Entrepreneurial Seventh-day Adventists received more than $A10,000 for missional business ideas at Hyve Australia 2024, a conference helping to build a community of church-based innovators.
Promoted as Adventism’s premier pitch competition, The Lions’ Den invited modern-day Daniels to throw their ideas at a panel of judges who awarded cash prizes. The experienced “lions” offered mentoring and business guidance and will continue to do so.
Winners from The Lions’ Den this past year reported on the opportunities Hyve gave them, including pitching at the Hyve Creators event in the United States where investors were offering $1.5 million.
More than 120 entrepreneurs and innovators from Australia, French Polynesia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu met on Avondale University’s Lake Macquarie campus for Hyve Australia 2024.
They are passionate about expanding their businesses and ministries and finding ways to be more missional in their marketplaces, says facilitator Julian Archer. He brought Hyve to Australia in his role as stewardship director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific.
“Ever since the founding of the Church, God has worked through innovative and entrepreneurial people and ideas to expand His kingdom. Hyve events bring like-minded people together in a professional and prayerful, mission-focused space and they leave inspired to do even greater things for God,” said Mr Archer.
Twenty-four business leaders gave testimonies and presentations at Hyve on topics including industry innovation, freelancing, marketing, mumpreneurship, family business dynamics, manufacturing, church planting inside a business premises, scaling a business for a successful exit, the importance of business culture, writing company policies with Scriptural principles, ministry startups and selling and influencing through social media.
Attendees were repeatedly challenged by their peers to simultaneously grow their businesses and multiply their missional impact. They felt excited the church is supporting them in their faith-driven business and professional journey, reported Mr Archer. And, he adds, they say they are now ready to implement many of the new ideas and systems.
The Lift Project founder and Avondale academic Professor Darren Morton closed Hyve with a hilarious yet insightful message about the challenges of accomplishing big things. He also testified to the impact Hyve is making on his understanding of missional business endeavours.
