A regional South Australian tech business that started in Kadina has taken out a major national award, proving some of the state’s most exciting success stories are being built far beyond the CBD.
Pit Stop Technologies, an IT and cybersecurity business founded and based on the Yorke Peninsula, has been named the Winner of the 2026 Australian Small Business Champion Award for Information Technology.
For founders Helene Martin and Plato Lagoudakis, the recognition marks a big moment for a business built on relationships, service and community, rather than a big-city start-up story.
The company has grown steadily from Kadina while continuing to support businesses across South Australia and beyond, all while keeping its regional identity at the heart of how it operates.
When asked if there was a moment the business realised it had grown into something much bigger than they’d first imagined, founders Plato Lagoudakis and Helene Martin, “There wasn’t one single moment … it built over time,”
“But standing in the room at the national awards, alongside much larger, city-based businesses, and hearing Pit Stop Technologies called out as the winner, that was a pause and take stock moment. It made us realise just how far the business had come from its beginnings in Kadina.”
For the team, the award is more than a business milestone. It is a reminder that regional South Australian businesses can compete nationally without losing the values that helped them grow in the first place.
“For us, it’s never felt like we were chasing something big. We’ve just focused on showing up for our clients. Doing the work and building genuine relationships. Then you look around and realise those relationships now stretch right across South Australia and beyond,” Lagoudakis and Martin shared.
“That’s when it hits you. What started as a small regional business has grown into something much bigger… without ever losing what made it work in the first place.”
In an industry often associated with capital city offices and fast-moving corporate environments, Pit Stop Technologies has shown that strong technical capability does not need to come from a major metro base.
“Building a tech and cybersecurity business from the Yorke Peninsula has completely shifted our perspective on what’s possible. There’s an assumption that you need to be based in Adelaide, Sydney or Melbourne to compete. But our experience has shown the opposite,” Lagoudakis and Martin shared.
“Being regional has been one of our biggest strengths. It keeps you grounded. You understand how businesses really operate day to day. You build relationships properly, not just transactions. And you learn to be practical, responsive and resourceful… because you have to be.”
That people-first approach has shaped the business from the beginning, with Pit Stop Technologies focusing on honest advice, long-term trust and practical support for clients.
“From the beginning, Pit Stop Technologies has been built around people. That means real relationships, honest advice, and turning up when it matters… not just when things go wrong,” Lagoudakis and Martin shared.
“We’ve never wanted to be just another IT provider. We aim to be an extension of our clients’ team. Someone they trust. Someone who understands how their business actually runs. A big part of that comes from our regional roots.”
For Kadina, the national win is another reminder that regional SA businesses do not need to leave their communities behind to build something award-winning. Sometimes, the strongest foundations are the local ones.
“In a fast-moving industry like IT and cybersecurity, it’s easy to get caught up in trends or complexity. We’ve gone the other way. Keep it simple. Keep it practical. Keep it human. That’s what has helped us stand out to the judges,” Lagoudakis and Martin shared.
“Not just the technology… but the way we deliver it.”
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