Fred Schebesta is the cofounder and director of finder.com.au – one of Australia’s largest comparison websites – which receives more than 4 million visits each month. At just 26 years of age, Fred entered the comparison market, one of the most highly competitive online categories in Australia. Following its success in Australia, Fred and his business partner, Frank Restuccia, and their 70+ crew, launched finder.com in the U.S. in July 2015.

As an author, blogger, award-winning digital marketer, media commentator, mentor and active member of the startup community, Fred is one of the nation’s most respected entrepreneurs.

Fred’s entrepreneurial journey started well before finder.com. At just 22 years of age, while studying a Bachelor of Finance degree at Macquarie University in Sydney, he and Frank created Freestyle Media and grew the business into a successful digital agency that sold to a publicly listed company in 2007.

At 22, Fred took out the ADMA Australian Young Direct Marketer of the Year. At 23, he was listed in Australian Anthill’s 30 under 30. In both 2011 and 2012, Fred was elected as a judge for the Startup Smart Awards. He also judged Money Magazine’s 2013 Best of the Best Awards for the mobile phone plan category.

Fred is a contributor to news.com.au, The Huffington Post and Fairfax Media. He also regularly appears on TV and radio sharing his experience as an entrepreneur. As a mentor at several organisations including the University of Technology Entrepreneur program and Project Pitch, Fred helps both undergraduate and postgraduate students develop business concepts. He is also a Startup Australia Ambassador and St. George Bank Ambassador.

Fred is inspired to facilitate financial literacy in Australia and to encourage people to have a frugal mindset and to make better financial decisions.