Tontongue, a startup founded by Brazilian Eduardo Barbato and based in Australia, was recently named a finalist for the prestigious Australia-Latin America Business Council (ALABC) Business Excellence Awards 2024, in Category C, for entities with fewer than 20 employees. The announcement of the winners took place on August 7th during a gala dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Melbourne. Although Tontongue did not win the main award, its nomination highlights the company's relevance in the competitive global startup scene.
The ALABC Business Excellence Awards is one of the main recognitions for companies operating in Latin America and assesses strict criteria such as strategy, business growth, ESG policies, innovation, and commitment to the region. Being among the finalists reflects Tontongue's success, which has stood out for its performance in an international market with constant expansion and competitiveness.
The business is responsible for providing an innovative system designed for the hiring, management, and execution of simultaneous translations at events. Pioneering as an "interpretation marketplace," it offers specialized software and a sales team in European countries, enabling the service to be provided in various countries around the world.
The startup scene in Australia has shown significant growth in recent years. According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER 2023), the cities of Sydney and Melbourne are among the top 50 startup ecosystems, attracting a total of USD 14 billion in venture capital funding between 2018 and 2022. This favorable environment allowed Tontongue to establish itself and expand its operations.
Eduardo Barbato, CEO of Tontongue, highlighted the importance of the recognition: “Being a finalist in the ALABC Business Excellence Awards is an honor for our entire team. This recognition validates our strategy of innovation and standing out in a global market, in addition to reinforcing our commitment to excellence. The Brazilian market is our main source of revenue and was very important for us to validate the idea, but we will continue to explore new opportunities in Australia and beyond.”
The nomination of Tontongue as a finalist is a significant milestone for Latin American startups seeking success on the international stage. The company continues to strengthen its presence in Australia – known for representing a large part of the corporate events market – and keeps a close eye on new opportunities.
