Entrepreneur of the Year win twice as sweet

Splice Marketing Agency Founder and CEO Ellie Bakker took out the Think2Be Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the second year in a row at the 2023 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards on July 7.

See the full list of winners here.

The healthcare marketing agency focuses on improving people’s lives by ethically marketing medical devices and technologies, health and wellness businesses, and health non-profit organisations.

The North Lakes-based business support clients ranging from start-ups to global MedTech companies, solo practices to large healthcare organisations, those working within existing health systems and those innovating to change healthcare.

Ellie launched the business in 2017, at the age of 29, and it has since grown from a one-woman band to a team of 20 with no bank loans and only the first round of Jobkeeper payments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She has created two spin-off businesses: Splice Consulting (business advisory) and Telehealth Mastery (accredited medical education); and achieved a growth rate of 260 per cent in the first two years of business, followed by an average annual growth rate of 50-70 per cent.

Ellie says she’s ‘over the moon’ to be recognised as the Think2Be Entrepreneur of the Year for the second year running.

“It’s a testament to all the blood, sweat and tears that go into business. It’s hard work but I have such an incredible team, family, friends, partner … everyone behind me, supporting me,” she says.

“Winning Entrepreneur of the year, I guess, means we can share our story. We can support more people in the healthcare sector and really improve accessibility to health services.”

Her top tip for new businesses is pretty simple.

“Stay resilient, get through the tough times. I think Moreton Bay has a really phenomenal business community and I wish I had tapped into it a lot sooner. Definitely see who’s out there, get support,” she says.

“All the business owners in this region are willing to help and share their tips. So, I think … just tap into the community.”

Ellie and her team have an eye firmly on the future.

“Our vision is to really improve the healthcare sector by improving accessibility … there are a few things happening in the health tech space, a lot of growth for the team as well and really just bringing insights and everything to the community and to the healthcare sector,” she says.

To find out more, visit the website splicemarketing.com.au