5 key takeaways from SmallBiz Week Sydney 2025

Earlier this month, Budgetly joined hundreds of small business owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators at SmallBiz Week Sydney 2025. Across two days, we had the chance to meet incredible founders, hear inspiring stories, and share practical insights on how technology is reshaping finance for SMEs.

Our Founder & CEO, Simon Lenoir, and VP of Growth, Matt Clements, each presented sessions on how small businesses can adopt AI, automation, and tech-led growth strategies without the complexity or costs of enterprise systems. Their talks sparked great conversations at the booth, and the audience questions highlighted just how quickly business owners want to put these ideas into practice.

If you couldn’t attend in person, here are our top five takeaways from this year’s expo and conference.

1. Efficiency is no longer optional for SMEs

Running lean has always been part of the small business playbook, but rising costs and talent shortages mean efficiency is now mission-critical. During his session Unlocking Efficiency: Why SMEs Need AI & Automation, Simon Lenoir challenged attendees to see efficiency not as a cost-cutting exercise but as an enabler of growth.

“The real opportunity with AI is empowering employees to be more proactive, not fearful. When technology takes repetitive tasks off their plate, they can focus on higher-value work that moves the business forward.”

For many attendees, this was a fresh perspective. Instead of viewing AI as a threat to jobs, Simon reframed it as a chance to create more meaningful roles while maintaining financial discipline.

The conversations that followed showed a clear appetite for solutions that reduce wasted time without compromising employee trust or morale.

2. AI adoption is shifting from hype to hands-on tools

AI was everywhere at this year’s event, but what stood out most was the shift in tone. For small businesses, the conversation has moved from curiosity and experimentation into tangible, everyday use cases.

Matt Clements captured this perfectly in his Friday session AI Without the Hype: What Small Businesses Can Use Right Now:

“For startups, the challenge isn’t just tracking spend — it’s doing it fast, accurately, and without adding headcount. AI-powered tools like Budgetly help startups stay lean and agile by embedding financial discipline into daily operations.”

From automated approvals to anomaly detection, the examples shared highlighted how AI can reduce admin while protecting margins. The practical message resonated: small businesses don’t need the latest research model, they need tools that solve real finance problems right now.

3. Startups need finance systems that grow with them

One of the strongest themes from founders we met was the need for finance tools that can flex as the business scales. In the early days, managing spend often starts with spreadsheets or shared company cards. But as headcount and transaction volume grow, those quick fixes can quickly turn into risks.

Matt’s talk outlined how AI-powered finance tools support startups from day one:

• Real-time visibility without manual reporting: Instead of waiting for end-of-month reconciliation, AI categorises spend instantly, giving founders live insights into burn rate and cash runway.

• Automated approval workflows: AI routes expenses to the right manager based on rules, ensuring money is spent with intent.

• Anomaly detection that flags issues early: Outliers like duplicate spend or unusual merchants are flagged automatically.

• Embedded guardrails for spend: Virtual and physical cards tied to budgets prevent overspending before it happens.

This approach resonated with the audience, particularly those in the early stages of building their finance function. The clear message: the right systems don’t just reduce risk, they help founders stay focused on growth.

4. Community and connection matter as much as technology

While AI and automation were hot topics, another clear takeaway was the value of community. Small business owners consistently said that the best part of the event was connecting with peers facing the same challenges.

At the Budgetly booth, conversations ranged from tactical questions about receipts and reconciliation, through to strategic discussions about scaling finance processes internationally. Many attendees said they were relieved to know they weren’t alone in tackling these issues — and that practical solutions existed today.

This sense of shared experience reinforces that events like SmallBiz Week are more than just product showcases. They’re hubs for building networks, sharing knowledge, and sparking collaborations that last long after the event floor closes.

5. The future of SME finance is proactive, not reactive

Across every session and booth conversation, one theme kept emerging: small businesses want to move from reacting to finance issues after the fact, to proactively managing spend before it becomes a problem.

Simon summed it up in his Thursday morning session Hacking Growth: Tech-Led Strategies for Scaling Small Businesses:

“SMEs shouldn’t be stuck in a cycle of chasing receipts and fixing errors at month-end. Technology should give them the confidence that spend is under control, in real time, so they can focus on growing the business.”

This proactive approach — powered by AI, automation, and smart controls — is fast becoming the new standard for SMEs. Rather than spending weeks untangling financial admin, business leaders can focus their time and energy on customers, products, and growth.

Looking ahead

SmallBiz Week Sydney 2025 made one thing clear: small businesses are ready for practical, accessible finance solutions that reduce admin and unlock growth. The energy, conversations, and curiosity we saw across two days show just how fast adoption is accelerating.

At Budgetly, we’re proud to be part of this shift. Whether it’s giving startups real-time visibility from day one or helping established SMEs empower their employees with better tools, our mission is to make business spend management simple, accurate, and growth-focused.

We’d like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth, joined our sessions, or shared their stories with us at SmallBiz Week. We look forward to continuing the conversation — both online and at future events.

If you’d like to explore how Budgetly can support your business, contact our team or book a demo today.

About SmallBiz Connect Expo

Now in its fourth year, SmallBiz Week is Australia’s largest B2B event for SMEs with over 10,000+ attendees, 400+ exhibitors, and 200+ speakers. Backed by government, media and industry leaders, it’s a must-attend event for any business looking to grow smarter.