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Hello. Since I came on board as editor in chief of SmartCo. Media a year ago, we’ve been reviewing our mission, and today we’re rolling out some changes designed to deepen our relationship with you, and other engaged readers like you.

SmartCompany fights for, champions and scrutinises SMEs and startups, the 99.8% of Australian businesses with up to 200 staff whose employees comprise 70% of the workforce, and contribute 50% of GDP.

We know from a recent audience survey that more than two-thirds of our audience are founders, directors or business leaders: the individuals powering the smart companies driving what we call the real economy.

As you know, SmartCompany authoritatively covers entrepreneurship, regulatory changes, and the cultural, strategic and technological innovations rapidly reshaping workplaces.

Our portfolio of media brands aims to help the aspirational business leaders and decision makers driving Australia’s real economy thrive in the fast-changing world of work, with a rich suite of digital editorial products and in-person events and experiences.

There are 2.6 million businesses in Australia:

• 1.55 million (59.5%) are micro businesses, often sole traders, employing 1-4 staff;
• 955,000 (36.7%) employ 5-19 staff; and
• 95,000 businesses (3.6%) employ 20-200: the medium in SME.

This is who we serve. And we think this vital – and huge – cohort of our economy is underserved by mainstream business media titles, which overwhelmingly focus on the 4,533 Australian businesses employing more than 200 employees.

Of course the Qantas, Optus and Telstras of the world are important, and we cover them when they do things that are relevant to our audience.

But mostly, we’re for the 99.8%!

We’re for the ambitious, the entrepreneurs, the innovators, the trailblazers.

We’re for business obsessives like you.

Today, as part of our mission to serve our community, we’re launching a better reader experience.

We’re introducing a different way to access content that will make it easier for readers to get more value from SmartCompany.

You will be able to access your first article for free. After your first free article, certain areas of the site will be gated and require sign up or a subscription in order to access them. After you’ve read a few more articles, you’ll be asked to financially support us, initially for less than a dollar a week. If you’re a loyal reader, we hope you’ll feel this represents good value.

Your subscription means you’ll get unlimited access to SmartCompany, our daily email with all the latest SME and startup news, first invites to events, including the Pitch, Scale Up and Smart50, and discounts on award applications – alongside access to all our exclusive content.

We know you’re just as obsessed with business as we are – you can sign up here.

We’re excited for this new era, and we thank you for supporting SmartCompany.