Entrepreneur festival back with a splash

Sunshine Coast’s flagship entrepreneur festival, FWD>>>FEST 25, is back from May 7–9, bringing together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, policymakers, creatives and corporates.

Held across three days at Bokarina’s Venue 114, Maroochydore’s Altitude 9 and Mooloolaba’s Pier 33, the festival has something to offer for everyone, from first-time founders to seasoned business owners.

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This year’s theme, ‘Riding the Wave,’ comes to life with keynote speaker Mark Visser who is a world-renowned big wave surfer, author and high-performance mindset coach to elite athletes and business leaders.

Known for surfing towering waves in the dark, Mark will dive into the mindset needed to navigate high-stakes decisions, face uncertainty head-on and stay steady when the pressure hits.

Mark Visser said he was thrilled to headline at the festival and share his strategies on embracing uncertainty and overcoming challenges.

“Entrepreneurship demands more than just ideas - it requires the courage to embrace uncertainty and the mindset to turn obstacles into opportunities,” Mr Visser said.

“At FWD>>>FEST 25, I’ll share the strategies I’ve used to face extreme challenges head-on, helping innovators unlock focus, resilience and the mental strength needed to thrive in business and beyond.”

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli encouraged the local business community to attend.

“Typically, events of this calibre are hosted in capital cities, but thanks to our thriving technology and innovation ecosystem, the Sunshine Coast is the perfect venue for FWD>>>FEST 25,” Mayor Natoli said.

“Council is delighted to collaborate with Silicon Coast, as this event perfectly aligns with our Regional Economic Development Strategy to help local businesses navigate change and foster a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, research and digital connectivity.

“Register now and join us for a series of inspiring talks, networking opportunities and the chance to connect with fellow visionaries!"

Festival highlights

Held across iconic venues on the Sunshine Coast over three days, the festival will feature:

• Keynote from Circle Leadership founder Dave Clare on how to make a real difference, not just be the best in the world, but the best for the world.
• Lunch and Learn with Daniel Flynn, co-founder of Thankyou. Daniel will share his insights on building a sustainable social enterprise and challenging conventional business models.
• The Innovation Showcase, spotlighting groundbreaking startups and emerging technologies from across the region and beyond.
• A live Procurement Pitch Session, where businesses pitch directly to enterprise and government buyers.​
• Curated sessions, expert-led panels and interactive masterclasses on topics such as capital raising, artificial intelligence, sustainability and business expansion.
• Networking activations designed to foster meaningful connections among founders, funders and collaborators.​
• Opportunities to meet corporates, investors, government, creatives and community enablers.

FWD>>>FEST 25 Chair Craig Josic said the festival had grown into a nationally recognised regional innovation event.

“The festival is now a national event thanks to the support of a thriving local ecosystem and forward-thinking government and industry partners,” Mr Josic said.

“FWD>>>FEST is about action, not just ideas. It’s where the innovation ecosystem comes together presenting collaborative opportunities that can change the trajectory of your venture.”

Showcasing local innovation

Following on from the success of previous years, the Innovation Showcase is back again to spotlight homegrown Sunshine Coast startups and regional success stories.

It will give businesses a platform to promote their product or service, connect with decision-makers, and gain exposure to potential investors, collaborators and customers.

Exhibitors will offer a range of solutions across AI, sustainability, accessibility and inclusivity technology, health tech and digital games.

Tickets and passes

FWD>>>FEST 25 runs from May 7–9 May, with each day designed to empower attendees at every stage of their business and innovation journey.

FWD>>>FEST 25 is proudly supported by Silicon Coast, Sunshine Coast Council, Advance Queensland and Regional Development Australia Moreton Bay Sunshine Coast.