Jamie Beaton wins EY entrepreneur of the year New Zealand

Jamie Beaton of Crimson Education has been named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year New Zealand for 2026, taking the overall prize in the national awards programme.

He also won the Technology and Emerging Industries Entrepreneur award, with judges citing his role in building a global education business from New Zealand. The award recognises entrepreneurs for entrepreneurial spirit, impact, growth and purpose.

Crimson Education was co-founded in New Zealand in 2013 as a university admissions advisory business. Since then, it has grown into a broader education group spanning online schooling, tutoring, mentoring and academic enrichment.

Its portfolio includes Crimson Education, Crimson Global Academy, NumberWorks'nWords and Revision Village. The group supports tens of thousands of families worldwide, according to the awards organisers.

Beaton previously won the Young Entrepreneur award in 2023. His return to the programme three years later to take the overall title marks another step in Crimson's rise from a local start-up to an international education business.

The judging panel also highlighted Beaton's scholarship work alongside the company's commercial growth. He established the Te Ara a Kupe Beaton Scholarship, which provides educational support for Māori and Pasifika students pursuing international study opportunities.

Judges' view

Jason Macgregor, director of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme at EY New Zealand, said Beaton stood out in a field that reflected the strength of the country's business founders.

"Jamie is a great example of what New Zealand entrepreneurs can achieve when they back their ideas and have the determination to see them through. This year's finalists have demonstrated that success is rarely a straight line, but their willingness to take risks, overcome challenges and keep pushing forward is what makes our entrepreneurial community so strong.

"It's this ambition that continues to contribute to NZ Inc, building businesses that create opportunities at home while making their mark on the world," Macgregor said.

Phil Thomson, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year New Zealand 2026 chair of judges and co-founder and CEO of Auror, said the panel was struck by Beaton's development as a founder and by the scale of Crimson's reach.

"Jamie has taken a bold vision for education from New Zealand to some of the world's largest markets, achieving significant growth while staying true to his belief that everyone deserves access to the best possible education, regardless of where they live.

"What's remarkable is that, despite the scale of his success, Jamie remains deeply connected to his people and his purpose, continuing to personally mentor students. He's a powerful example of what's possible when entrepreneurial ambition is matched with genuine commitment to making a difference," Thomson said.

Other winners

Other category winners in contention for the overall award were Patrick Moynahan of Echo Tech, who won Young Entrepreneur; Sarah Kennedy of Calocurb, who won Product Entrepreneur; Peter Shenoda of Bargain Chemist, who won Services Entrepreneur; and Lindsay Faithfull of McKay, who won Master Entrepreneur.

The independent judging panel was made up of past award winners and business founders. Alongside Thomson, it included Brooke Roberts of Sharesies, Jonny Hendriksen of Shuttlerock, David Yu of VeVe, and Brianne West, founder of Ethique and Incrediballs.

The awards programme has operated in New Zealand since 1998 and is part of a wider international network spanning more than 60 countries and jurisdictions. Organisers say it has a global community of more than 30,000 entrepreneurs.

Separate from the main competition, the judges earlier recognised Pic Picot of Pic's Peanut Butter with an Award for Outstanding Contribution to Entrepreneurship and Community. The award cited his impact on the Nelson community and his contribution to innovation in New Zealand's food sector.

Beaton's selection adds to a growing list of New Zealand founders whose businesses have scaled internationally while remaining rooted in the local market. In Crimson's case, that growth has come through a mix of advisory services, digital learning and acquisitions that have broadened the company's offering beyond its original university admissions focus.

The result also highlights investor and public interest in education businesses that can operate across borders, particularly those offering online services to families seeking access to schools, tutors and enrichment programmes outside their home markets.

At the same time, the judges placed weight on social purpose alongside commercial performance, reflecting a broader shift in award criteria towards founders who can show both business growth and community impact.