Cyan Ta’eed is an acclaimed Australian entrepreneur known for her innovative ventures that blend creativity, social impact, and technology. From co-founding one of the world’s leading digital marketplaces, Envato, to launching a socially conscious chocolate brand, Hey Tiger, and developing a mobile-first website app, Milkshake, Cyan has continuously disrupted industries with purpose-driven businesses.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

With a background in graphic design, Cyan Ta’eed’s journey into entrepreneurship began in 2006 when she co-founded Envato alongside her husband, Collis Ta’eed, and friend Jun Rung. The company was launched from her parents’ garage in Melbourne, Australia, with a vision to empower creatives worldwide by providing a digital marketplace for assets like themes, graphics, and music.

Envato: A Global Digital Marketplace

Envato has grown into a creative ecosystem that boasts over 10 million members globally and has delivered more than US$700 million in earnings to its creative community. It is recognized as one of Australia’s most successful scale-ups and is a certified B Corporation, emphasizing its commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

The platform includes popular marketplaces such as ThemeForest, AudioJungle, and GraphicRiver, catering to designers, developers, and creatives seeking high-quality digital assets. Envato’s success stems from its community-first approach, providing opportunities for creatives to earn a sustainable income while delivering value to businesses worldwide.

Hey Tiger: A Socially Conscious Chocolate Brand

In 2017, Cyan launched Hey Tiger, a Melbourne-based specialty chocolate company with a mission to address deep inequalities in the cocoa industry. Hey Tiger produced handmade chocolate bars using high-quality, ethically sourced ingredients and unique flavor combinations.

As a social enterprise, Hey Tiger partnered with The Hunger Project to support cocoa farming communities in West Africa. Over its three years of operation, the company donated more than $400,000 to improve living standards and promote self-reliance in these communities.

However, despite its popularity and annual revenue exceeding $3 million, Hey Tiger faced challenges in scaling profitability as a social enterprise. In 2021, Cyan made the difficult decision to close the business, citing the tension between maintaining the brand’s unique qualities and achieving financial sustainability.

In a heartfelt farewell letter, Cyan wrote: “In creating a chocolate experience like no other, we designed a business that customers absolutely love, but that was hard to scale into the profitability it needed to be a sustainable social enterprise.”

Milkshake: Empowering Instagram Entrepreneurs

Cyan’s entrepreneurial journey continued with the launch of Milkshake, a mobile app that allows Instagram users to create stylish and functional websites directly from their phones. Milkshake empowers influencers, small business owners, and creatives to make the most of their single Instagram bio link by creating mini websites to showcase their work, products, or services.

The app addresses the growing trend of entrepreneurs leveraging social media to build their brands and connect with audiences. Milkshake has quickly gained traction for its ease of use and visually appealing designs.

New Day Box: Supporting Women in Crisis

Beyond her business ventures, Cyan is the founder of New Day Box, an initiative that mobilizes the community to create boxes of skincare and cosmetics for women in domestic violence crisis accommodation. Since its inception, New Day Box has distributed over 10,000 boxes to women, providing much-needed support and a sense of dignity during challenging times.

Advocacy for Social Impact and Women in Business

Cyan is a passionate advocate for female-led businesses and social enterprises. She frequently speaks on topics such as purpose-driven business, leadership with impact, and the importance of taking risks as an entrepreneur. She believes in the power of business as a force for good and continues to mentor early-stage startups, particularly those with a social mission.

In her reflections on entrepreneurship, Cyan often cites her favorite quote by Grace Hopper: “A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.”

Legacy and Future Plans

Cyan Ta’eed’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by her willingness to take risks, innovate, and address social issues through business. Her ventures have made significant impacts in both the digital marketplace and social enterprise sectors, and her commitment to ethical practices and community support sets her apart as a leader in Australian business.

Following her decision to step away from Hey Tiger, Cyan remains committed to exploring new ideas and ventures. With her husband, Collis, stepping down from a daily operational role at Envato, the couple is taking time to plan their next steps in entrepreneurship.

In a message to fellow entrepreneurs, Cyan encourages the use of purchasing decisions to create positive change in the world. She continues to inspire the next generation of business leaders to pursue purpose-led innovation and take bold leaps toward building a better future.

Key Achievements:

• Co-founder of Envato, a global digital marketplace with over 10 million members.
• Founder of Hey Tiger, a social enterprise that donated $400,000 to West African cocoa communities.
• Co-founder of Milkshake, a mobile app empowering Instagram entrepreneurs.
• Founder of New Day Box, supporting women in domestic violence crisis accommodation.

Cyan Ta’eed’s story is one of vision, perseverance, and impact, proving that businesses can thrive while making a positive difference in the world.