About Cyan Ta'eed
Cyan Ta'eed is an Australian entrepreneur, impact, and environmental investor, best known as the co-founder of Envato, a creative ecosystem that was sold in 2024. She also founded the specialty chocolate company Hey Tiger, which was sold in 2021, and is the Chairperson at Bright Moon Trust, which provides philanthropic funding for First Nations social change agents. With a background in graphic design, she has been recognized for her entrepreneurial success, including being named EY Entrepreneur of The Year Australia.
Career
Chairperson
Chairperson
Founder
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Founder
In 2017, Cyan founded Hey Tiger, a speciality chocolate company based in Melbourne. Each chocolate bar is handmade from quality and ethically sourced ingredients combining surprising and delicious flavours. A passionate social enterprise, Hey Tiger benefits cocoa farming communities in West Africa, where 60% of the world’s cocoa is grown.
Founder
As a founder and director of Envato I was involved in creating and developing company from the ground up. Envato was a bootstrapped start-up so I worked on everything from company direction and product development to design, marketing and social media to hiring and management. I've run most of our products from launch (except for Studio), hiring a team and eventually hiring myself out. Right now I'm developing a diversity program at Envato, and working on developing a new product with a small and very talented internal team. It's like a start-up within the business, and it's going to be very exciting to see how it develops.
Director
Good Creative was a graphic and web design agency I founded with my husband, Collis. We had a broad range of clients from small business to music labels to local government. It was our first taste of running our own business, and in hindsight gave us many insights into the industry that we tapped into when developing Envato.
Graphic Designer
How Graphic Design is an amazing design firm who were kind enough to give me a job straight out of university. I doubt I was much use to them, but working there taught me a great deal about good design, working in a small high performing team, and developing great client relationships. The owners of How, John Howe and Gill Allen, also taught me that a married founding couple can run a business beautifully, and be the core foundation of a happy team.
Education
Visual Communication
Visual Communication - Design and Visual Communications
Visual Communications
Visual Communications
N/A
N/A
Skills
Core technical and professional competencies developed through founding and scaling multiple successful ventures.
Organizational Leadership
Strategic Planning
Team Management
Start-up Scaling
Product Development
Business Strategy
Graphic Design
Web Design
Visual Communication
Branding
Creative Direction
Impact Investing
Philanthropy
Social Enterprise
Ethical Sourcing
Environmental Investment
Project Management
Marketing Strategy
Online Advertising
Communication
Domains
Creative Technology, Digital Marketplaces, SaaS
Social Enterprise, Impact Investing, Philanthropy, FMCG (Chocolate)
Tags
Visionary, Entrepreneurial, Purpose-Driven, Resilient, Creative
Social Impact, Technology, Philanthropy, Writing, Environmentalism
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Frequently Asked Questions
Cyan Ta'eed is an Australian entrepreneur known for co-founding Envato and Hey Tiger, and currently chairs the Bright Moon Trust.
When did Envato's sale finalize?
What is Cyan Ta'eed's role at Bright Moon Trust?
She is the Chairperson at Bright Moon Trust, which provides philanthropic funding specifically for First Nations social change agents.
When was the Hey Tiger chocolate company sold?
Hey Tiger, the specialty chocolate company she founded in 2018, was sold in 2021 after operating as a social enterprise.
What is Cyan Ta'eed's design background?
She holds a background in graphic design, having studied at Billy Blue College of Design and Swinburne University of Technology.
Did she win EY Entrepreneur of The Year?
Yes, she was named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year Australia, recognizing her success with the Envato creative ecosystem.