, the fund offers targeted grants that help organizations navigate challenges and seize opportunities in a rapidly evolving economic and technological landscape. Applicants to the Xero Beautiful Business Fund may enter into one or more of four core funding categories: Innovating for Sustainability, Trailblazing with Technology, Strengthening Community Connection, and Upskilling for the Future. Each category is designed to support a distinct aspect of business advancement. For example, sustainability-focused projects may include minimizing environmental impact or launching eco-friendly products, while technology-driven applications are encouraged to propose projects that leverage emerging tools to disrupt markets or enhance operations. Community-focused efforts aim to uplift marginalized or underserved populations through direct service or social good, and upskilling projects are intended to address gaps in professional capabilities within the applicant organization. To apply, eligible businesses must submit a completed online entry form along with a 90-second pitch video. This submission can be made by the business owner or an authorized employee. No pre-application stage or concept paper is required. Applications are evaluated first at the country level, where judging panels select four national winners (one per category). These 28 national winners are then considered by a global judging panel, which selects one global winner for each category. Judging criteria emphasize a clearly defined funding use, demonstrable alignment with the applicant’s broader goals, commitment to implementation, and innovative impact. The fund is open to existing Xero small business customers who operate in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Eligible businesses must be for-profit or nonprofit entities, have 1–50 employees, and maintain an active Xero subscription throughout the application and award period. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate how the funding will advance their business’s mission in line with the selected category. Prize allocations are stratified by both country and global tiers. Each country-level winner receives approximately NZ$20,000 in local currency equivalents (e.g., US$12,500 in the United States, CA$15,000 in Canada, AU$20,000 in Australia, etc.). Global winners are awarded an additional NZ$50,000 or local currency equivalent. In total, the prize pool exceeds US$460,000. The fund's competitive selection process is rigorous but inclusive, rewarding innovation, impact, and practical vision. Applications for the 2024 cycle closed in late 2024, and winners were announced in early 2025. Although the next application cycle has not yet opened, the program is recurring and anticipated to resume on an annual basis. Based on the previous timeline, the next expected application window will likely open in Fall 2026. Interested applicants are advised to monitor the official fund page for updates and prepare materials in advance. There is no direct contact email or phone number listed in the available source materials, and no PDF application guide was located.