Community members looking to start, grow or improve their small business will find a wealth of opportunities at the upcoming 2024 Geelong Small Business Festival.
A collaboration between the City of Greater Geelong and the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, this year’s festival promises over 50 free and low-cost events tailored to empower local businesses.
Running from 12 – 23 August, the festival’s diverse program aims to connect, inspire, and grow the region’s small business community.
Our small business community makes up around 97 per cent of all businesses in the region and represents a huge driver of our local economy.
Now in its 14th year, the Geelong Small Business Festival has benefited hundreds of local businesses and nearly 30,000 business owners and community members; underscoring our vibrant entrepreneurial spirit.
Spanning seven event themes, from marketing and business essentials to sustainability and wellbeing, the festival caters to every aspect of business growth and development. Highlights include workshops, networking sessions, expert panels, and keynote presentations designed to foster innovation and success.
View the full festival program from Tuesday 2 July at .
The festival kicks off with a special launch event on Thursday 8 August from 5.30 – 8pm at The Pier Geelong. Featuring local agribusiness producers showcasing regional produce, the launch sets the stage for an enriching fortnight ahead.
Keynote Speaker Highlight: Nadia Lee
We’re honoured to have Nadia Lee, Founder and CEO of ThatsMyFace as our keynote speaker. Nadia will share insights including ‘AI is here: Are you ready?,’ exploring how she built a world-first solution in identity and reputation management. ThatsMyFace is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) company that safely detects key business assets and people in malicious content at scale. The business is the patent holder for the world’s first privacy-preserving facial recognition software, making biometric identity verification a feasible reality. Nadia’s expertise extends to AI policy research, where she serves as Industry Partner at Reclaim Coalition and contributes to the Content Authenticity Initiative alongside industry giants like Adobe and Microsoft.
Event Details and Registration
Tickets for the launch event sponsored by Morris are $49 plus GST per person, inclusive of canapes and drinks. With limited spots available, community members are encouraged to book early to avoid missing out.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
The festival has an expanded footprint, with activities this year centering at Geelong’s civic precinct Wurriki Nyal, alongside dedicated days on the Bellarine Peninsula and in Torquay.
This strategic alignment brings together regional business leaders, experts, and industry organisations to share invaluable insights and strategies for success.
The Geelong Small Business Festival is a great opportunity to learn new skills, gain knowledge, be inspired by innovative ideas, and discover new ways of doing business.
There’s something for everyone, from how to start a business, social media and managing people, to social responsibility, sustainability and marketing.
Be quick to secure your spot!
Geelong Chamber of Commerce CEO Jeremy Crawford
After a very successful inaugural partnership in 2023, this year will be even bigger with a jam-packed program condensed into two weeks and collated into key themes for business to make the most of the festival.
We are incredibly excited to bring Nadia Lee to Geelong, a pioneering AI futurist, along with so many sessions for leaders to capitalise and focus on their business.
