Brian Collins appointed CEO of Enterprize Tasmania
Enterprize Tasmania has appointed fintech investor and startup leader Brian Collins as its new Chief Executive Officer, as the organisation marks its 10th anniversary and moves to put Tasmania’s startup ecosystem on the national and global stage.
It serves as the organisation's first high-profile appointment, as Enterprize Tasmania aims to fill a void created by other state governments’ retreat from programs supporting their respective startup ecosystems.
Collins is a co-founder of Triple Bubble, Australia's first of its kind fintech fund"and serves as Deputy Chair of industry peak body FinTech Australia. He has spent more than a decade working with founders around the world, leading Startupbootcamp’s fintech programs in Australia, and advising on fintech and venture capital with organisations including AWS and major banks.
Incoming CEO of Enterprize Tasmania, Brian Collins, said: “I’ve fallen in love with the innovation ecosystem in Tasmania. Now I want the rest of Australia and the world to do the same.”
“Enterprize began as a founder-led effort, backed by philanthropy, built on hustle, ingenuity, and a willingness to back ideas before they were proven. Early support from the State Government, Detached Cultural Organisation, and later the City of Hobart and the City of Launceston, helped turn that ambition into a statewide platform.”
“Now, it’s gone on to host thousands of events, amassing over 220 members from over 100 companies. Its hubs in Hobart and Launceston are nearly at capacity. The next step is to grow further by showcasing what’s been created, why it's special and how other startups and organisations can get involved.”
“This is so important for Tasmania as a state and Australia more broadly. Our data shows that startups are outpacing other small businesses in terms of revenue and growth. Startups and growth companies based at Enterprize have reported an average annual revenue growth of around 126% and employment growth of 44%, compared with 3.39% and 5.3% respectively for Tasmanian small businesses.”
“Tasmania is no longer just a destination for an innovation retreat. It’s the launchpad for Australia’s next unicorn. The global success of design application Procreate and geospatial technology company Geoneon speaks to this. They are the first of many companies that we expect will flourish as the state’s startup reputation accelerates.”
Phaedon Stough, Board Member of Enterprize Tasmania, added: “This is a watershed moment for our organisation. Over the past 10 years, we’ve worked to put Tasmania on the map. That job is already done.
“Now, it's about scaling and multiplying those efforts, and Brian is perfect for the job. He’s come full circle with his career, initially starting out helping us grow our programs as an entrepreneur in residence five years ago. As our CEO, he’ll not only champion the state as a place to grow a company, but help it realise its full potential.”
About Enterprize Tasmania
Enterprize Tasmania Ltd is an independent, not-for-profit organisation and registered charity dedicated to building a thriving, sustainable startup ecosystem across Tasmania. Operating hubs in Hobart and Launceston, Enterprize provides coworking spaces, offices, events and world-class entrepreneurship programs that support founders from inspiration and ideation through to validation and growth. Its mission is to create jobs, attract and retain talent, and diversify economic growth in Tasmania by positioning the state as a nationally recognised startup hotspot.
