1. Justine Flynn, Daniel Flynn and Jarryd Burns

Company: Thankyou Group
Age: 29, 27 and 27

This entrepreneurial trio is responsible for those water bottles that thank you for purchasing them.

Justine Flynn, Daniel Flynn and Jarryd Burns are the founders of the Thankyou Group, a food and skincare product company that uses profits to fund sanitation and water projects in third world countries.

Originally launched in 2008 just selling water, the company rebranded in 2013 and began a social media campaign to get their products into Coles and Woolworths.

Three years later, their products can be found on shelves across the country, and the company has funded safe water access for nearly 200,000 people.

Recently, the company raised $1.4 million dollars by crowdfunding a book about the company’s story. The funds will go towards launch of Thankyou Baby, a dermatologically-tested baby care range, as well as the Thankyou Group’s expansion into New Zealand.

One third of Thankyou, Jarryd Burns, has some timely advice for hopeful entrepreneurs.

“Education is like time travel,” Burns says.

“In one book or a coffee with a mentor, you get to fast track something that maybe took them 20 years to learn. But, at the same time, you’ve got to be willing to challenge traditional ways of thinking.

“That’s the core of entrepreneurialism.”