Join us from 12:30pm to 3:30pm on Friday 1 May 2026 at the vibrant Miami Marketta to spend an afternoon with the Gold Coast’s brightest grassroots entrepreneurs, hearing their stories, learning from their wins and stumbles, and discovering why they chose to grow their businesses right here at home.

Tickets for the YP Gold Coast’s 10th Annual Entrepreneurs Forum Presented by Community Bank Paradise Point, Bendigo Bank are on sale now. Our most anticipated event of the year

This year’s forum will bring together founders who started here, built something meaningful, and decided the Gold Coast was just too good to leave. Curious how they did it? You’ll hear about the moments that made them double down instead of calling it quits (because let’s be honest, who hasn’t had a “why did I start this?” moment?).

Speakers

Ed Hatcher, Founder of Alfred's Apartment

Ed Hatcher

What started as a small menswear store on the Gold Coast Highway in Mermaid Beach has grown into one of the Coast’s most iconic brands, and Ed has been at the helm for the past seven years. Built on the idea of creating quality pieces for people living between the surf and the city, Alfred’s has become more than just a store. It is a space, a community, and a brand that people genuinely want to be part of.

Today, their Nobby Beach space brings together a flagship clothing line, a barber, and a café under one roof. It’s part retail, part lifestyle, and very on brand for the Gold Coast.

Ed’s story is exactly what this year’s forum is all about. Grassroots founders who started here, built something meaningful, and proved you don’t need to pack up and move to Sydney, Melbourne, or head overseas to create a brand that resonates. 

Layla Morris, Founder of Dr. Diamond

Layla Morris, Founder Of Dr. Diamond
Since launching, Dr. Diamond has seen rapid momentum, including a defining viral moment after Layla handed a Dr. Diamond pen to none other than Hailey Bieber. The moment sent the brand into global conversation almost overnight. It has since been featured organically across podcasts and media, and is now in the hands of over 20,000 customers worldwide.
 
Layla is known for her outgoing nature and instinctive, customer-first approach, building a brand where community sits at the centre and product, content, and culture all move as one. Alongside this, she’s built a strong personal brand through her “52 Walks with 52 Founders” series, connecting with a new founder each week and sharing those conversations to inspire others along the way.
 
Today, she’s scaling Dr. Diamond globally, with a clear ambition to define the category.

Brodie Green, Founder of Moustache and Bouy

Brodie Green, Founder Of Moustache And Bouy

Brodie is the name behind some of the Gold Coast’s most recognisable hospitality venues, first making his mark with Seadog, a Burleigh Heads café that began as a small hole-in-the-wall concept and grew into an award-winning local favourite. He later expanded his portfolio with Buoy at The Oxley precinct before launching Moustache, a venue designed to seamlessly transition from daytime coffee culture into evening wine service.

Known for his ability to build venues that are both commercially disciplined and culturally relevant, Brodie has developed a reputation for creating concepts that balance design, experience, and performance. He’s used his platforms to spark conversation and drive change, taking a considered approach to hospitality, viewing it not only as a commercial venture but also as a platform for broader cultural impact.

Thor Berg, CEO and Co-Founder of Bloody Good Tests

Thor Berg, Ceo And Co Founder Of Bloody Good Tests
If you’ve ever put off getting a blood test because it felt like too much effort, Thor’s probably already solved that problem. Bloody Good Tests is a fast-growing health-tech company changing the way Australians access and understand their health data, making everything from blood tests to DNA and gut health analysis more accessible, convenient, and actually easy to understand.
 
Through a seamless direct-to-consumer platform, users can access instant online referrals, choose from more than 4,000 collection centres nationwide, or even have a mobile service come straight to their home, office, or gym. Results are delivered through a simple online app that breaks down complex health data into clear, everyday insights. No confusing jargon, no chasing results, no excuses.

For $175pp, your ticket gets you a cocktail on arrival, a three-hour beverage package, and a three-course menu that will keep your appetite and ambition fueled while you soak up all the entrepreneurial insight.

Moderating the panel is the ever-insightful journalist and television presenter Kendall Gilding. She’ll be guiding the conversation with four incredible local founders, whose names will be revealed in the coming weeks….so keep your eyes peeled!

And just a friendly reminder: this event usually sells out and once tickets are gone, they’re gone. So don’t leave it until the last-minute sliding into our DM’s hoping for a miracle ticket. We’d love to help, but even we can’t work that kind of magic.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your tickets now, secure your spot, and join a room full of Gold Coast young professionals ready to be inspired, laugh, learn, and celebrate the grit, creativity, and courage of our local entrepreneurs.

Event Details

Date: Friday 1st May 2025

Time: 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Location: Miami Marketta – 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami QLD 4220

Price: General Admission $175 pp

Inclusions: Three-course lunch, three-hour beverage package, cocktail on arrival and networking with the Gold Coast’s brightest professionals + entrepreneurs